How are bidirectional communication and unidirectional communication relevant to SMS in UAS operations?

• A. Unidirectional communication relates to the traditional expectation that management provides information and the workforce receives it
• B. Bidirectional communication ensures that safety information relevant to the organization is expressed from management and to management
• C. Both are irrelevant to SMS
• D. Bidirectional communication is prohibited in formal SMS

Answer: (B)

In an SMS for UAS operations, information must flow in both directions to manage safety effectively. Bidirectional communication creates a feedback loop: frontline personnel can report hazards, near-misses, or operational concerns, and management can share safety policies, risk controls, and important updates in return. This back-and-forth ensures that safety information relevant to the organization is expressed from management to the workforce and from the workforce back up to management, enabling timely identification of risks and appropriate corrective actions. Relying only on one-way communication risks frontline issues going unreported and unaddressed, which can undermine safety culture and risk management. That’s why bidirectional communication is the best fit here.