Lesson Overview

The student should develop knowledge of the elements related to managing and mitigating risk.

References : Aviation Instructor’s Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9A)

Elements

  1. Principles of Risk Management

  2. Risk Management Process

  3. Level of Risk

  4. Assessing Risk

  5. Mitigating Risk

  6. IMSAFE Checklist

  7. PAVE Checklist

  8. 5P Checklist
Schedule

  1. Discuss Objectives

  2. Review material

  3. Development

  4. Conclusion
Equipment

  1. White board and markers

  2. References
IP Actions

  1. Discuss lesson objectives

  2. Present Lecture

  3. Ask and Answer Questions

  4. Assign homework
SP Actions

  1. Participate in discussion

  2. Take notes

  3. Ask and respond to questions
Completion Standards

The student can recognize potentially hazardous situations and effectively mitigate risk using the concepts and procedures listed here.

Instructor Notes

Attention

We’re pilots, we like the rush of flight and the sense of danger. All FAA operations in the United States involve risk; don’t let the risk and danger get out of control.
Overview

Review Objectives and Elements/Key ideas
What

Risk management is a decision-making process designed to perceive hazards systematically, assess the degree of risk associated with a hazard, and determine the best course of action.
Why

Flying is inherently dangerous, but there are ways to keep the danger to a minimum. This lesson will describe ways to recognize and mitigate the risk involved with flying.

Lesson Details

Flying is inherently risky (but so is life). It is impossible to fly with zero risk, and risk management is the practice of assessing risk and insuring that no unnecessary risk is assumed. Part of that practice includes assessing risk at the appropriate level: by the individual pilot in single-pilot operations, or "going up the ladder" (i.e. to a CFI, or chief pilot) for decision making assistance if those resources are available. Make informed decisions and accept risk when the benefits outweigh the costs, and integrate risk management planning at all levels and in all phases of aviating.

Risk Management Process

Step 1: Identify the Hazard

A hazard is any condition that can cause degradation, injury, illness, death, or damage/loss to equipment/property.

Step 2: Assess the Risk

Determine the level of risk associated with the identified hazard. Develop a method to tangibly measure risk (below).

Step 3: Analyze Risk Control Measures

Investigate ways to reduce, mitigate, or eliminate the risk. All risk have two components: probability of occurrence and severity of the hazard. Try to reduce or eliminate one of the two components.

Step 4: Make Control Decisions

Choose the best controls based on steps 1 and 2 above.

Step 5: Implement Risk Controls

Make a plan to apply the outcome of step 4, which might include changes to time, materials, personnel, or other changes.

Step 6: Supervise and Review

Continually re-evaluate the hazard in light of the controls and make any needed changes.

Affective Domain

As noted above, risk is measured in terms of severity (extent of possible loss) and probability (likelihood that a hazard will cause a loss). In assessing risk the pilot must differentiate in advance between a low-risk flight and a high-risk flight. Establish a process and develop strategies that minimize risk. Risk assessment can be viewed as a matrix which looks like the following. The matrix shown here illustrates the relationship between severity and probability. The boxes in the upper left-hand corner denote extreme (even catastrophic) risk, whereas the ones moving down and right show increasingly less risk. Pilots should always try and move the assessment further down and right to mitigate risk.

Other approaches to risk mitigation are encapsulated in various mnemonic tools such as the IMSAFE checklist, the PAVE checklist, and the 5P checklist.

IMSAFE Checklist

Mitigate your risk by determining your own mental and physical readiness for flight.

  1. Illness – Symptoms?

  2. Medication – Taking any?

  3. Stress – Family, money, relationships, work, etc.

  4. Alcohol – Been drinking?

  5. Fatigue – well rested?

  6. Eating – properly nourished?

PAVE Checklist

Another assessment checklist divides the assessments into four categories.

  1. *P*ilot in Command: Am I ready? (IMSAFE Checklist)

  2. *A*ircraft: Is the aircraft appropriate for the trip

    1. Maintenance, Landing Distance, Equipment, Fuel load, altitude, etc.

  3. en*V*ironment: weather, terrain, airports, airspace, day/night, etc.

  4. *E*xternal Pressures: influences outside of the flight that create pressure to complete the flight often at the expense of safety

    1. This is the most important key to risk management because it is the one risk factor category that can cause a pilot to ignore all the other factors

    2. Follow you own personal operating procedures (don’t bend the rules for anyone), plan for delays, and manage passenger’s expectations to reduce external pressure

5P Checklist

The 5 Ps are used to evaluate the pilot’s current situation at key decision points during the flight, or when an emergency arises. This is a very helpful portion of Single Pilot Resource Management (SRM). The process is simple; at least 5 times before/during the flight, review and consider the 5 P’s and make the appropriate decision required by the current situation. Usually during preflight, before takeoff, Midpoint of flight, Descent, and prior to the final approach fix (FAF).

The Plan

These are the details about the mission itself, including planning, weather, route, fuel, publication currency, and other mission-specific details.
The Plane

This evaluates the equipment, it’s condition, abilities, equipment, and all other aircraft related details.
The Pilot

This evaluates the and whether they are up to the planned flight. This can include an IMSAFE evaluation, whether the pilot is adequately trained on the avionics to be used, or other factors regarding the pilot’s ability to safely conclude the flight.
The Passengers

Various passenger attributes can impact the flight. What they desire, their level of risk comfort, and other factors play a role. Involve them in the planning as early as practicable and insure they understand the details and risks of the flight to be undertaken.
The Programming

This is all about the equipment with respect to any automation in the aircraft. It can include the programming of GPS, and FMS systems, and should take into account the pilot’s familiarity (or lack thereof) with the installed equipment.

Conclusion

It is extremely important that a pilot (especially a student pilot) has the ability to recognize and effectively mitigate risk in order to provide a safe flight for him/herself as well as the passengers. This chapter provided many factors to consider and ways to reduce the inherent risk associated with flying.

ACS Requirements

To determine that the applicant exhibits instructional knowledge of risk management by describing:

  1. Principles of risk management.

  2. Risk management process.

  3. Level of risk.

  4. Assessing risk.

  5. Mitigating risk.

  6. IMSAFE checklist.

  7. PAVE checklist.

  8. 5P checklist.