Task G: Risk Management

Objective: the student will be introduced to risk management and how it can help other students.

Completion Standard: the student will be able to explain what the principles of risk are, the management process. The student will also be able to explain eh levels of risk are and some ADM processes to help.

Overview:

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.

Principles of risk management

• Risk is defined as the probability and possible severity of accident or loss from exposure to various hazards, including injury to people and loss of resources

• The goal of risk management is to proactively identify safety-related hazards and mitigate the associated risks

Four fundamentals of risk

Accept no unnecessary risk 

• Unnecessary risk is that which carries no commensurate return in terms of benefits or opportunities.

Make risk decisions at the appropriate level

• The decision-maker must be authorized to accept levels of risk typical of the planned operation.

  • Ultimately, it’s the pilot who is responsible - They are the person who is living with the consequences of the bad decision.

  • The pilot, not the passengers or operators need to determine risk.

Accept risk when benefits outweigh the costs – 

• All identified benefits should be compared against all identified costs.

Integrate risk management into planning at all levels – 

• Risks are more manageable in planning phase.

Risk management process.

• identifies operational hazards and takes reasonable measures to reduce risk to personnel, equipment, and the mission

Steps

1. Identify the Hazard 

   1. A hazard is defined as any real or potential condition that can cause degradation, injury, illness, death, or damage to or loss of equipment or property.

   2. Experience, common sense, and specific analytical tools help identify risks. 

      1. Once the pilot determines that a hazard poses a potential risk to the flight, it may be further analyzed. 

2. Assess the Risk

   1. Each identified risk may be assessed in terms of its likelihood (probability) and its severity (consequences) that could result from the hazards based upon the exposure of humans or equipment to the hazards. 

   2. An assessment of overall risk is then possible, typically by using a risk assessment matrix, such an online Flight Risk Awareness Tool (FRAT). 

      1. This process defines the probability and severity of an accident. 

3. Mitigate the Risk 

   1. Investigate specific strategies and tools that reduce, mitigate, or eliminate the risk. 

      1. High risks may be mitigated by taking action to lower likelihood and/or severity to lower levels. 

      2. For serious risks, such actions may also be taken. 

      3. Medium and low risks do not normally require mitigation.

   2. Effective control measures reduce or eliminate the most critical risks.

      1. The analysis may consider the overall costs and benefits of remedial actions, providing alternative choices when possible.

Level of risk

Likelihood is nothing more than taking a situation and determining the probability of its occurrence

1. Probable 

   1. an event will occur several times.

2. Occasional 

   1. an event will probably occur sometime.

3. Remote

   1. an event is unlikely to occur but is possible.

4. Improbable 

   1. an event is highly unlikely to occur.

Assessing risk.

What would be a result of the risk

• Catastrophic

  • results in fatalities, total loss

• Critical

  • severe injury, major damage

• Marginal

  • minor injury, minor damage

• Negligible

  • less than minor injury, less than minor system damage

Mitigating risk.

• To mitigate is to manage the risk

• Scenario: a Non-Instrument rated pilot wanting to fly on a marginal day.

  • Wait for weather to improve

  • Take an instrument rated pilot

  • Cancel the trip.

  • DRIVE A CAR

• Mitigation process should begin days before a flight.

• The final and most important step of mitigation is to determine if you’re going to accept a flight or not.

  • Vigilance is maintained even after the decision to go is made.

  • Departure is option, landing isn’t.

IMSAFE checklist.

• Illness 

  • Do I have any symptoms?

  • A student might want to fly regardless of the above issues, because you’re in the plane with them. 

    • Go back to the FOI, they won’t learn because their physical needs aren’t being met. 

    • Practice IMSAFE decision making early on in the learning process.

• Medication

  • Have I been taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs?

  • Use the AOPA site for Medication, it’s better organized than the FAA’s.

• Stress 

  • Am I under psychological pressure from the job?

• Alcohol 

  •  Have I been drinking within 8 hours? Within 24 hours?

  • 8 Hours is simply not enough, be smart with this.

• Fatigue 

  • Am I tired and not adequately rested?

  • Insidious - This should focus not only on student, but the instructor too.

• Eating  

  • Am I adequately nourished? (dehydration as well)

  • Also, it might be a good idea to avoid eating a 7/11 chilidog before spin-training

PAVE checklist.

• PAVE - divides the risks of flight into four categories:

  • Pilot

  • Aircraft

  • Environment

  • External Pressures.

• Personal Minimums Worksheet - Fill this out with the pilot, repeatedly as their skills improve. This teaches the basis of risk management and establishes practice early on.

5P checklist

• The 5Ps - used to assess risk in each of the five categories:

  • Plan

    • Called the mission or the task

  • Plane

  • Pilot

  • Passengers

  • Programming