Risk Management In The Real World

In the first two parts of this series (Aviation Safety, September 2013 and November 2013), I related how I used practical risk management techniques to meet the challenges of using my Beech Bonanza on a typical (for me) multi-stop, multi-week business trip that took place in June 2013. Having been trained in an era before risk management was emphasized (which is still the case, although change is coming), I now recognize I was fortunate to have successfully addressed these hazards without incident. I’d like to say it was my superior piloting skill, but I’m afraid that chance also played a big role. I emphasize this background because, like much of the present general aviation community, I was trained in another era.

Key Takeaways:

• The author reflects on his evolving approach to aviation safety, noting how his training from an era before formal risk management led him to learn valuable lessons through experience, often with luck playing a significant role.
• Using the PAVE (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External Pressures) acronym, he details personal anecdotes and the specific hazards he encountered—such as aeromedical issues (hypoxia, fatigue), equipment failures, high density altitude, and external pressures—and the mitigation strategies he developed.
• The article emphasizes that while flying utility is important, safety and utility are not mutually exclusive, and with proper risk identification, assessment, and mitigation, pilots can usually achieve both.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.