Risk Management, Military Style

No matter what we do in an aircraft, we cannot eliminate risk entirely. Instead, we can manage that risk and take positive steps to mitigate or reduce it; in rare cases, we may even be able to eliminate it. An example of the latter might be cancelling a trip for poor weather, or because of a mechanical issue. But we should be mostly concerned with mitigating and reducing the risks our flying poses.. Of course, there are many ways to accomplish these goals. I believe most of us in general aviation have sat through a presentation or seminar discussing risk management.

Key Takeaways:

• General aviation (GA) pilots can significantly enhance flight safety by adapting military risk management principles, customizing them to their resources and operational needs.
• Key areas for GA pilots to focus on include maintaining personal fitness and mindful scheduling, along with developing a continuous, comprehensive training and proficiency plan beyond biennial reviews.
• Thorough pre-flight planning, detailed briefings, and proactive engagement with air traffic control and weather services are essential practices to improve situational awareness and reduce risk.
• Implementing a personal operational risk management (ORM) process before each flight, which involves identifying risks, setting personal minimums, and planning specific mitigation strategies, is crucial.

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