Managing Risk
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Managing Risk
Oren D. Mason
Liberty University
Method
Spanning All Wings
Managing risk is a conceptual idea that has no limit to any airframe. Bush pilots in
Alaska, single-engine instructors, and captains at Delta all develope strategies to manage risk.
Pilots have it in their blood, a desire to develop more skills. As soon as I finish a check-ride I am
thinking about the next one. As I move into the next role, add the next title, and move into the
next plane it is critically important that I have a foundation in risk management.
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Demands and Environment
A pilot’s workload and demands are dynamic. As a driver moves into the interstate from a
busy city street, a pilot moves from the aerodrome to the en-route system and back to an
approach system. After the approach system, the landing phase significantly increases the
workload on a pilot. This can come as a surprise to an unprepared pilot. Especially one without a
methodical way to determine the level of, and deal with, risk. “A key element of risk decision-
making is determining if the risk is justified.” -Risk Management Handbook
Every flight involves risk, every day on Earth involves some level of risk to a person.
On a two-way country road, you’re driving uphill and you’re about to crest the hill. Another
driver traveling in the opposite direction reaches the top of the hill at the same time. To spite no
physical barrier separating you from a combined 110 mile an hour collision you still drive that
road on your daily commute. You know you must trust another driver. Picture the consequences
of something going wrong at that moment. Somehow you deem that risk acceptable. The process
by which you determine the acceptability of risk is risk management.
Risk is the future impact of a hazard that is not controlled or eliminated. All flight
operations move with a degree of uncertainty. Weather patterns can be predictable on a macro
scale but any flight over some distance presents a risk. Risk can also be defined simply as a level
of uncertainty.
I can use this in my daily operations as a flight instructor. I have some level of
uncertainty every day. Today I was supposed to meet a new student for the first time and offer
him a discovery flight. When I arrived at the school I was informed that the Cessna 172 we
reserved is down for maintenance. The only aircraft left was a Cessna 150 Aerobat. Two students
are scheduled for the day, neither of which I have met. I also have never met this tiny airplane. I
Managing Risk
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have a job to do, that assesses this risk. When student one arrived I noticed he is a full-sized man,
weighs more than I do. I am six foot and two hundred twenty pounds. This isn’t going well. We
walk about to the Cessna 150. I haven’t done a weight and balance on this plane before.
Although we may fall just under the max useful load, that does not mean we are within center of
gravity limits. I have seen others take off with more weight and they were fine. However, I am
not going to accept another judgment when I have my own. We go back into the school, I do the
calculations and as I suspected we are under max gross but out of the center of gravity. To spite
thinking “ehh we will be fine” I stopped the lesson right there.
Time for student number two. I called him before he arrived and his weight is fine. Now,
to tackle my unfamiliarity with this aircraft before he shows up. I quickly do a few laps in the
patter and a few touch-and-gos before he arrives. As I pull up he walks out and I am completely
confident now that we will have a successful flight. Unfamiliarity with the aircraft while also
mazing out the weight with a zero time student, combination that maxed out my risk matrix.
References
Risk Management Handbook- FAA- H - 8083-2 Change 1
