Definition
The pilot skill of identifying hazards, evaluating their likelihood and consequences, and using all available resources — inside and outside the cockpit — to keep the flight within acceptable safety margins. It combines aeronautical decision-making (ADM), single-pilot resource management (SRM), and crew resource management (CRM) into one practical discipline applied before and throughout every flight.
Plain English
Spotting what could go wrong, deciding how serious it is, and using everything you have — your training, instruments, checklists, ATC, weather services, passengers, and other crew — to keep the flight safe.
Context Anchor
You will meet this idea in preflight planning, before-takeoff briefings, training discussions, and any time weather, aircraft condition, fuel, traffic, or pilot workload changes.
Derivation
Manage' comes from the Italian maneggiare, meaning 'to handle' (especially horses). 'Risk' comes from the Italian risco, meaning danger or hazard. 'Resource' comes from the Old French resourdre, 'to rise again' — something you can draw on when needed. Together they describe handling hazards by drawing on whatever help is available.
Why Pilots Care
Directly reduces the chance of accidents by addressing hazards before they become problems and prevents the common impulse to push ahead without a clear plan.
Intuition Check
Managing risk does not mean removing all risk from flying. Managing resources does not mean only saving fuel or money. It means making deliberate choices with the people, information, time, equipment, and options you have.
Example Sentence 1
Before departing into deteriorating weather, the pilot demonstrated managing risk and resources by checking updated forecasts, briefing passengers on the diversion plan, and confirming fuel reserves with flight service.
Example Sentence 2
In cruise the pilot used ATC for updated traffic and rerouting information, demonstrating ongoing management of risk and resources.