Definition
A numerical measure assigned to a factor so it can be compared, ranked, or combined with other measured factors. In risk assessment, quantitative values are the numbers a pilot gives to specific risks (such as fatigue, weather, or experience) to produce an overall, measurable risk score rather than a vague impression.
Plain English
A number you put on something so you can measure it, compare it, or add it up with other numbers — instead of just guessing whether it feels okay.
Context Anchor
Seen in risk assessment discussions and worksheets, where a pilot may assign numbers to items such as weather, pilot condition, aircraft condition, or route difficulty before deciding whether to fly.
Derivation
From the Latin 'quantitas' meaning 'how much.' A quantitative value answers the question 'how much?' with a number, rather than answering 'what kind?' (which would be qualitative).
Why Pilots Care
It turns subjective feelings about risk into measurable numbers that support clearer go/no-go decisions and consistent mitigation choices.
Intuition Check
Quantitative does not mean “automatically accurate” just because a number is used. It means the information is expressed as a number; the number is only useful if it is assigned honestly and consistently.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot's risk assessment tool assigned a quantitative value to each factor — fatigue, weather, and aircraft condition — then totaled them to decide whether the flight should proceed.
Example Sentence 2
After assigning quantitative values to each hazard, the pilot decided two of them required immediate mitigation before flight.