Definition
An FAA publication that explains how pilots identify, assess, and manage the risks involved in flight. It presents the formal tools and frameworks used in aeronautical decision-making, including hazard identification, risk assessment models, and mitigation strategies, and serves as the FAA's primary reference on the subject.
Plain English
A free FAA book that teaches pilots how to spot what could go wrong on a flight, judge how serious those risks are, and decide what to do about them before and during flying.
Context Anchor
Seen when FAA training material points the pilot to a fuller explanation of risk management, especially in discussions of pilot decision-making and safe flight planning.
Derivation
The publication number FAA-H-8083-2 follows a standard FAA pattern: 'H' indicates Handbook, and '8083' is the FAA's series number for airman training and testing publications. Knowing the prefix helps a pilot recognize related handbooks at a glance (for example, FAA-H-8083-3 is the Airplane Flying Handbook).
Why Pilots Care
Familiarity with the handbook gives pilots a structured way to reduce the chance of accidents caused by overlooked hazards or poor decisions.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just a general safety booklet. In FAA training, the Risk Management Handbook is a specific FAA publication with organized methods pilots are expected to understand and apply.
Example Sentence 1
Before her checkride, she reviewed the Risk Management Handbook to refresh her understanding of the PAVE and IMSAFE checklists.
Example Sentence 2
Instructors often direct students to the Risk Management Handbook (FAA-H-8083-2) when teaching how to evaluate weather and aircraft performance together.