Definition
A formal, repeatable decision-making method used in aviation to identify hazards, assess the level of risk each one presents, and apply controls to reduce that risk to an acceptable level before and during a flight or training activity.
Plain English
A step-by-step way of spotting what could go wrong, deciding how serious it is, and doing something about it before it becomes a problem.
Context Anchor
Used in flight training, preflight planning, in-flight decision-making, and post-flight review when a pilot or instructor decides whether a flight can be conducted safely.
Derivation
‘Risk’ comes from the Italian risco, meaning danger or chance of loss. ‘Management’ comes from the Latin manus, meaning hand — literally ‘handling’ something. Together it means actively handling danger rather than just hoping it doesn’t show up.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces the chance of accidents by turning vague worries into specific, manageable actions.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as paperwork or as a way to make flying risk-free. In aviation, a risk management process means using a consistent decision method so hazards are noticed and handled before they build into an unsafe situation.
Example Sentence 1
Before the cross-country flight, the instructor walked the student through the risk management process, reviewing weather, fatigue, aircraft condition, and route options.
Example Sentence 2
Instructors teach the risk management process so pilots apply it automatically during every phase of flight.