Plain English Meaning

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.

Full 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.

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.