Risk Management and Aviation Decision Making

Aeronautical decision-making (ADM) is defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the systematic approach to the mental process that pilots use to consistently determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances (Federal Aviation Administration, 2016). Two of the defining elements of ADM are risk and hazard. Every flight operation has specific risks and hazards that must be assessed and managed throughout the process of ADM in the planning, staging, launch, flight and recovery stages of flight. Risks of flight can be divided into four categories which relate to the flight operation, ie. pilot, aircraft, environment and mission type. The process of identifying hazards assessing the degree of risk and determining mitigation measures and actions; and deciding on the best course of action is referred to as risk management and is fundamental to safe flight operations. There are different models which can be applied in ADM which include the “5 Ps”, the “3 Ps” and the DECIDE models. These models provide a structured approach to ADM and risk management.

In UAS operations, every mission or flight has a unique set of hazards and risks that must be identified and managed to ensure safe operations. This means that for every flight, the risk management tool must be modified to include all possible hazards and risks to achieve proper ADM outcomes. These hazards and risks also need to be constantly monitored to ensure that there are no changes in the risk level, and that any additional hazards and risks that present themselves during operations are identified and mitigated. One of the biggest human factors challenges faced by commercial UAS operators is the public perception of UAS. A general lack of understanding regarding the commercial application of UAS and the privileges which Part 107 grants commercial UAS operators causes push-back from the public due to a negative perception regarding infringement of privacy and liberties. This can perhaps be remedied by educating the public on UAS applications and operations, and the related regulations through media and social media platforms.

References

Federal Aviation Administration. (2016, August). Remote pilot- small unmanned aircraft systems study guide. Washington, DC, United States: FAA.