Ultimate Guide to Safety Risk Management in Aviation

Aviation is an industry that operates in a safety-critical environment. With millions of passengers relying on air travel every day, it is crucial to ensure that every flight takes place under optimal safety conditions. This is where safety risk management in aviation plays a vital role.

When the industry puts in place effective risk management practices, it can tackle potential hazards directly.

The result is the overall safety of passengers, crew members and aircraft.

Whether you are an aviation professional, a frequent flyer or simply interested in the intricacies of aviation safety, this article will provide valuable insights into the world of safety risk management and its significance in ensuring safe and secure air travel.

Introduction to safety risk management

Safety risk management is a systematic approach used in various industries to tackle safety hazards.

What is safety risk management in aviation?

Safety risk management is a systematic approach used in various industries to tackle safety hazards.

When it comes to aviation safety, the industry is unique.

Safety risk management in aviation is comprehensive and proactive in addressing safety risks. It is a systematic process that involves various stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, airlines, airports, air traffic service providers and maintenance organisations.

Safety risk management begins with hazard identification. This involves actively seeking out potential hazards through methods such as safety audits, incident reporting systems, safety data analysis, safety surveys and physical observations. Once hazards are identified, they are assessed based on their potential consequences and likelihood of occurrence. Risk mitigation strategies are then developed and implemented.

Importantly, safety risk management is not a one-time, set-and-forget process. It is an ongoing commitment to continuously identify, assess and mitigate risks. It requires collaboration and open communication among all stakeholders to ensure a proactive and vigilant approach to safety.

Why is safety risk management important in aviation?

Safety risk management plays a critical role in aviation due to the industry’s unique operational characteristics and the potential consequences of safety-related incidents.

By implementing an effective risk management process, aviation organisations can:

– Enhance safety: Safety risk management ensures that potential risks are identified and addressed proactively, minimising the likelihood of accidents and incidents.

– Improve decision-making: By having a systematic risk management process in place, aviation organisations can make informed decisions based on thorough risk assessments and evaluations.

– Ensure regulatory compliance: Aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world. Safety risk management aligns with international standards and regulations, ensuring that organisations meet the required safety standards set by regulatory authorities.

ICAO provisions

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) plays a crucial role in regulating and harmonising international aviation.

Established in 1944 under the Chicago Convention, ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for developing and maintaining international standards and practices for aviation safety, security, efficiency and environmental protection.

The Chicago Convention, also known as the Convention on International Civil Aviation, is a landmark treaty that provides the legal framework for international civil aviation. It establishes the principles and rules governing the rights and responsibilities of member states in the field of aviation. The convention sets out the foundation for the establishment of ICAO and grants the organisation the authority to develop and enforce international aviation standards.

ICAO’s primary objective is safety promotion and ensuring the orderly development of international civil aviation. It achieves this by establishing and maintaining international standards and recommended practices (SARPs) in various areas, including aviation safety, air navigation, aerodromes, environmental protection and aviation security. Member states are obligated to implement these standards and practices within their respective national aviation systems.

Airspace And Air Traffic Management Risk Management Policy Statement

The Australian Government has adopted an Airspace and Air Traffic Management Risk Management Policy Statement as part of its obligations to ICAO.

This policy statement that the federal government (and its agencies that specialise in aviation) will adopt outlines a uniform approach to risk management when it comes to airspace and air traffic management assessment.

Aviation safety management is taken seriously by many federal governments across the world. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, for instance, has adopted a mission to provide “the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world” (see FAA Order 8040.4B)

You can also find safety management handbooks published by the FAA here and the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) here.

What are the types of risk in the aviation industry?

The aviation industry faces various types of risks, including:

Operational risks

These risks involve hazards associated with day-to-day aviation operations, such as aircraft maintenance, ground handling and air traffic control.

Environmental risks

Environmental factors, such as severe weather conditions, volcanic ash clouds, and natural disasters pose risks to aviation safety. The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption was a case in point.

Human factor risks

Human error, fatigue, inadequate training, and communication breakdowns contribute to human factors risks in aviation.

Security risks

The aviation industry is vulnerable to security threats, including terrorism, sabotage and unlawful interference. The September 11 attacks were one of the most extreme examples of these risks materialising.

Safety Risk Management Framework

To effectively manage safety risks, aviation organisations adopt a safety risk management framework.

This framework typically consists of three key elements:

– Hazard identification: This involves a process of identifying potential hazards within the aviation system, including equipment, operations and human factors.

– Risk assessment: Evaluating the likelihood and severity of identified hazards to determine their level of risk.

– Risk mitigation: Developing and implementing strategies to minimise or eliminate risks, including control measures, training programs and operational changes.

We’ll explore each of these elements in further detail below.

Risk Management Elements

For risk management to actually produce desirable results, it needs to be systematic and collaborative.

Hazard identification

Aviation organisations conduct hazard identification through various methods, such as:

– Aircraft safety audits (for example, BARS audits),

– Safety data analysis (namely, acquiring data over from day-to-day aviation operations on aircraft and aerodromes to identify possible hazards), and

– Continuous monitoring (involving consistent checks to ensure ongoing compliance and safety).

By analysing data such as past incidents, near misses and other operational critical information, hazards can be identified and categorized.

Risk assessment

Once hazards are identified, they are assessed based on their potential consequences and likelihood of occurrence.

This involves evaluating the potential risks and determining whether they fall within acceptable levels. If the risks are deemed acceptable, no further action is required.

However, if the risks are found to be unacceptable, additional steps are taken – namely mitigating the risks.

Risk mitigation

After assessing the risks, appropriate risk mitigation strategies are implemented. These strategies aim to reduce the likelihood and severity of identified risks.

Risk controls may involve operational changes, improved training programs, enhanced safety procedures or the introduction of new technology.

The “bow tie analysis”

A “bow tie analysis” allows aviation businesses to create a visual representation that clearly spells out safety risk.

It can clearly show how threats and hazards relate with one another, and how you can minimise its impact.

You can read more about the bow tie analysis on CASA’s website here.

The BAR Standard presents as a risk-based format to demonstrate the link between threats to aviation operations, associated controls and applicable recovery/mitigation measures.  The Standard has also established its own Bow Tie Risk Model, with identifies common threats and controls.

What are the principles of risk management in aviation?

The principles of risk management in aviation serve as a foundation for implementing effective safety risk management practices.

These principles include:

Proactivity

Safety risk management should be a proactive process, identifying potential risks before they lead to incidents or accidents. Even better is “predictive risk management” – the attempt to forecast actual occurrence, and take action accordingly.

Continual improvement

Aviation organisations should continuously strive to improve their safety risk management practices by learning from incidents, analysing data and implementing lessons learned.

Just culture

A just culture promotes open reporting and learning from errors and near misses without fear of punitive actions. It encourages employees to report safety concerns and contributes to a culture of continuous improvement.

What is the process of risk management in aviation SMS?

Aviation risk management is a recurring procedure that generally follows well-known structured approach commonly understood across the industry and each safety management system (SMS).

Aviation risk management is a cyclical process

The process typically includes the following steps:

Awareness

Creating awareness of the importance of safety risk management throughout the organisation. This involves education and training programs to ensure all employees understand their roles and responsibilities.

Identify and report

Encouraging the reporting of hazards, incidents, and near misses through reporting systems, safety surveys and safety culture assessments. This helps in identifying potential risks.

Evaluate, assess, and analyse risk exposure

Analysing reported hazards and incidents to assess their severity and likelihood. Risk exposure is determined by evaluating the consequences and probability of occurrence for each risk.

Determine if further controls are needed

Based on the risk assessment, determining if additional risk controls are required to reduce or eliminate identified risks. This may involve modifying procedures, implementing new technologies, or enhancing training programs.

Implement risk management actions

Implementing the identified risk controls and ensuring they are integrated into operational practices. This may require training employees, updating manuals and procedures and monitoring compliance.

Monitor and review

Regularly monitoring the effectiveness of risk controls, evaluating their impact on risk reduction, and reviewing their efficiency.

This includes analysing safety data, conducting safety audits, and seeking feedback from employees and stakeholders.

What is a risk control in aviation SMS programs?

Risk controls play a vital role within aviation safety management systems (SMS) as they act as a crucial defense mechanism for organisations to safeguard against potential hazards and increase the likelihood of successful operational outcomes.

Within an operational environment, hazards can manifest in various forms, but they generally fall into the following distinct categories:

• Human behavior (Human Factors);
• Environmental factors;
• Safety events and inherent risks (for instance, equipment malfunctions and security); and
• Bureaucratic weaknesses (for instance, gaps in documentation or inadequate oversight).

By understanding and categorising these different types of risks, aviation service providers can develop appropriate risk controls within their SMS.

Purpose of risk controls

The primary purpose of risk controls is to reduce the likelihood and severity of identified risks. They aim to prevent accidents, incidents and injuries by implementing preventive measures and safety protocols.

Risk controls are crucial for maintaining a safe operating environment and protecting the well-being of passengers, crew members and other stakeholders.

Application of risk controls

Risk controls are applied across various areas in the aviation industry, including aircraft operations, maintenance, ground handling, air traffic management and security.

Each area requires specific risk controls tailored to the unique hazards and risks associated with those operations. Risk controls are continuously assessed and updated to adapt to changing circumstances, technology advancements and regulatory requirements.

Flight Risk Assessment Tools (FRAT)

Flight Risk Assessment Tools (FRAT) are essential tools used in aviation safety risk management.

FRATs provide a systematic and standardised approach for pilots and flight crews to assess potential risks before each flight. These tools help identify hazards, evaluate their severity and likelihood, and determine appropriate risk mitigations.

Its primary functions include:

Increasing crew awareness

By utilising FRATs, flight crews are provided with valuable insights into the potential challenges they may encounter during their flight. This awareness enables them to be better prepared and equipped to address these risks effectively.

Pre-flight risk mitigation

FRAT offers an opportunity to proactively address and mitigate risks before embarking on a flight. By conducting a thorough assessment using the FRAT, flight operators can identify potential threats and implement necessary measures to minimise their impact.

Ultimately, a FRAT serves as a fundamental component of pre-flight evaluations, assessing potential hazards and risks associated with a flight. Initially introduced in 2007 following extensive research and analysis of aviation accidents in the early 2000s, the FRAT represented a groundbreaking development in the industry.

Final thoughts

Safety risk management is of paramount importance in the aviation industry to ensure the safety of passengers, crew members and aircraft. Through a systematic and proactive approach, aviation organisations can identify, assess and mitigate potential risks.

By integrating safety risk management practices into operations, the aviation industry can continuously improve safety performance and maintain the highest level of safety standards.