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Teaching Risk Management During Flight Instruction

The PAVE Checklist​

  • The PAVE checklist should be used to identify risk factors that need to be mitigated
  • Pilot, Aircraft, EnVironment, and External Pressure are broad buckets

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 10-2

When to Teach Risk Management​

  • At the start of the first lesson, starting with ground lessons
  • Included in post-flight briefings of each flight

Assessing and Mitigating Risk​

Risk matrix

  • Risk should be evaluated with their regard to severity (how bad is it if it occurs), and likelihood (how likely is it to occur)
  • Thinking about risk can start days before the flight
  • If risks cannot be mitigated, consider cancelling the flight

Risk mitigation process:

  • T: Transfer
  • E: Eliminate
  • A: Accept
  • M: Mitigate

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 10-3

Risk Management by Phase of Instruction​

  • During private pilot training
    1. Pre-solo: Introduce risk management and discuss before/after each flight
    2. Pre-solo-XC: Learner should perform the risk analysis, with some coaching
    3. XC training: XC risk management with the complexities it involves
  • For experienced pilots
    • Instrument training: Unique IFR condition risks
    • Transition training: Risks associated with new and complex aircraft
    • Recurrent/Flight Review/IPCs: Use scenarios during any kind of recurrent training to evaluate risk management proficiency

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 10-4

Managing Risk During Flight Instruction​

  • Pilot risks
    • Instructor should expect the learner to make mistakes, and need margin to allow for those mistakes
    • Instructors also need to be qualified and proficient
  • Aircraft risks
    • Instructors may not be in control of the maintenance of trainer aircraft
    • Weight and balance may have limitation in two-place trainer aircraft
  • Environment risks
    • Training airspace can be crowded
    • Airspace may have haze or pollution
  • External pressures
    • External distractions
    • Pressures to complete training

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 10-6

Best Practices for Managing Risk during Flight Instruction​

  • Pilot
    • Pilots should remain current and proficient
    • Instructors should use the IMSAFE checklist for aeromedical risks
  • Aircraft
    • Instructors should ensure aircraft is airworthy before flight
    • Deal with maintenance issues before the preflight
  • Environment
    • Diligence is required around weather, terrain, night operation, airports, airspace
    • Instructor should involve the learner in the assessment and mitigation process
  • External pressures
    • Instructors should be conscious of the learners schedule and pressures
    • Be willing and able to switch to a ground lesson if flying is unadvisable

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 10-7

Managing Risk while Teaching Takeoffs​

  • Takeoffs happen so quickly that there is not much time instruct
  • Strive for a sterile cockpit to avoid over-stimulating the learner
  • Brief the takeoff with the learner beforehand
  • Create realistic scenarios for short field, soft field maneuvers, but ensure its safe to do so
  • Be cognizant of other aircraft

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 10-8

Managing Risk while Teaching Landings​

  • Landing are complex and require conceptional understand of power, control, configuration, wind
  • Pick aiming and touchdown points carefully
  • Use concise prompting during landings
  • Instructors should be familiar with the airports and areas

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 10-9