Every flight has some level of risk. It’s up to the pilot to review that risk in advance and then develop the appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
One of the best ways of doing this is by using a Flight Risk Analysis Tool or FRAT, according to FAA officials.
FRATs are generally easy to use tools that can help pilots proactively identify hazards and make better go/no go decisions for every flight.
Using a FRAT to put everything on paper allows you to graphically depict risk limits free from the pressure of an impending flight or maintenance task. It also sets the stage for managing risk through proactive mitigation strategies that are documented.
The FAA Safety Team (FAAST) has produced an easy-to-use FRAT that will get you started in safety risk management. The FAAST FRAT is a simple automated spreadsheet that will run on a Windows or Mac system. Just download the appropriate file for your computer and you’re in business.
For more on FRATs, check out the FAA’s safety flyer, as well as this month’s FlySafe campaign page.