Given that every flight carries some degree of risk, it's vital for pilots to distinguish beforehand between low-risk and high-risk flights, establish a review process, and formulate strategies for risk mitigation. A FRAT facilitates proactive hazard recognition, is user-friendly, and provides a visual representation of risk levels. It serves as an essential aid in assisting pilots with informed go/no-go decisions and ought to be incorporated into every flight's planning process.

Why is a FRAT tool necessary?

Being "in the thick of it" is not the time to address a potentially dangerous situation. When preparing for a flight or maintenance operation, it's crucial for operators and technicians to pause and consider the risks involved. Simply running through the task mentally often overlooks the actual risk exposure. The mind has a tendency to isolate individual risks, which can lead to an underestimation of their collective impact. Personal biases may also skew our risk assessment to align with our own objectives. To counteract these biases, it's advisable to document the process. Writing it down helps set clear risk boundaries away from the pressures of an imminent flight or maintenance activity, offering a comprehensive view of the risks that is difficult to achieve mentally. Most importantly, it lays the groundwork for managing risks with proactive and recorded mitigation strategies.

What is the purpose of my score, and what is it used for? 

The FAA Safety Team's FRAT tool, like many other FRATs, produces a score that will fall within one of three risk categories: Green (low), yellow (medium), and red (high).

Green: Cleared for lift-off! - Achieving a score that is comfortably within the green range might lead you to proceed with great enthusiasm. However, caution is advised. The Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) is not designed to make the go/no-go decision for you; it serves as a tool to assist in planning your flight and considering a broader spectrum of hazards and risks. When utilizing a FRAT, establishing numerical thresholds that necessitate additional scrutiny before making a go/no-go decision is prudent. Even a score on the higher end of the green range should prompt further examination. Pilots ought to identify the most significant risks contributing to their score and seek ways to reduce those risks.

Yellow: Aim to reduce the impact of the items with higher scores. - Should your score land in the yellow zone, consider addressing the items with higher scores. This could mean waiting for better weather conditions or opting for an aircraft that you're more familiar with. If your score remains yellow, seek the perspective of a designated contact, like a flight instructor or an FAA Safety Team Representative, who can assist in identifying additional risk mitigation strategies for your flight.

Red: No-Go. - Should your score land in the red zone, it's crucial to think about cancelling the flight unless the associated risks can be safely managed. Don't let external pressures, such as the need to attend significant events like your son's graduation, cloud your judgment regarding the decision to fly or not. Disappointment may ensue for you and your passengers, but it's always preferable to wish you were flying rather than wishing you were on the ground.

Start using the FAA Safety Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT)