Quickstoppers: Managing Risk: The Core of Military Aviation Safety
By Lt Col Michael Bargiel, AMC Flight Safety Chief
Military aviation demands a proactive approach to risk management, given the inherent dangers of flight and the added complexities of combat operations. Risk management isn’t just a policy; it’s a deeply ingrained mindset woven into every aspect of military flying.
Before any flight, aircrews conduct thorough risk assessments, identifying potential hazards and implementing mitigation strategies. Assessments consider factors like weather conditions, aircraft performance limitations, crew fatigue, mission pressure, and the operating environment.
However, risk management—a dynamic process—extends well beyond preflight activities and evolves throughout the mission as new hazards arise. Crews must be able to adapt as necessary to safely complete the mission, which requires sound judgment, quick thinking, and the ability to make critical decisions under pressure.
Crew resource management (CRM) plays a critical role in risk management. It emphasizes effective communication, shared situational awareness, and collaborative decision-making within the crew and empowers all crew members to speak up if they identify a potential safety concern, fostering a culture of shared responsibility.
After each flight, crews should share lessons learned across the mobility enterprise through several avenues, such as filing an Aviation Safety Action Program report through the SAFEREP app or sharing “There I was…” stories during the squadron Hangar Fly discussions. Sharing these lessons adds more tools for developing mitigation strategies.
Aligning risk management, mission requirements, and personal commitment ensures the Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) ability to rapidly respond to both routine and contingency operations in a constantly evolving global environment, which is also the cornerstone of aviation safety.