How to Use Flight Risk Analysis Tool

 Web Based Flight Risk Assessment Tools (FRAT)

SMS Pro's Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) provides proactive identification of possible aviation-related hazards and the use of risk management tools to mitigate risks as aspects of a Safety Management System (SMS). This is a completely customizable flight risk assessment tool that can be used not only for routine flight operations, but also for specialized missions. For example, one airline that uses this Web based aviation safety management software won a contract to fly a special mission around the world for a special "around-the-world tour." SMS Pro's flight risk assessment tool saved the airline at least three weeks in preparation time.

FRAT Tool Not Just For Flights - Completely Customizable

Web Based Flight Risk Assessments

SMS Pro's FRAT is a greatly improved and completely customizable Mission Risk Assessment Tool allowing escalation of required actions based upon an individual mission's risk. We don't specifically state that this aviation SMS FRAT tool is only for flights. This tool can be used for any special mission, such as maritime missions or hauling hazardous materials in a ground transportation operation. This is why we state that this FRAT tool is for missions.

Because SMS Pro's FRAT tool is completely customizable, an administrator can configure labels that are suitable for the operation. For example, the default "Pilot" and "Co-pilot" labels can be easily changed to "Driver" and "Relief Driver," or if you prefer, "PIC" and "SIC" for pilot in command and second in command.

Aviation Risk Assessment Tool has Four Categories

For SMS Pro's Web based flight risk assessment tool, there are four categories to evaluate for any particular mission:

1. Manpower;
2. Operating Environment;
3. Equipment;
4. Departures / Arrivals

Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) Based on FAA Model

Based on FAA Model

Each SMS Pro Web-based flight risk assessment tool (FRAT) comes pre-configured with default questions and risk values in each of the first three categories. These questions come from the FAA's paper-based flight risk assessment tool. SMS Pro was the first company to create a Web based flight risk assessment tool modeled after the FAA's model. Within six months, there were several other companies that followed with their own Web based flight risk assessment tools, most notably, NATA and Prism's. If you have seen these Web based FRAT tools and have also seen the SMS Pro FRAT, you will immediately recognize the quality and flexibility of the SMS Pro flight risk assessment tool.

An SMS Admin can easily modify these items by:

• Adding new questions;
• Changing the verbiage of questions;
• Changing risk value between 0 and 5;
• Changing the order the questions appear; or
• Removing them from the list.

FRAT Comes Configured With Over 6200 ICAO Airports

Departures / Arrivals are landing areas, such as airports or helipads. SMS Admins or Chief Pilots can configure a risk value for the departure and arrival at each landing area. NOTE: If landing areas are not listed, they can be added. Chief Pilots can add customizable landing areas, such as heliports, river beds or snowfields in Alaska. Currently, there are over 6200 ICAO airports in our database.

To facilitate the objective analysis of each landing area, SMS Pro comes with a Runway Risk Assessment download. This Excel spreadsheet allows your company to objectively assess each landing area to come up with a total "Arrival Risk" and a "Departure Risk." The Runway Risk Assessment was developed by the FAA sponsored Medallion Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska.

Automated Escalation For Configured FRAT Risk Levels

Escalate Reports Based on Risk

The purpose of the Mission Risk Assessment is to arrive at a measurable value that directs users to follow additional instructions if the total risk value falls within an "escalation range." For example, a mission risk value of 50 may require "Director of Operations Approval" and anything higher may direct pilots that "Flights are not authorized." SMS Pro limits the number of ranges or "escalation stages" to four in order to reduce end user frustration and complexity. Each range can be assigned a color, a low range and a high range.

Based on the Mission Risk Value, users can submit via email an escalation report to configured users or third parties. In addition, one can easily send all mission reports to an email account to archive. One can even email a report to "dispatch."

Finally, one can print a hard-copy report to get get required signatures or file.

To learn more about Web based aviation safety management systems, follow this link.

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.