UAS Risk Management
Author: Dr. Michael Zimmer
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As Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) evolve, organizations and manufactures are faced with changing safety requirements. Operating an UAS is complex as no physical pilot is in the cockpit, operating systems differ from conventional aircrafts, avionics require extensive software updates. When performing risk management, a healthy mindset is essential. Risk management is a decision-making process that is dependent on situation awareness, problem recognition, and sound judgement. Furthermore, when exploring risk management four hazard steps need to be considered: Recognizing, analyzing, eliminating, and strategizing (Aviation Safety Students, 2016)). Within this paper, the researcher will examine operational risk management (ORM) while using a DJI Mavic Mini as an example when developing a basic preliminary hazard list (PHL), preliminary hazard analysis, operational hazard review and analysis (OHRA), and ORM assessment to assess the safety for mission success.
Preliminary Hazard List
Preliminary Hazard List is a tool that allows one to identify safety issues before an operation. To maximize a PHL, one will need to hold a general understanding of dangers that may affect your objective (Ericson, 2005). Operational stages consist of planning, staging, launching, flight, and recovery. Each stage is evaluated differently to help keep operators organized when reviewing an operations stage. Potential hazards can come from terrain, comms, weather, etc. each hazard is assessed on a numeric scale to weight probability and severity. Once a hazard level has been labeled, then a mitigation action narrative will need to be drafted to aid in the pilot’s action plan. For example, if a DJI Mavic Mini were to be launched from my backyard that has nearby powerlines then a powerline incident to my system will be critical. Furthermore, my mitigation action would be to pilot my DJI Mavic Mini back to a safe area.
Preliminary Hazard Analysis
As risk levels are identified, one can now perform an analysis of methods to avoid the hazard. A PHA is best conducted within a probability and severity lens. In terms of probability, one will want to seek for ways to reduce possible risk (Qu, Zuo, & Wang, 2014). In addition, exploring mitigation action methods of hazard risk solutions. For example, launching a DJI Mavic Mini from the front of my residents where no powerlines exist or potentially modifying flight path to limit pathway obstructions. While analyzing probability and mitigation the desire goal is to limit possible chance for a MISHAP while accomplishing mission objectives. Last, within a PHA a pilot may include special notes to consider with specific detail when executing a mitigation action. For example, powerlines are 40’ AGL and proceed north-to-south.
Operational Hazard Review and Analysis
Similar to a PHL and PHA, OHRA identifies safety concerns prior to UAS operations. Operational Hazard Review and Analysis differs from other tools as OHRA evaluates hazards in the operation’s entirety. In addition, an OHRA can be performed at anytime as oppose to PHL and PHA development prior to an operation. Furthermore, benefits of OHRA is the injection of a review and analysis for unforeseen hazards as the hazard is occurring. Formatting an OHRA is too similar to PHL and PHA with the exception of an action review. An action review is design to determine if identified mitigation plan utilized from a PHL or PHA was adequate. For example, I launched a DJI Mavic Mini in the front of my resident to prevent a backyard powerline hazard, yet strong unaccounted winds drift my UAS. In this example, I imminently return my UAS to home to prevent an incident or accident with the powerlines. As my mitigation action was effective, I would not my actions within my action review to account the wind experience.
ORM Assessment
Operation Risk Assessment is a decision-making aid. By tailoring your operation using PHL, PHA, or OHRA, a generalization on can be made on overall operation risk. A ranking system is typically developed to aid in an overall operation risk level. Furthermore, ORA accounts for possible change in hazard to determine if risk can be reduced.
Conclusion
Risk management analysis can be developed in a number of ways. In addition, risk management analysis function and purpose are all similar in identifying hazards. Generally, tools are used within an operation stage and differ from stage-to-stage. By subdividing planning, staging, launch, flight, and recovery, a detail depiction of possible hazards can be reviewed for a safer flight. Within this paper, the researcher examined ORM while using a DJI Mavic Mini to explore PHL, PHA, OHRA, and overall ORM assessment usage.
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References
Aviation Safety Study. (2016). 3 Main Components of Aviation Risk Management. SMS Pro Aviation Safety Software Blog 4 Airlines & Airports. NorthWest Data Solutions. Retrieved from http://aviationsafetyblog.asms-pro.com/blog/3-main-components-of-aviation-risk-management
Ericson, C. A. (2005). Hazard analysis techniques for system safety. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience.
Qu, F., Zuo, Z., & Wang, X. (2014). Preliminary hazard analysis on fire and explosion hazard of stevedoring process in LNG terminal. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 496-500, 2863-2866. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.496-500.2863
