Hazard Identification & Risk

Doing What’s Required EU Regulation 376/2014 sets out what must be reported through the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR)  system. Most operators comply, and that’s a good thing. It’s the backbone of reactive hazard identification. When something significant happens, an aircraft system malfunction, a runway incursion, a loss of separation, the MOR process ensures it’s documented, analyzed, and shared across the system. That’s how we learn from what has already  happened. B

From Investigation to Understanding When an accident or incident occurs, the investigation that follows often draws attention, but the real value lies in what the organization learns  from it. Reactive hazard identification is about using these occurrences to reveal underlying system weaknesses, not to assign blame. By analyzing what went wrong and sharing what was learned, organizations can identify hazards that would otherwise remain hidden, strengthening their defenses lon

From Concept to Practice in Reactive Hazard Identification Earlier this month, in Learning from What Happened: Reactive Hazard Identification , we explored the concept  of reactive hazard identification, understanding events that have already occurred to strengthen future defenses. This week, we move from concept to practice and look at the methods  we can use to identify hazards reactively. We begin with information sharing , both within the organization and across the wider

In June, I wrote that Compliance Monitoring isn’t about finding Findings . The point was simple: audits are not about catching people...

Aviation never stops moving. New routes, new bases, new contracts, everything happens fast. In that environment, proactive risk...

On October 1, I wrote about proactive hazard identification , the methods we use to uncover hazards in daily operations, before they...

Change in aviation is constant. New contracts, new routes, new technology, new people, nothing stays still for long. But with each change...

In last week’s articles, we explored the three methods of hazard identification: predictive , proactive , and reactive . Flight Data...

There are three main ways to identify hazards in aviation: Predictive, Proactive, and Reactive . Each has its role, and together they...

There are three main ways to identify hazards in aviation: Predictive, Proactive, and Reactive . Each has its role, and together they...

There are three main ways to identify hazards in aviation: Predictive, Proactive, and Reactive . Each has its role, and together they...

The 2025 Annual Safety Review, published by EASA on 26 August, once again confirms that runway excursions remain one of the top accident...

On 26 August 2025 , EASA published the latest Annual Safety Review . It provides a wealth of data about accidents, serious incidents, and...

The Myth: Many still believe that risk assessments are just a formality, a document to tick off and send to the authority. The Reality:...

Continuous improvement is a principle that every safety and compliance professional embraces. It’s about looking for ways to do things...

In audits, investigations, or improvement reviews, we’re often asked: ❓ “What was the root cause?” But here’s the truth: 🔍 There’s...

In the world of aviation safety and compliance, we often hear these three terms used interchangeably: Root Cause Analysis , Risk...

In fast-moving aviation operations—especially ACMI projects , seasonal contracts , or rapid base expansions — change is constant ....

The response to my recent comparison of ERC and the ICAO 5x5 matrix was incredible, thank you to everyone who joined the discussion and...

When assessing risk in aviation safety, one of the most common tools used is the ICAO 5x5 matrix. While widely adopted, it comes with a...