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Hazard Identification & Risk


Reactive Hazard Identification: Mandatory Occurrence Reporting
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
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 24, 20252 min read


Reactive Hazard Identification: Learning from Accidents and Incidents
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
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 22, 20253 min read


Reactive Hazard Identification: Information Sharing
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
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 20, 20253 min read


Compliance Audits as Proactive Hazard Identification
In June, I wrote that Compliance Monitoring isn’t about finding Findings . The point was simple: audits are not about catching people...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 17, 20252 min read


Proactive Risk Assessments: Why Assess What’s Already Active?
Aviation never stops moving. New routes, new bases, new contracts, everything happens fast. In that environment, proactive risk...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 15, 20252 min read


Normal Operations Schemes: Proactive Hazard Identification in Practice
On October 1, I wrote about proactive hazard identification , the methods we use to uncover hazards in daily operations, before they...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 13, 20252 min read


Management of Change: A Predictive Tool, Not Just a Checklist
Change in aviation is constant. New contracts, new routes, new technology, new people, nothing stays still for long. But with each change...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 9, 20252 min read


Flight Data Monitoring: Predictive Safety in Action
In last week’s articles, we explored the three methods of hazard identification: predictive , proactive , and reactive . Flight Data...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 6, 20252 min read


Learning From What Happened: Reactive Hazard Identification
There are three main ways to identify hazards in aviation: Predictive, Proactive, and Reactive . Each has its role, and together they...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 3, 20252 min read


Seeing Risks in Real Time: Proactive Hazard Identification
There are three main ways to identify hazards in aviation: Predictive, Proactive, and Reactive . Each has its role, and together they...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Oct 1, 20253 min read


Looking Into the Crystal Ball: Predictive Hazard Identification
There are three main ways to identify hazards in aviation: Predictive, Proactive, and Reactive . Each has its role, and together they...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Sep 29, 20252 min read


Runway Excursions is Still the Top Risk: When Fuel Saving Undermines Safety
The 2025 Annual Safety Review, published by EASA on 26 August, once again confirms that runway excursions remain one of the top accident...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Sep 8, 20252 min read


Learning from the 2025 Annual Safety Review: What Do the Numbers Really Mean for Operators?
On 26 August 2025 , EASA published the latest Annual Safety Review . It provides a wealth of data about accidents, serious incidents, and...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Sep 1, 20252 min read


Myth Buster: Risk Assessments Are Only for the Authority
The Myth: Many still believe that risk assessments are just a formality, a document to tick off and send to the authority. The Reality:...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Aug 29, 20251 min read


Continuous Improvement: Finding the Balance Between Safety and Practicality
Continuous improvement is a principle that every safety and compliance professional embraces. It’s about looking for ways to do things...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Aug 13, 20252 min read


Getting to the Root – It’s Almost Never One
In audits, investigations, or improvement reviews, we’re often asked: ❓ “What was the root cause?” But here’s the truth: 🔍 There’s...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Jul 11, 20252 min read


Root Cause, Risk Assessment & Contributing Factors — What’s the Difference?
In the world of aviation safety and compliance, we often hear these three terms used interchangeably: Root Cause Analysis , Risk...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Jul 9, 20252 min read


When Change Outpaces Safety
In fast-moving aviation operations—especially ACMI projects , seasonal contracts , or rapid base expansions — change is constant ....
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Jun 23, 20252 min read


How ERC Can Be Used for Predictive Risk — Not Just Occurrence Analysis
The response to my recent comparison of ERC and the ICAO 5x5 matrix was incredible, thank you to everyone who joined the discussion and...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Jun 13, 20252 min read


Why ERC Is More Reliable Than the ICAO 5x5 Matrix in Risk Assessment
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...
Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
Jun 11, 20252 min read
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