Risk Assessment, HF & TEM
Quite extrordinary how reactions boil up when the above words are used.
However, while the terms above may be new and oft assigned to phsycobbable, most pilots will have been trained to do; a Risk Assessment, Threat and Error Management plus add Human Factors before flight.
Such as;
Weather check; local, enroute and destination.
Alternate
time enroute, fuel endurance and reserves
Cruising levels;
terrain, obstructions, safe altitude/MSA, icing levels and cloud base/tops
Suitability of available runways and take-off run/distance,
headwind/crosswind component considerations
Weight and Balance
Safe stowage and security of baggage etc
Maps and charts notified airspace and ATC considerations
Pre-flight walkround checks, currency of C of A, Release to Service etc.
Pre-start, after start, taxiing and power/pre-takeoff checks
Airborne checks; in the climb, top of climb, FREDA, top of descent and bumpfh and commital checks.
And when all that is done: The personal ability given the days conditions to handle the flight. Most PPLs put a great deal of thought at least on that, particularly, although some can be a bit too lacking on elements of the long list.
The pilots risk assessment rules generally remain relevant for all flights. For some non aviation tasks such as project management - mentioned in a previous post - the environment and the assciated risks can be different form job to job and therefore need to be uniquely assessed against a set of pre-determined rules unique to the job or profession.
Landing/take-off and manouvering at an unlicenced strip could of course be unique and a risk assessment will hopefully always be undertaken. A unique risk assessment if only in the form of a simple but full briefing from the owner.