Who should read this: Safety managers and admins who create and
review risk assessments. Investigators and report reviewers also
benefit from understanding how risk entries are created from their
findings.Prerequisites: Safety manager or admin role. Familiarity with
your organization’s acceptable risk criteria and the
Risk Matrix reference.
Create a Risk Entry
In the Safety sidebar, navigate to Hazards and create a new risk. You can also use
Cmd+K and select “New Risk Entry.”If the risk was identified from a safety report or investigation, link it for traceability. Leave blank for hazards identified through audits, operational experience, or industry data.
State the condition or situation clearly and factually. Include what the hazard is, where it exists in your operations, and what systems or processes are affected.
Write hazard descriptions as factual conditions, not opinions. “Runway surface contamination at
KHPN during winter operations” is more useful than “Slippery runway.”
Choose the category that best describes the hazard — Flight Operations, Maintenance, Ground Handling, Cabin Safety, Airspace/ATC, Weather, Human Factors, or Organizational.
Rate severity (1—5) based on the worst credible outcome, and likelihood (A—E) based on how likely the outcome is. The risk matrix calculates the resulting zone automatically.
For the complete severity, likelihood, and zone definitions, see the Risk
Matrix reference.
If the calculated risk is in the red (Unacceptable) zone, you must define risk controls before the
associated operation can proceed (14 CFR 5.55).
Describe any measures already in place to mitigate this hazard. This establishes the baseline for determining whether additional controls are needed.
If the initial risk level falls in the yellow or red zone, add a control with a description and control type (engineering, administrative, procedural, or PPE).
After defining controls, rate the residual severity and likelihood. The matrix recalculates to show the new zone.
If residual risk remains yellow (ALARP), document your justification that further reduction is not
practical given the costs and benefits.
View the Risk Matrix
Navigate to Hazards > Matrix to see all active risks plotted on the 5x5 ICAO risk matrix. This view helps you:- Identify concentrations of risk across categories
- Prioritize mitigation efforts toward the highest-risk quadrant
- Compare initial risk ratings with residual ratings after controls
After Submission
Risk entries move through five statuses: Draft, Active, Mitigated, Accepted, and Closed. Review risks regularly during safety assurance activities and safety committee meetings. For the full lifecycle reference, see Risk Matrix.Related
Risk Matrix
Complete reference for the ICAO 5x5 matrix, severity and likelihood definitions, and risk zones.
Submit a Safety Report
Reporting hazards that feed into risk assessments.
Create a CPA
Implementing controls identified during risk assessment.
Track Compliance
How risk management contributes to Part 5 Subpart C compliance.