FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)Aeromedical and ADMMedium
While preflight planning an IFR cross-country flight, a pilot reviews the destination's expected weather trends, personal currency and rest, passenger needs, and finally checks the planned autopilot and GPS approach settings for the arrival. The review of the autopilot and GPS settings corresponds to which category of the 5P risk management model?
- APilot
- BPlan
- CPlane
- DProgramming
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Programming
The 5P model categorizes risk factors into Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, and Programming. Programming specifically refers to the use of automation, including autopilot modes and GPS/FMS programming, and requires the pilot to verify these settings are correctly configured for the flight.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Pilot covers the pilot's own fitness, currency, and proficiency.
- B. Plan covers the overall route, weather, and fuel considerations, not automation settings.
- C. Plane covers the aircraft's airworthiness and equipment status, not specific automation programming.
5P Risk Management Model
A risk assessment tool organizing hazards into five categories: Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, and Programming, evaluated at key decision points throughout a flight.
- Plan: route, weather, fuel, alternates
- Plane: aircraft airworthiness and equipment
- Pilot, Passengers: human factors and needs
- Programming: automation setup such as autopilot/GPS/FMS
Memory trick: Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, Programming—check all five before you fly