text: Appendix B
  Risk Management
  B-1. Aviation operations are inherently risky even during routine peacetime or limited contingency
  operations. In LSCO, many aviation operations become high-risk, high-reward missions. Commanders
  must appropriately mitigate risks in order to provide continued support to the ground maneuver
  commander.
  B-2. Risk management is a critical process that contributes to the endurance of an aviation force. It
  identifies hazardous environments and helps commanders eliminate, reduce, or minimize risk associated
  with mission and operational requirements in order to protect assets. It is integral throughout the planning
  process, and directly contributes to the availability of aircrews, aircraft, and the associated equipment that
  are critical to mission support and accomplishment.
  B-3. Commanders balance between protecting the force and accepting risks in order to achieve military
  objectives. Commanders must adequately plan and prepare for operations based on a comprehensive
  understanding of the OE. Commanders collaborate and dialog with subordinates when deciding how much
  risk to accept and how to minimize the effects of risk. It is important to remember that accepting risk is a
  function of command, and it is a key planning consideration. The commander alone determines the level of
  acceptable risk with respect to aspects of operations. This level of risk should be expressed in the
  commander’s guidance, incorporated into all plans and orders, and clearly understood by subordinate
  leaders.
  B-4. In LSCO, commanders of aviation units must continually fight for information to see, understand,
  and respond to windows of opportunity. Aviation missions are frequently conducted without perfect
  information, and understanding the threats associated with the enemy, the terrain, and the weather all
  inform a commander’s level of risk-acceptance. Table B-1 lists examples of considerations that
  commanders should review when identifying risks. For more information about risk management, see ATP
  5-19.
  Table B-1. Aviation risk considerations
  Mission
  How complex is this mission? (This will help identify which leaders should participate and where they
  should be located)
  How does the unit move into positions of advantage without being heavily disrupted by enemy assets?
  (Units observed by enemy forces can be engaged. Units engaged by an enemy on the enemy’s terms
  can be destroyed. )
  Are adjacent units operating off of common procedures? (Shared understanding of terms and common
  control measures will reduce risk of fratricide.)
  Enemy
  What threat systems must be avoided or destroyed to be successful? (This will help identify high payoff
  and high value targets.)
  Where and when could enemy deception operations create vulnerabilities to aviation operations? (The
  commander must evaluate available courses of action against known enemy deception capabilities.)
  Terrain and Weather
  How challenging are terrain conditions in aviation assembly areas? (Degraded visual environments from
  dust or snow increase chances of an accident upon takeoff or landing.)
  What is the weather effect on friendly and enemy operations? (Operations in limited visibility may reduce
  tactical risk, but increase the accidental risk at the same time.)