## 6.4 Risk Acceptance 

Risk acceptance is certification by the appropriate management official that he or she acknowledges and accepts the safety risk that is expected to remain once the National Airspace System (NAS) change is fully implemented. Safety risk must be accepted before the implementation of a proposed NAS change and the execution of the monitoring plan. Risk acceptance is based on the predicted residual risk (see Section 3.7.4). Risk acceptance and other inputs (e.g., cost-benefit analysis) are necessary before a change to the NAS can be implemented. When an individual or organization accepts a risk, it does not mean that the risk is eliminated; some level of risk will remain. 

Risk acceptance requires: 

• Signed confirmation from the appropriate management official that he or she understands and accepts the predicted residual safety risk(s) associated with the hazard(s) identified in the safety analysis; 

• Signatures for the safety requirements identified in the Safety Risk Management (SRM) document; 

• Approval of the safety performance target(s) or alternate method(s) identified to verify the predicted residual risk associated with each hazard, confirming that the safety performance target(s) or identified alternate method(s) can be used to measure the current risk; and 

• A comprehensive monitoring plan that the risk acceptor agrees to follow to verify the predicted residual risk. 

For nationally implemented NAS changes, risk can be accepted at the national level. However, if a facility is not able to comply with all of the safety requirements or has additional hazards and/or causes that were not identified in the national SRM document, a local assessment must be completed (with local risk acceptance) prior to the implementation of the NAS change. Refer to Section 6.2.1 for information on local versus national implementation of safety requirements. 

## 6.4.1 Authority to Accept Safety Risk 

The acceptance of the safety risk depends on the span of the program or NAS change and the associated risk. In most cases, the responsibility for risk acceptance ultimately lies with the organization(s) affected by the NAS change. Risk acceptance authority also depends on whether a NAS change is local or national in scope. 

By signing the SRM document, the risk acceptor is confirming the following are understood and accepted: 

• The safety analysis, including the identified safety risk(s); 

• The predicted residual risk(s) associated with the hazard(s) identified in the safety analysis; 

• The safety requirements that will be implemented; 

• The safety performance target(s) identified to measure the predicted residual risk associated with each hazard, thus confirming that the safety performance target(s) may be used to measure the current risk level; and 

• The information contained in the monitoring plan. 

