Risk assessment matrix. A tool used to see the relationship between risk likelihood and risk severity to determine an overall level of risk, measured as low, medium, serious, or high.

Risk likelihood. The probability of encountering risk categorized as probable, occasional, remote, or improbable.

Risk management. The part of the decision-making process which relies on situational awareness, problem recognition, and good judgment to reduce risks associated with each flight.

Risk mitigation. The process of reducing risk likelihood and severity to lower levels.

Risk severity. The magnitude of consequences of risk categorized as catastrophic, critical, marginal, or negligible.

Root cause. The underlying reason that leads the pilot or aircraft toward the probable cause of an accident.

Safety management system (SMS). The application of special technical and managerial skills to the systematic, forward-looking identification and control of hazards throughout the life cycle of a project, program, or activity.

Single-pilot resource management (SRM). The art/science of managing all the resources (both on board the aircraft and from outside sources) available to a single pilot (before and during flight) to ensure that the successful outcome of the flight is never in doubt.

Situational awareness. Perception of variables in the environment, comprehension of their meaning, and projection of their status in the near future.

Stress. The body’s response to demands placed upon it.

System component failure of the powerplant (SCF-PP). An accident caused by failure of an engine component that may lead to complete failure of the engine.

TEAM (or TEMA). An acronym that represents the four risk mitigation process steps: Transfer, Eliminate, Accept, and Mitigate (or Transfer, Eliminate, Mitigate, and Accept).

Technically advanced airplane (TAA). An airplane equipped with an electronically advanced avionics system.

Threat. Hazards present in the environment or that are outside the influence of the flight crew that increase operational complexity and may lead to errors.

Threat and error management (TEM). A risk management methodology designed to anticipate and prevent threats from creating errors, trap errors before they cause undesired aircraft states, and mitigate undesired aircraft states to stop an incident or accident from occurring.

Total risk. The sum of identified and unidentified risks.

Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). Includes what was formerly known as the Federal Aviation Regulations governing the operation of aircraft, airways, and airmen.