1. Lunch & Learn Webinar: Flight Release Overview
Civil Air Patrol
Lunch & Learn Webinar: Flight Release Overview
One Civil Air Patrol, excelling in service to our nation and our members!

2. Presenter Ron Olienyk Dep Dir of Operations National Headquarters
John “Moose” Desmarais
Director of Operations
National Headquarters

3. Rules of Engagement
Members in the field will be in listen only mode. We have several hundred members signed up, so having everyone with an open microphone is not supportable.
We will try to answer questions throughout the webinar though. Just type your questions, and we will either answer you directly via text or provide a voice answer to your question.
The webinar itself, questions, and chat log are being recorded, so please remain respectful.
Time is limited…focus on the topic 

4. Agenda Operational Risk Management Flight Release Process Changes
Responsibilities
FRO levels
Reports

5. Operational Risk Management
Enhanced Pre-flight ORM
Based on AF Model
Automated in WMIRS
“Points” Assessed Based on Relative Risk
Total Points Dictate Flight Release Level
This will be a huge upgrade to our existing ORM
Automated in WMIRS, with a web of notifications and approval thresholds
Crews will answer ORM questions and system will assess points based on the risk indicated
The total score will determine the level required to release the flight (the proper level to “accept the risk”)
(NEXT SLIDE)

6. Updated Sortie ORM
Updated and new areas in up to four levels of approval plus firm No Go decision points when necessary:
Low
Moderate
High
Extreme
Example: Icing (Forecast or Reported)
Each item is assigned scores. Though a notional 0 through 3 is used at this point for this item, the team is currently working the weighting of each item.
Every sortie will be individually scored.
None
(0 pts)
Possible
Within 2,000’ (1 pt)
Very Possible
Within 1,000’ (2 pts)
Probable
Within 500’ (3pts)
No Go
At flight altitude
No Waivers Authorized

7. Operational Risk Management
Example
Here is a quick example of just a couple of the questions on the pre-flight ORM worksheet
The pilot will click on the appropriate answer and the computer will assign a score based on the increasing levels of risk associated with the answer
The greater the risk, the higher the score
(NEXT SLIDE)

8. Updated Flight Release Process

9. Updated Flight Release Process

10. Updated Flight Release Process

11. Updated Flight Release Process
Risk Management “discussion” with PIC
Flight Release Level Based on Mission “Score”
Individual Items Could Trigger Higher FRO
FRO
Senior FRO (Instrument Rated Pilot)
Wing / Region CC / CV / DO
CAP/DO and Designees
Can Be Elevated at FRO Discretion
FRO Walks Through Checklist With Pilot
Some Answers Automated (currency, quals, etc)
Other ORM Questions Discussed
FRO Documents Answers/Release Electronically
Once the ORM is complete for the sortie, it triggers the Flight Release process
Basic missions can be released by a normal flight release officer
Higher risk scores will automatically require release by a higher authority
For example, as scores go up, it may require release by a Senior Flight Release Officer, and then up through the wing and region levels
Highest level is CAP/DO or designee, to determine if the mission is releasable or requires Command attention
Flight Release Officer can also elevate to a higher release level if they “just don’t feel comfortable”
The designated FRO also has a checklist of questions
Automated reports ease the burden for things like currencies, qualifications, etc
Other questions involve a conscious discussion between pilot and FRO on risks, mitigations, and decision points during the mission
A timely, controlled “appointment” to discuss risk management
Flight release is recorded in WMIRS

12. Updated Flight Release Process
Once the ORM is complete for the sortie, it triggers the Flight Release process
Basic missions can be released by a normal flight release officer
Higher risk scores will automatically require release by a higher authority
For example, as scores go up, it may require release by a Senior Flight Release Officer, and then up through the wing and region levels
Highest level is CAP/DO or designee, to determine if the mission is releasable or requires Command attention
Flight Release Officer can also elevate to a higher release level if they “just don’t feel comfortable”
The designated FRO also has a checklist of questions
Automated reports ease the burden for things like currencies, qualifications, etc
Other questions involve a conscious discussion between pilot and FRO on risks, mitigations, and decision points during the mission
A timely, controlled “appointment” to discuss risk management
Flight release is recorded in WMIRS

13. Updated Flight Release Process
Once the ORM is complete for the sortie, it triggers the Flight Release process
Basic missions can be released by a normal flight release officer
Higher risk scores will automatically require release by a higher authority
For example, as scores go up, it may require release by a Senior Flight Release Officer, and then up through the wing and region levels
Highest level is CAP/DO or designee, to determine if the mission is releasable or requires Command attention
Flight Release Officer can also elevate to a higher release level if they “just don’t feel comfortable”
The designated FRO also has a checklist of questions
Automated reports ease the burden for things like currencies, qualifications, etc
Other questions involve a conscious discussion between pilot and FRO on risks, mitigations, and decision points during the mission
A timely, controlled “appointment” to discuss risk management
Flight release is recorded in WMIRS

14. Other Enhancements Programmable ORM Thresholds
Leaders May Set “Notification Scores”
Enhanced Reporting
Track scores by mission types, pilots, etc
Average scores by mission, wing, unit, etc
Leaders can program their own tighter thresholds; when do they want to be alerted?
Any time an ORM score is above 20? Above 35? They can select the threshold of their choosing.
Leaders can select specific report parameters to assess effectiveness of risk management efforts
Consistently low scores for certain missions?
May require re-assessment of scores for certain questions
May require an adjustment of total score thresholds
Inconsistency between different units flying similar missions?
May require training
(NEXT SLIDE)

15. Personal ORM Notification Thresholds
One of the challenges the staff noted was that there could be a lack of awareness by leaders of varying levels of risk of operations within their command, and no way to individually manage that. Staff officers can now establish levels of risk that they want to be informed of as the ORM level is determined (initial or updated) for each sortie.
The numbers noted above are notional as levels are still being determined, but this should explain the intent.
Staff officers can be notified in more than one location to be ed. They could get most at their day to day account, but could choose to put their text messaging address as one choice to get notified for high or extreme risk items for example.

16. Personal ORM Notification Thresholds
One of the other challenges the staff noted was that there could be a lack of awareness by leaders of varying levels of risk of operations within their command, and no way to individually manage that. Staff officers can now establish levels of risk that they want to be informed of as the ORM level is determined (initial or updated) for each sortie.
The numbers noted above are notional as levels are still being determined, but this should explain the intent.
Staff officers can be notified in more than one location to be ed. They could get most at their day to day account, but could choose to put their text messaging address as one choice to get notified for high or extreme risk items for example.

17. Adjustable Flight Release Thresholds
Commanders and designees at the Wing, Region and National level will be able adjust thresholds within at their desired level, but higher echelons take precedence.

18. New Reports
One of the main things that became obvious to the group as we reviewed all of our risk areas is that there were many unknowns and no real ways to review and manage the risk.
A variety of reports have been developed to assist with management. Though they do look at the ORM history for the last two years in WMIRS, there is not a lot of validity to it as most pilots just went down the left column, with no regard or review for the ones that were entered (only about 20%).
The intention going forward is that the electronic ORM will be mandated with limited exception, much like electronic flight release is already; in most wings 99 to 100% of the flights are released electronically, and we expect to be able to do that same for ORM.
As we build history we will be able to review and update our ORM and FRO process to better meet our mission needs, and CAP/DO can update the questions without IT interaction. ORM at the time will still be stored, but changes can be made easily to both the FRO checklist as well as the ORM sheets.

19. New Reports
One of the main things that became obvious to the group as we reviewed all of our risk areas is that there were many unknowns and no real ways to review and manage the risk.
A variety of reports have been developed to assist with management. Though they do look at the ORM history for the last two years in WMIRS, there is not a lot of validity to it as most pilots just went down the left column, with no regard or review for the ones that were entered (only about 20%).
The intention going forward is that the electronic ORM will be mandated with limited exception, much like electronic flight release is already; in most wings 99 to 100% of the flights are released electronically, and we expect to be able to do that same for ORM.
As we build history we will be able to review and update our ORM and FRO process to better meet our mission needs, and CAP/DO can update the questions without IT interaction. ORM at the time will still be stored, but changes can be made easily to both the FRO checklist as well as the ORM sheets.

20. New Reports
Through the “Average ORM Score” link, reports can be pulled for:
Average ORM Score for each Wing
Mission Type Average ORM Scores
Average ORM Score for a Mission
Sortie ORM Scores for a Mission
ORM Line Item Numbers
Through the various reports above, we can refine the areas of risk and mitigate the risk to the max extent possible.

21. What You Can Do Emails will go out to the PIC and appropriate FROs.
Developmental Server
Test different scenarios
Low time pilot
Different Conditions
Etc.

22. QUESTIONS? dov@capnhq.gov

23. CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES
Civil Air Patrol
Questions & Answers
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