Polaris Aero, an aviation safety software company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is launching an upgraded version of its flagship aviation safety software product, FlightRisk.

FlightRisk is an advanced risk assessment system that automatically identifies potential aviation hazards and risk mitigation procedures. It aids dispatchers, pilots and other crew from the moment the flight is scheduled all the way up to preflight checks, as well as helping them follow consistent mitigation advisories.

“This new and enhanced FlightRisk release incorporates all of the state-of-the-art, safety-related innovation of the original one and adds to it significantly,” notes Chris Connor, co-founder and CEO of Polaris. “Traditional flight risk assessment systems (FRATs) are manually cumbersome and rely on pilots' perceptions of risk. A lack of relevant experience can result in a misperception of that risk. FlightRisk helps eliminate that potential for misperception and is fully automated.”

The new version of FlightRisk features an array of upgrades, including: simpler, more user-friendly onscreen navigation. Works throughout the flight assessment process; new drill-down options in Insights. Enables easier understanding of hazards crews are experiencing; risk-rating filters. Sort and grouping features enable users to find the risk ratings that are most relevant to the flight; hypothetical assessment option. Enables pilots, dispatchers, and crew to run a hypothetical risk assessment that won't affect FlightRisk Insights; and new scenario planner options. Helps users analyse ‘what if’ flying scenarios and test custom rules.

FlightRisk users have automatically been transitioned to the new application, with no loss of previous data. To aid in users' transition to the new release, Polaris Aero is planning to offer webinars and train-the-trainer sessions.

Connor describes in detail how the new FlightRisk software improves on the original, highly regarded product, working even more effectively to improve preflight safety checks. “Simply giving crews access to more information isn't enough,” he noted. “It can be overwhelming for crew to recall all of the applicable rules, procedures, regulations, handbooks and other materials relating to their flight and its safety.” Connor said that FlightRisk solves the problem of information overload by analysing a variety of pilot, environment, aircraft and airfield-related factors to search out and identify the information that is most relevant to a particular flight.

“By adding context to the information they receive, we make it more meaningful and relatable to a particular flight. Essentially, we're helping transform 'information' into 'knowledge,' and that's a prerequisite for better, more effective decision-making on every flight. We're very excited about how much it's already proving to be a critical addition to preflight safety protocols and helping crews to never forget safety lessons learned.”