Acceptance of Residual Risk in Brazilian Military Aeronautical Design through Methodology Application

The certification phase of military aeronautical design in Brazil necessitates the demonstration of compliance with mission-related requirements. Within the realm of engineering activities associated with initial airworthiness, the System Safety Analysis (SSA) assumes a critical role in the design process. This analysis entails determining the adequacy of system safety measures and striking a balance between safety, cost, and military capability. In some instances, the emphasis placed on military capacity equals or surpasses that placed on operational safety. Competent authorities ensure the safety of systems and products employed in fulfilling missions, necessitating a methodical assessment of associated risks. To address this need, the development of a comprehensive guide to support risk assessment decisions in specific operations becomes imperative. In this article, the authors draw upon their extensive experience in certifying military aeronautical products to accomplish the following objectives: (1) provide a concise overview of the concept of risk acceptance as applied to aeronautical design; (2) introduce the risk analysis methodology employed in military aeronautical projects in Brazil; (3) present a robust methodology that substantiates the acceptance of residual risk in Brazilian military aeronautical projects; and (4) demonstrate the practical application of this methodology in substantiating the acceptance of residual risk in the operation of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

Keywords: Airworthiness, Risk, Military design, Quality.

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