Flight Risk Assessment Calculator
A pre-flight risk checklist for general-aviation pilots in the style of an FAA Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT): each hazard adds points and the total flags when to mitigate or stay on the ground.
Last updated: October 2026
Flight Risk Score
3 points
Formula below · 1 source (faa.gov) · Updated Oct 2026
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About this calculator
A Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) turns the hazards of a planned flight into points, so you can see when several moderate risks add up to an unacceptable one. The FAA's guidance (InFO 07015) and the FAA Safety Team FRAT both work this way: each hazard that applies adds a set number of points, and the total is compared with thresholds the operator or pilot chooses in advance.
How this score is built
score = experience points + recency points + weather + aircraft + type of flight
Fewer than 200 hours in the aircraft type adds 5 points, the same item and weight as the FAA's sample FRAT. Fewer than 10 hours flown in the last 90 days adds 3 points; the FAA sample uses 100 hours for airline crews, which is far above typical general-aviation flying, so this page uses 10 hours. Weather uses the FAA flight categories (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR), with forecast thunderstorms or icing scored highest. Each option shows its points. The defaults (300 hours in type, 12 recent hours, marginal VFR, fixed-gear single, day cross-country) score 0 + 0 + 2 + 0 + 1 = 3.
Reading the total
The bands below (0–5 low, 6–10 caution, 11–15 high, over 15 no-go unless reduced) are an example. There is no FAA-mandated cut-off: set your own, ideally by scoring past flights, and decide before the day what a yellow or red score means. A higher score is a prompt to mitigate (wait for better weather, fly in daylight, take an instructor, choose a familiar aircraft) and then score the flight again.
This is a planning aid, not a go/no-go decision. It does not cover fatigue, illness, medication, aircraft condition, runway and performance limits, weight and balance, NOTAMs or external pressure to complete the trip; the PAVE checklist (Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures) is a good way to review those.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 200 hours in the aircraft type | 5 |
| Under 10 hours flown in the last 90 days | 3 |
| Weather: VFR / MVFR / IFR / LIFR | 0 / 2 / 4 / 6 |
| Thunderstorms, icing or strong gusty winds forecast | 10 |
| Aircraft: fixed-gear single to jet | 0 to 4 |
| Flight: local day VFR to mountain terrain | 0 to 4 |
How to use
Enter your hours in the aircraft type and your hours in the last 90 days, then pick the worst weather category expected on the route, the aircraft and the type of flight. Example 1 (defaults): 300 hours in type, 12 recent hours, marginal VFR, fixed-gear single, day cross-country: 0 + 0 + 2 + 0 + 1 = 3 points, low. Example 2: 120 hours in a retractable single, 6 hours in the last 90 days, a night flight in marginal VFR: 5 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 14 points, high. Flying in daylight instead lowers it to 12; waiting for VFR and getting a few hours of recent practice brings it to 7. Example 3: 900 hours in a turboprop, 40 recent hours, IFR flight plan in low IFR: 0 + 0 + 6 + 3 + 2 = 11 points, high: plan mitigations such as alternates with better weather.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Flight Risk Assessment Tool?
A FRAT is a short pre-flight checklist that assigns points to hazards such as low experience in the aircraft, poor weather, night or a long duty day. The FAA recommends FRATs to operators (InFO 07015) and the FAA Safety Team offers one for general-aviation pilots. The total helps you notice when risks stack up.
What score means no-go?
There is no FAA-set threshold; each operator or pilot sets one. This page uses 0–5 low, 6–10 caution, 11–15 high and over 15 as no-go unless the risk is reduced, as an example. Choose your own thresholds before the flight, not on the ramp.
How do I lower my score?
Change the flight, not the inputs: wait for better weather, fly in daylight, shorten the trip, take a flight instructor or a more experienced pilot, or get current in the aircraft first. Then score the revised plan.
What does this score leave out?
Fatigue, illness and medication, the aircraft's maintenance status, runway length and performance, weight and balance, NOTAMs and pressure to get there. Review those separately, for example with the PAVE and IMSAFE checklists.
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