DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE OHIO
BULLETIN
AWB–150A
5DEC2017
(supersedesAWB‐150)
Distribution Statement A – Approved for public release; distribution unlimited
USAF Center of Excellence for Airworthiness
United States Air Force (USAF) Airworthiness Bulletin (AWB)-150A
Subject: Airworthiness (AW) Risk Assessment and Acceptance
Attachments: (1) Glossary of References and Supporting Information
(2) Severity Categories, Probability Levels, and Risk Assessment Matrix
(3) Amplifying Information for Preparing System Safety Risk Assessments
(SSRAs)
1) Purpose: Provide instruction for AW risk assessment and acceptance.
2) Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR): USAF Airworthiness Office (AFLCMC/EZSA;
usaf.airworthiness.office@us.af.mil).
3) Applicability: This bulletin applies to programs that design, acquire, own, lease, contract for,
operate, modify, or acquire the service of aircraft and air systems.
4) Policy: The following policy applies to USAF AW risk assessments:
a) MIL-STD-882E, System Safety: Identifies the Department of Defense (DoD) approach
for identifying hazards and assessing and mitigating associated risks encountered in the
development, test, production, use, and disposal of defense systems. It conforms to
requirements levied by Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 5000.02, Operation of
the Defense Acquisition System.
b) Air Force Instruction (AFI) 91-202, The US Air Force Mishap Prevention Program:
Establishes mishap prevention program requirements, assigns responsibilities for program
elements, and contains program management information. AFI 91-202, Attachment 15,
Preparation of Risk Assessments, describes the SSRA format. AFI 91-202 and its
Supplements conform to requirements levied by MIL-STD-882E.
c) AFI 62-601, USAF Airworthiness: AFI 62-601, paragraph 1.16.1, requires resolution of
safety hazards identified from non-compliances to AW criteria or acceptance of their
residual risk by the appropriate authority prior to issuance of an AW flight authorization.
5) Discussion:
a) Use of the AW risk assessment process is applicable to systems and their components that
1) meet fundamental engineering processes and 2) are designed to achieve compliance with
applicable AW certification criteria. Noncompliance with an applicable AW certification
criterion is an indication of a potential safety hazard or other limitation in the design of the
