PAVE checklist
PAVE: preflight checklist sorting flight risk into four categories. Perceive step of the 3P model (aeronautics/3p-care-team): PAVE finds hazards, CARE and TEAM decide what to do about them.
| Letter | Category | Check |
|---|---|---|
| P | Pilot in command | Fit for this trip? Experience, recency, currency, physical and emotional state. See IMSAFE (aeronautics/imsafe) |
| A | Aircraft | Right aircraft? Current in it? Equipped for flight? Can use runways available, carry planned load, reach needed altitudes, carry fuel with reserves? |
| V | enVironment | Weather (ceiling, visibility, wind and crosswind, icing, thunderstorms); terrain and safe altitudes; airport (lighting, NOTAMs, short or obstructed fields); airspace and TFRs; night-flight demands |
| E | External pressures | Pressure to complete the flight anyway: someone waiting at destination, passenger not to disappoint, desire to impress, get-there-itis, pride |
- E is highest-leverage: goal conflicts and outside pressure can push a pilot to override every other finding (PHAK ch.2).
Personal minimums: set one per category; see aeronautics/personal-minimums.
Trap: PAVE identifies hazards, does not resolve them; CARE resolves, TEAM executes the chosen control.
References
- PHAK ch.2 (The PAVE Checklist)