AVIA 300
Time to Spare, Go By Air
Department of Aeronautics,
Liberty University
AVIA 300: Aviation
Time to Spare, Go By Air
Humans, just like everything else on Planet Earth are not error-proof. Before every
attempt to operate an airplane, it is prudent to preflight not only the airplane we are flying, but
every factor regarding the flight. A useful acronym to remember this order is PAVE, which
stands for Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, and External Pressures. All four of those categories need
to be examined as thoroughly as possible to make an informed go- or no-go decision regarding
the risk of taking the flight. The process of Risk Management as outlined in the Federal Aviation
Adminstration’s Risk Management Handbook begins with outlining PAVE and suggesting
processes to help pilots ensure the safety of their operation.
External Pressures are one of the four categories, and one that should be consciously
analyzed in aeronautical decision making. External Pressures include day-to-day operational,
human-based challenges faced by everyday pilots. These challenges and states of mind include
feeling of the need to impress, demonstrate “the right stuff”, do the job, and be on time. While
these all apply to human-to-human interaction between pilots, it must be stressed that pilots put
pressure on themselves, and that they should be conscious of the pressure they put upon
themselves. These pressures include “Gotta-Get-There-Itis”, which is the self-imposed challenge
of needing to fly to a certain place and meet a certain deadline.
As stated above, External Pressure is a vague classification of several different possible
challenges, and in turn can be found in any sort of flying. Student Pilots face the external
pressure of meeting standards set forth by the ACS, as well as their flight instructors. This is the
Time to Spare, Go By Air
Department of Aeronautics,
Liberty University
AVIA 300: Aviation
Time to Spare, Go By Air
Humans, just like everything else on Planet Earth are not error-proof. Before every
attempt to operate an airplane, it is prudent to preflight not only the airplane we are flying, but
every factor regarding the flight. A useful acronym to remember this order is PAVE, which
stands for Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, and External Pressures. All four of those categories need
to be examined as thoroughly as possible to make an informed go- or no-go decision regarding
the risk of taking the flight. The process of Risk Management as outlined in the Federal Aviation
Adminstration’s Risk Management Handbook begins with outlining PAVE and suggesting
processes to help pilots ensure the safety of their operation.
External Pressures are one of the four categories, and one that should be consciously
analyzed in aeronautical decision making. External Pressures include day-to-day operational,
human-based challenges faced by everyday pilots. These challenges and states of mind include
feeling of the need to impress, demonstrate “the right stuff”, do the job, and be on time. While
these all apply to human-to-human interaction between pilots, it must be stressed that pilots put
pressure on themselves, and that they should be conscious of the pressure they put upon
themselves. These pressures include “Gotta-Get-There-Itis”, which is the self-imposed challenge
of needing to fly to a certain place and meet a certain deadline.
As stated above, External Pressure is a vague classification of several different possible
challenges, and in turn can be found in any sort of flying. Student Pilots face the external
pressure of meeting standards set forth by the ACS, as well as their flight instructors. This is the
