Conducting pre-flight checks before flying is crucial to ensure that the plane is safe for you and your passengers. A PAVE checklist allows you to evaluate any hazards that you may encounter whilst flying and the process required to respond to these risks. PAVE covers the following; Personal (PIC), Aircraft, Environment, and External Pressures.
Personal (PIC)
This assesses the health and experience of the pilot. Before flying, the pilot must be deemed fit to fly. To evaluate whether this is the case, a personal assessment can be conducted using the IMSAFE checklist.
Aircraft
The aircraft must be airworthy and any potential limitations must be identified. It will need to have been inspected and it must have the correct and necessary equipment for the flight. Also, ensure that it has enough fuel to embark on the journey. It’s also important to gain an understanding of how the aircraft will perform in different situations. Ensure that you are comfortable with the aircraft before proceeding with the flight.
EnVironment
The weather can greatly impact the flight. However, factors such as the terrain, airspace, airport, and time of flight are also key environmental considerations. You must be aware of the weather forecast to assess whether you are comfortable flying in the expected conditions. Also, is the land going or airport going to present any obstacles. Before flying, pilots are advised to refer to PIREPs and NOTAMs.
External Pressures
This refers to outside factors that may cause the pilot to feel stressed about completing the flight. For example, there may be people waiting at the airport for the flight to arrive or the pilot may feel a desire to impress a passenger or friend. External pressures can be caused by a range of factors but may result in risky decision-making that presents a threat to safety. Pilots must ensure that they are comfortable with flying and not subject to any pressures, in doing so potential hazards will be avoided.