Plain English Meaning

A simple six-step checklist a pilot runs through in their head when something changes during a flight: notice the change, decide if it matters, decide what outcome you want, pick an action, do it, and then check whether it actually worked.

Full Definition

A six-step decision-making framework used by pilots to work through a changing situation in flight. The steps are: Detect that a change has occurred, Estimate the need to react to that change, Choose a desirable outcome for the flight, Identify actions that could control the change, Do the necessary action, and Evaluate the effect of that action. The model is designed to be applied continuously, with the pilot cycling through the steps as the situation develops.