Definition
In aeronautical decision-making, the step in which a pilot judges how serious a developing situation is and how quickly a response is required, based on available information and experience.
Plain English
Working out how bad a situation is and how fast you need to do something about it.
Context Anchor
Used in the decision-making process when a pilot has detected a change and must decide how much it matters.
Derivation
From the Latin 'aestimare', meaning 'to value' or 'to appraise.' In flying, you are appraising the seriousness of a situation rather than its monetary worth.
Why Pilots Care
Misjudging the urgency of a situation is a common factor in accidents. Estimating accurately determines whether a pilot has time to think things through or must act immediately.
Intuition Check
Estimate does not mean make a casual guess and move on. Here it means make a deliberate judgment about the seriousness of the situation and the need to react.
Example Sentence 1
After noticing the rising oil temperature, the pilot took a moment to estimate how quickly the situation could become critical.
Example Sentence 2
Before takeoff, always estimate whether conditions require any immediate adjustments to the plan.