Plain English Meaning
Spot what could go wrong, decide how serious it is, and do something about it before it becomes a problem.
Full Definition
To identify hazards in a flight or training operation, evaluate the likelihood and severity of the resulting risks, and take deliberate action to eliminate, reduce, or accept those risks before and during the flight. In the instructor context, it is the ongoing professional responsibility to recognize unsafe conditions in students, aircraft, environment, and operation, and to respond in a way that keeps the flight within acceptable safety margins.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor conduct, preflight planning, decisions about whether to fly, and in-flight choices when conditions change.