Definition
The preflight process of using the aircraft's performance data to determine whether a proposed flight can be conducted safely under the expected conditions. It involves checking takeoff and landing distances, climb performance, fuel burn, weight and balance, and the effect of weather, runway, and altitude conditions against the aircraft's published performance limits.
Plain English
Working out before the flight whether the aircraft can actually do what you're asking it to do on the day, in the conditions expected, with the load you plan to carry.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight planning, especially when using performance charts, weight information, weather, fuel planning, and runway information before deciding to launch.
Derivation
Mission comes from a Latin word meaning “to send.” In aviation, it does not have to mean a military assignment; it means the flight you are setting out to accomplish. Planning means deciding the details before acting, which fits the aviation need to check the flight before committing to it.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures the aircraft will not exceed its performance limits at any stage, directly affecting safety and legality of the flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read “mission” as only a military word. Here, a mission is any intended flight, and mission planning means checking that the aircraft, conditions, and route fit that flight.
Example Sentence 1
During mission planning, she calculated that the hot temperature and high field elevation would increase the takeoff roll by nearly 40 percent, so she reduced fuel load to stay within performance limits.
Example Sentence 2
Good mission planning includes recalculating fuel needs after a change in winds aloft.