Definition
A three-step practical decision-making model used in pilot training in which the pilot first perceives the situation by gathering relevant information about the flight, aircraft, environment, and external pressures; then processes that information by evaluating its impact on flight safety and identifying acceptable courses of action; and finally performs by implementing the chosen course of action and continuing to monitor the outcome.
Plain English
A simple way to make decisions while flying: notice what is going on, think about what it means and what your options are, then act on the best option and keep checking that it is working.
Context Anchor
Used in flight training and aeronautical decision-making discussions, especially when a pilot is deciding how to respond to changing weather, aircraft issues, traffic, terrain, or personal limits.
Derivation
The three words all begin with 'P' to make the model easy to remember in flight. 'Perceive' comes from Latin 'percipere' meaning 'to take in fully.' 'Process' comes from Latin 'procedere' meaning 'to move forward,' here meaning to work through information. 'Perform' comes from Old French 'parfornir' meaning 'to carry out completely.' Together they describe a complete cycle from awareness to action.
Why Pilots Care
It provides a repeatable mental checklist that reduces the chance of overlooking critical factors during in-flight decisions.
Grounding Statement
If weather ahead is getting worse, the pilot first notices it, then decides what it means for the flight, then changes course, lands, turns back, or takes another safe action.
Intuition Check
Do not treat these as three casual everyday words. In this FAA model, they are a specific order for making a safe decision: identify the hazard, evaluate it, then act.
Example Sentence 1
When the weather started to deteriorate, the pilot used the Perceive, Process, Perform model to decide whether to continue, divert, or turn back.
Example Sentence 2
Instructors use the Perceive, Process, Perform model during debriefs to help students break down why a decision was made at each stage.