Definition
A practical risk management framework taught by the FAA in which the pilot continuously cycles through three steps during a flight: Perceive the hazards present in the current situation, Process the level of risk those hazards create and how they affect the flight, and Perform by taking action to eliminate or mitigate the risk. The cycle is repeated whenever the situation changes.
Plain English
A simple three-step way of thinking that helps pilots spot what could go wrong, judge how bad it could be, and then do something about it. You keep running through these three steps over and over while you fly.
Context Anchor
Used in aeronautical decision-making discussions, especially when a pilot is deciding what to do about weather, aircraft condition, fuel, traffic, terrain, or personal readiness.
Derivation
The three words each come from Latin: perceive from percipere (to take in or grasp), process from procedere (to go forward, work through), and perform from performare (to carry out or complete). Together they describe the natural order of dealing with any problem: notice it, think it through, then act.
Why Pilots Care
Provides a repeatable process that reduces the chance of overlooking hazards or making rushed choices during flight.
Grounding Statement
The 3P Model turns a vague concern into a clear sequence: see the problem, judge what it means, and act.
Intuition Check
Do not treat “perceive,” “process,” and “perform” as just three ordinary verbs listed together. In this FAA context, they name a specific decision-making sequence: notice, evaluate, then act.
Example Sentence 1
Before departing into deteriorating weather, the pilot used the 3P Model: she perceived the lowering ceilings, processed how they would affect her route at night, and performed by delaying the flight until morning.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor asked the student to walk through the 3P steps after an unexpected change in air traffic instructions.