Plain English Meaning
Working out what to do when something isn't straightforward — by spotting the issue, thinking it through, picking a course of action, and checking whether it worked.
Full Definition
A higher-order thinking skill in which a learner identifies an issue, gathers and evaluates relevant information, considers possible courses of action, selects and applies a solution, and then reviews the outcome. In aviation training, problem-solving is treated as a learned skill that progresses from recognizing the problem, through reasoning about it, to making and executing a sound decision.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation training discussions when instructors evaluate how a student handles mistakes, surprises, or tasks that do not go as planned.
Derivation
From 'problem' (Greek 'problema', meaning something put forward to be solved) and 'solve' (Latin 'solvere', to loosen or untie). The image is of taking something tangled and working it loose — which captures the mental process well.
Why Pilots Care
Strong problem-solving keeps small issues from turning into and is directly observed during .