Definition
A three-step decision-making technique used by pilots to interrupt a developing problem before acting on it: stop the current activity or train of thought, look at all available information, and analyze that information to determine the best course of action.
Plain English
When something feels off or a problem is developing, pause what you are doing, take in everything around you, and think it through before you act.
Context Anchor
Used in cockpit decision-making and instruction when workload, confusion, or changing conditions make it easy to act too quickly.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents rushed or incorrect responses that can turn minor problems into serious flight incidents.
Grounding Statement
When the situation starts to feel unclear, the useful first move is often to pause long enough to understand it.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as three casual everyday actions with no special meaning. In this FAA context, it means a deliberate pause-and-think process before taking action.
Example Sentence 1
When the engine instruments showed an unexpected reading, the pilot used the stop, look, and analyze method before touching any controls.
Example Sentence 2
During the post-flight debrief the CFI asked the student to stop, look, and analyze the sequence of events that led to the altitude deviation.