What does the PAVE acronym stand for in risk assessment?

• A. Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, External pressures.
• B. People, Airspeed, Vibration, Elevation.
• C. Performance, Altitude, Visibility, Experience.
• D. Planning, Authority, Verifications, Exceptions.

Answer: (A)

PAVE is a preflight risk assessment framework used to identify potential hazards before flight. It stands for Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, External pressures.

Think through each area before you fly. The Pilot part covers your own condition—health, fatigue, medications, emotional state, and recent experience or currency for the planned mission. The Aircraft part looks at the airworthiness and readiness of the airplane—maintenance status, equipment, weight and balance, fuel, and any known deficiencies. The Environment part considers factors like weather, visibility, terrain, airspace, NOTAMs, and other operating conditions that could affect flight safety. The External pressures part reminds you to assess pressures from deadlines, operators, passengers, or company expectations that might push you to fly despite risks.

Evaluating all four helps you decide whether to proceed, delay, or modify the flight to reduce risk.