Start with the mission, not the route.
- Define why the flight is being made and what would justify delaying it.
- Set personal minimums before looking for reasons to continue.
- Brief alternates, diversion points, fuel reserves, and a clear escape plan.
Student pilot field notes
Small habits.
Safer decisions.
Practical prompts for building a disciplined briefing routine—from the first weather look to the post-flight review.
Look for the trend and the gaps.
- Compare forecasts with current observations instead of reading one report alone.
- Check winds at the surface and aloft, ceilings, visibility, convection, icing, and turbulence.
- Ask what could change before arrival—and what evidence is still missing.
Know the margins you actually have.
- Use the correct POH/AFM data for the exact aircraft, conditions, weight, and configuration.
- Verify weight and balance, runway performance, fuel quantity, and required inspections.
- Treat unexplained sounds, leaks, indications, or maintenance questions as unresolved.
Brief the pilot as carefully as the airplane.
- Use IMSAFE: illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, and emotion/eating.
- Notice pressure from passengers, schedules, cost, pride, or “get-there-itis.”
- If the plan depends on everything going perfectly, increase the margin or change it.
Stay ahead of the airplane.
- Keep the next frequency, altitude, heading, and decision point ready before you need them.
- Recheck fuel, weather, position, and alternatives at planned checkpoints.
- When workload rises: aviate first, then navigate, then communicate.
Turn experience into judgment.
- Record what matched the plan, what changed, and which cues you noticed late.
- Review fuel use, weather accuracy, radio work, navigation, and decision points.
- Choose one specific habit to improve on the next flight.
THE 3P LOOPPerceive → Process → Perform
Identify the hazard, evaluate how it affects this flight, then choose and continually reassess an action.
Start a briefing →Learning aid only. Always use current official weather, NOTAMs, charts, regulations, aircraft documents, ATC instructions, and guidance from your instructor.