Definition
An instructor-led review of a learner's performance during or after a training event, in which the instructor identifies what was done well, what fell short of the standard, and what must be improved, with the purpose of guiding the learner toward the desired level of skill and judgment. In scenario-based training, the critique is tied directly to the scenario objectives and the learner's decisions, actions, and outcomes during the flight.
Plain English
It is a structured review by the instructor of how the learner performed, pointing out strengths, weaknesses, and what needs to change to improve.
Context Anchor
Used during flight instruction, especially after a training scenario, maneuver, lesson, or ground discussion.
Derivation
Critique' comes from the Greek 'kritikē', meaning the art of judging. It is not the same as 'criticism' in the everyday sense of finding fault — a critique is a balanced, structured judgment of performance against a standard.
Why Pilots Care
Proper critiquing accelerates skill development and decision-making while reducing the chance that repeated errors carry over into actual flight operations.
Intuition Check
Do not read critique as scolding or negative criticism. In aviation training, it means a fair, useful review of what happened and how to improve.
Example Sentence 1
After the cross-country lesson, the instructor took fifteen minutes to critique the learner's performance, covering pilotage, diversion decision-making, and radio work.
Example Sentence 2
The CFI used the critique learner performance step to connect the student's checklist discipline to safer outcomes in future flights.