Definition
A teaching method in which the instructor has the student repeatedly perform a specific skill, procedure, or response until it becomes accurate, fast, and reliable. It is built on the principle that learning is strengthened through correct, repeated practice, and is most often used for tasks that must become automatic, such as checklist use, radio calls, or basic flight maneuvers.
Plain English
Learning by doing the same thing over and over, the right way, until you can do it smoothly without having to think about each step.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight instructor training when discussing ways to help students build skill through repeated performance, such as radio calls, checklist use, or aircraft control steps.
Derivation
‘Drill’ comes from the Dutch ‘drillen,’ meaning to bore or turn around — the same idea as repeating something in circles until it sticks. ‘Practice’ comes from the Greek ‘praktikos,’ meaning ‘to do.’ Together the term simply means ‘repeated doing,’ which is exactly what the method is.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures critical skills like stalls or engine failures are performed correctly without hesitation in real situations.
Analogy
Similar to a basketball player shooting free throws repeatedly to make them instinctive during a game.
Intuition Check
Do not read “drill” as punishment or empty repetition here. In this FAA training context, it means structured repetition used to build correct performance.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor used the drill and practice method to help the student build smooth, consistent radio calls before the first solo cross-country.
Example Sentence 2
By applying drill and practice to crosswind landings, the student achieved consistent results.