Definition
A method of flight instruction in which the student is taught to perform every flight maneuver by reference to both outside visual cues and the flight instruments from the very first time the maneuver is introduced. Attention is divided appropriately between the outside scene and the cockpit instruments throughout primary training, rather than treating instrument reference as a separate skill added later.
Plain English
From day one, the student learns to fly by looking outside and at the instruments together, every time. Instrument flying isn't taught as a separate later subject — it's woven in from the start.
Context Anchor
Used in on-aircraft training discussions, especially when an instructor is planning how to teach maneuvers, aircraft control, and use of instruments during a real flight lesson.
Derivation
Integrated' comes from the Latin integrare, meaning 'to make whole.' In this context, it points to the idea of combining outside visual flying and instrument flying into one whole skill, rather than teaching them as two separate skills.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots trained this way are less likely to freeze or lose control if they accidentally enter cloud or lose outside visual references, because using the instruments is already a natural part of how they fly — not a panic skill they only practice under the hood.
Grounding Statement
In the airplane, the student learns the pieces of flying together, not as separate classroom ideas.
Intuition Check
Integrated does not mean the training is computer-based or built into one device. Here it means the parts of the flight lesson are taught together so they support each other.
Example Sentence 1
Using the integrated training process, the instructor had the student check the attitude indicator and altimeter during every climb and turn, not just when flying under the hood.
Example Sentence 2
Using the integrated training process allowed the student to connect the previous lesson’s weather briefing directly to the conditions encountered during the cross-country flight.