Definition
A structured review conducted by the flight instructor with the student after a training flight, during which the instructor evaluates the student's performance against the lesson objectives, identifies what was done well and what needs improvement, answers questions, and previews the next lesson.
Plain English
A sit-down talk between the instructor and student right after the flight, going over how the lesson went, what to work on, and what comes next.
Context Anchor
Used in flight training after the airplane is parked and the lesson is complete.
Derivation
From 'post-' (Latin, meaning 'after') and 'flight.' So 'postflight' simply means 'after the flight,' and the discussion is what happens then.
Why Pilots Care
It turns flight experiences into lasting skills by correcting errors before they become habits and preparing the student for the next lesson.
Intuition Check
Do not treat a postflight discussion as casual small talk or a scolding session. In flight training, it is a focused learning review after the flight.
Example Sentence 1
During the postflight discussion, the instructor noted that the student's pattern work had improved but their radio calls still needed practice.
Example Sentence 2
The student used the postflight discussion to ask about the crosswind landing technique that had felt unstable.