Definition
The phase of a flight operation that begins after the aircraft has landed and been secured, during which the pilot completes shutdown procedures, inspects the aircraft, records flight data, and reviews the conduct of the flight.
Plain English
The work a pilot does after the flight is over — shutting the aircraft down properly, walking around it to check for any damage, filling in the logbook, and thinking back over how the flight went.
Context Anchor
Seen in training records, instructor discussions, flight reviews, and after-flight procedures.
Derivation
From 'post-' (Latin, meaning 'after') and 'flight.' The prefix signals an action that follows the main event — in this case, everything done after the flight has ended.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures the aircraft is left in a safe, airworthy condition and supports accurate record-keeping for future flights.
Intuition Check
Postflight does not only mean “after landing.” In training, it also includes the after-flight review of decisions, performance, and lessons learned.
Example Sentence 1
During the postflight, the student noticed a small oil streak on the cowling and reported it before leaving the ramp.
Example Sentence 2
During the SRM assessment the instructor asked how the student had handled postflight procedures after the lesson.