Definition 1 of 2
Definition
In aviation instruction, preparation is the first step of a lesson, in which the instructor establishes the lesson's objective, the standards of acceptable performance, and the prior knowledge or skills the student needs in order to begin. It sets the framework for what will be taught, how it will be taught, and what the student is expected to achieve.
Plain English
Preparation is the planning step before teaching. The instructor decides what the lesson will cover, how well the student must perform it, and what the student should already know before starting.
Context Anchor
Seen in the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook when describing the teaching process and how an instructor plans a lesson before presenting it to a student.
Derivation
From the Latin praeparare, meaning 'to make ready beforehand' (prae- 'before' + parare 'to arrange'). The aviation instruction sense keeps that everyday meaning: getting things ready before the lesson begins.
Why Pilots Care
Thorough preparation lets the instructor focus on the student instead of scrambling for materials, which reduces student confusion and helps prevent the accumulation of misunderstood words.
Intuition Check
Preparation does not just mean “thinking about it ahead of time.” In this context, it means actively getting the lesson, equipment, and learning steps ready before instruction begins.
Example Sentence 1
During preparation for the steep turns lesson, the instructor wrote down the objective, the bank angle and altitude tolerances, and the maneuvers the student should already be comfortable with.
Example Sentence 2
Good preparation allowed the CFI to adjust the lesson quickly when the student showed confusion about basic aerodynamics.