Definition
The act of readjusting the airplane's trim controls to relieve sustained control pressure after a change in airspeed, power setting, configuration, or attitude has altered the previously trimmed condition.
Plain English
Resetting the trim again because something has changed and the airplane is no longer flying hands-off the way it was before.
Context Anchor
Used during climbs, descents, level-offs, power changes, flap changes, and any time the airplane no longer feels balanced in the pilot’s hands.
Derivation
The prefix 're-' means 'again.' 'Trim' in aviation refers to small adjustable surfaces (or systems) that hold a control input for the pilot so the airplane flies steady without the pilot having to hold pressure on the yoke or stick. So 're-trimming' literally means trimming again — repeating the adjustment after conditions have changed.
Why Pilots Care
Keeps control forces light, reduces pilot fatigue, and prevents unintended pitch or bank deviations after each change in the airplane's setup.
Intuition Check
Re-trimming does not mean the airplane is being flown for you. It means you are relieving steady control pressure after the airplane’s condition has changed.
Example Sentence 1
After lowering the flaps for landing, the pilot re-trimmed the airplane to relieve the nose-down pressure on the yoke.
Example Sentence 2
During the go-around the instructor reminded the student to complete re-trimming once climb power and pitch were set.