Definition
Periodic training that a pilot completes after initial certification to maintain proficiency, refresh knowledge, and stay current with regulations, procedures, and aircraft systems. It is required at set intervals for many types of flying (such as flight reviews every 24 calendar months for most pilots, and more frequent training for commercial and airline operations).
Plain English
Training you come back to do again on a regular schedule after you've already earned your certificate, so your skills and knowledge stay sharp.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of pilot proficiency, return-to-flying plans, flight school programs, and professional pilot training requirements.
Derivation
From Latin recurrere, meaning 'to run back' or 'return.' The training keeps returning on a schedule, which is exactly the point — you don't do it once and finish.
Why Pilots Care
Failure to complete recurrent training on schedule can result in loss of legal privileges to exercise certain ratings or serve in commercial operations.
Intuition Check
Recurrent training does not mean remedial training or punishment. It means repeated training used to keep a pilot ready and capable after the original training is complete.
Example Sentence 1
Her flight school requires instructors to complete recurrent training every 12 months to stay on the staff roster.
Example Sentence 2
The airline required all first officers to attend recurrent training every six months covering emergency procedures and systems knowledge.