Definition
A post-lesson review method in which the student evaluates their own performance, identifying what was done correctly, what went wrong, and what should be improved before the next session. The instructor guides and supervises the process to ensure the student's analysis is accurate and constructive.
Plain English
The student talks through their own flight or lesson, saying what went well and what didn't, while the instructor listens and helps keep the assessment honest and useful.
Context Anchor
Used in flight instruction after a lesson, maneuver, ground session, or training flight when the learner or instructor reviews performance.
Derivation
From 'self' (one's own) and 'critique,' from the Greek 'kritikos' meaning 'able to judge or discern.' Together it means judging your own work — not in the sense of finding fault, but of carefully examining it.
Why Pilots Care
It builds the habit of spotting and fixing errors early, which speeds up learning and reduces the chance of repeating mistakes in the air.
Intuition Check
Self-critique does not mean being harsh on yourself or simply saying, “That was good” or “That was bad.” It means comparing what actually happened to the standard and choosing a clear improvement step.
Example Sentence 1
After the lesson, the instructor asked the student to begin with a self-critique of the traffic pattern work before offering any feedback.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor asked the pilot to complete a self-critique before discussing the lesson so the student could practice identifying issues on their own.