Definition
A structured post-flight conversation between a flight instructor and student in which the just-completed training flight is reviewed in detail, including what was performed, how each maneuver or task was executed, what went well, what needs improvement, and what the student should focus on before the next lesson.
Plain English
A sit-down talk after the flight where the instructor and student go over how the lesson went, what was learned, what needs work, and what to study next.
Context Anchor
Used after a training flight, usually after shutdown and before the lesson is considered complete.
Derivation
From the French 'débriefer' — originally a military term for questioning crews after a mission to gather information. In flight training, the meaning shifted from gathering intelligence to reviewing performance and reinforcing learning.
Why Pilots Care
It turns flight experience into lasting learning and prevents small misunderstandings from compounding into larger problems on future flights.
Intuition Check
A training debriefing is not just casual conversation or criticism. It is a focused review meant to improve the next flight.
Example Sentence 1
After landing and securing the airplane, the instructor and student sat down for a training debriefing to review the steep turns and stalls performed during the lesson.
Example Sentence 2
During the training debriefing the student practiced explaining the go-around procedure in their own words.