Definition
A written or electronic log maintained by a flight or ground instructor that documents a student's training history, including the date and content of each lesson, the maneuvers and tasks covered, the student's performance, areas needing improvement, and the endorsements given. The training record supports endorsements for solo flight, cross-country flight, and the practical test, and serves as evidence that the student has received the instruction required by regulation.
Plain English
A detailed log the instructor keeps for each student, showing what was taught, how the student performed, and what they still need to work on. It backs up the instructor's recommendation that the student is ready for the checkride.
Context Anchor
Seen when an instructor reviews a student’s progress, decides whether to recommend the student for a practical test, or checks that required training has been completed.
Derivation
Record comes from an older Latin idea meaning “to call back to mind.” That fits the aviation use: the training record is the written memory of the student’s training, so the instructor and applicant do not have to rely on memory alone.
Why Pilots Care
It provides the documented proof required before an examiner can administer a checkride and protects both student and instructor in case of regulatory review.
Intuition Check
A training record is not just casual notes about lessons. In this context, it is the documented evidence of training, progress, and required instructor sign-offs.
Example Sentence 1
Before endorsing her student for the practical test, the instructor reviewed the training record to confirm every required task had been covered to the appropriate standard.
Example Sentence 2
The examiner asked to see the training record to verify all required endorsements were present before starting the practical test.