CFII key terms

A teaching method in which the instructor builds lessons around realistic, complete flight missions rather than isolated maneuvers, so the learner practices judgment, decision-making, and instrument skills together under increasing difficulty.

A written outline an instructor prepares before a ground or flight session that states the objective, completion standards, content sequence, and how learning will be evaluated, keeping the training organized and measurable.

A temporary period during training when a learner's performance stops improving despite continued practice; instructors respond by changing the teaching method, slowing the pace, or reinforcing motivation rather than pressing harder.

An instructional method in which the instructor first explains and shows a maneuver, then the learner practices while the instructor guides, and finally the learner performs with little or no help.

A practical evaluation of instrument knowledge and flight skills given to a pilot whose recent instrument experience has lapsed, so the pilot may resume acting as pilot in command under IFR.

The requirement that a pilot log six instrument approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting and tracking courses through navigation systems within the preceding six months in order to act as pilot in command under IFR.

A pilot who rides along and watches for other traffic while the flying pilot wears a view-limiting device; the safety pilot must be appropriately rated and counts as a required crewmember for that flight.

The restrictions in 14 CFR 61.195 on what a flight instructor may endorse, such as limits on hours flown in a day, required qualifications for each aircraft category, and prohibitions on certain endorsements.

The rule that an IFR flight plan must name a destination alternate unless the forecast at the destination, from one hour before to one hour after arrival, allows descent and landing under basic VFR.

A published, often non-standard departure path that keeps aircraft clear of obstacles when standard climb gradients cannot be met, issued as text or graphics with the airport charts.

A weather advisory for hazardous conditions that are potentially severe to aviation, such as severe turbulence, severe icing, volcanic ash, or widespread dust storms, issued for a broad area and short period.

The lowest altitude in the atmosphere at which the air temperature is at or below zero degrees Celsius, used to anticipate where visible moisture can produce airframe ice.

The authorization from air traffic control for a flight under instrument flight rules, usually delivered in the order of clearance limit, route, altitude, and frequency, with the transponder code often added.

A time issued with a departure clearance at an airport with no operating control tower; if the aircraft has not departed by that time, the clearance is canceled and a new one is required.

The time at which ATC expects to issue a pilot a new clearance; if radio contact is lost before that time, the pilot holds at the clearance limit until the stated time, then continues as filed.

An ATC clearance that authorizes the pilot to fly at any altitude at or above the stated minimum along the route and to begin an approach at the destination without further contact.

The organized pattern a pilot uses to shift attention among flight instruments so that attitude, performance, and navigation information are sampled often enough to detect and correct small changes.

Flying solely by the remaining instruments after one or more gyroscopic or pressure instruments have failed or been intentionally covered, substituting other indications for the lost attitude information.

The trained sequence for returning an aircraft from an unintended steep bank or extreme pitch to straight-and-level flight by reference to instruments, typically correcting power, attitude, and then airspeed.

A turn of three degrees per second, which completes 360 degrees in two minutes; instrument pilots use it as a known, predictable turn rate for holds, procedure turns, and course intercepts.

A cockpit display that shows whether the aircraft is left or right of a selected VOR radial and provides a TO/FROM flag, with full-scale deflection representing a fixed number of degrees.

A satellite-based augmentation to GPS that improves position accuracy and integrity, enabling approaches with vertical guidance down to localizer performance with vertical guidance minima.

The error of a magnetic compass during turns in the Northern Hemisphere, where the compass lags in turns toward the north and leads in turns toward the south because of magnetic dip.

A specification of the navigation accuracy an aircraft must maintain over a defined airspace or route, allowing fixed routes and approaches without relying on ground-based navigation aids.

The lowest altitude to which a pilot may descend on a non-precision approach before the required visual references are in sight, after which level flight is maintained until landing or a missed approach.

The altitude at which a missed approach must be started on an approach with vertical guidance if the required visual references for the intended runway are not in sight.

The point on a non-precision approach, defined by distance, time, or a navigation fix, at which the pilot must begin the missed approach if the runway environment is not visible.

A published maneuver that reverses the aircraft's direction so it can leave the initial approach fix and intercept the final approach course, flown within a specified distance and altitude.

An instrument approach in which the pilot descends to the circling minimum and then maneuvers visually to align with a runway that is not suitable for a straight-in landing.

The rules in 14 CFR 91.185 that tell a pilot under IFR what route, altitude, and timing to follow when radio contact with air traffic control cannot be reestablished.

Loss of the engine-driven pump that spins the attitude and heading gyros; the pilot must recognize the failed instruments, cover them, and fly by the remaining electric or pitot-static instruments.

A rapid descent, usually to escape an unsafe condition such as fire or depressurization, flown with a turn away from the airway centerline and at an airspeed and configuration chosen for control.

A structured review after the flight in which the instructor and learner compare results with the lesson objective, identify what went well, and set goals for the next session.

The written documentation of instruction given, including maneuvers practiced, time flown, and endorsements signed, which supports the learner's applications and later certification.