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Instructor » General » The Briefing

The Briefing

A briefing is by definition a brief description of what is being taught. 

It should have three main attributes.

  1. It must be factually and technically correct.
  2. It should follow a logical sequence.
  3. It must teach someone something.

 

Remember, briefing or teaching you must cover:

  • What you will learn.
  • Why you are learning it.
  • How you will learn it.

 

In order to be factually and technically correct, the instructor must have a sound knowledge of the subject and not be simply reciting a prepared speech.

 

The briefing should build the story step by step in a logical sequence it must also apply the theory to the practical situation.

e.g. Principles of Flight:

  • Turning – We need a force to turn the aircraft.
  • We achieve that force by banking the aircraft (inclining the lift vector).
  • When we incline the lift vector the VCL is reduced so we need to increase lift to maintain height. Etc    

                         

Stalling – We reduce power.

  • Therefore we slow down.
  • To maintain level flight at reduced airspeed we must increase A/A.
  • There is a limit to how much we can increase A/A.

                                                                       

The briefing must have an aim. 

This is a general statement of what is to be achieved

e.g. To enter and recover from a basic stall and written to define what the student is expected to achieve.

Some bad examples:

“To enter a medium turn from the climb and the descent.”

What about exiting the turn?  Surely we are going to exit as well as enter.

 

“Through improved situational awareness, prevent the inadvertent stall from occurring.”

Improved situational awareness won’t prevent the stall. 

Recognition of symptoms and proper control action will. 

This aim should require the student to demonstrate recognition of the symptoms of the approaching stall and to prevent the stall by appropriate use of the controls.

         

Remember that the first thing taught creates a lasting impression and (if incorrect) is very difficult to change.

It is also advisable to avoid long complicated descriptions with more detail than is necessary for the lesson involved.