Objective: This study experimentally examined how feedback specificity (specific vs. general) and feedback timing (immediate vs. delayed) influence novice pilots' instrument flight performance, subjective workload, and training satisfaction.

Background: In high-tempo flight environments, overly detailed feedback at the wrong time can raise cognitive load and divert attention from primary tasks. While specific and immediate feedback benefits novices in simple tasks, in complex contexts such as fighter operations it may hinder performance, making concise and well-timed cues more effective.

Method: Eighteen novice fighter pilots completed a HI-TACAN approach scenario in a high-fidelity simulator. A Data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA to examine the effects of feedback specificity and timing. Primary outcomes included (1) instrument flight performance (deviations in speed, altitude, and path), (2) workload (NASA-TLX), and (3) training satisfaction.

Results: Performance was significantly affected by feedback timing, demonstrating that when feedback is provided critically shapes flight accuracy. Workload was influenced by both feedback specificity and timing, showing that these dimensions jointly regulate cognitive demand. Satisfaction was primarily determined by feedback specificity, with general feedback producing higher ratings.

Conclusion: Concise feedback can be more effective than highly detailed guidance when delivered at opportune moments in demanding instrument flight. Delaying concise feedback can additionally reduce perceived workload by affording self-regulation and reflection.

Application: Results inform feedback strategies for instrument flight training curricula, suggesting a shift from "more detail now" to "just-enough, well-timed" guidance.