effects of controls

• Airplane wing

  • Curved top section, flat bottom
  • Air flows faster over top, slower underneath
  • Pressure difference creates lift
• 3 axes of an aircraft

  Vertical axis, lateral axis, longitudinal axis
• Controlling the aircraft


  1. Rudder controls yaw (vertical axis)

  2. Elevator controls pitch (lateral axis)

  3. Ailerons control roll (longitudinal axis)
• Primary effect


  Direct effect of control input
• Secondary effect


  Indirect aerodynamic effect of control input
• Using the throttle


  1. Increase power for takeoff/climb, reduce power for descent

  2. Coordinate with propeller pitch lever
• Flaps


  • Increase lift and drag
  • 3 settings: up, takeoff, landing
  • Speed restrictions for takeoff and landing flaps
• Trim


  Adjusts control forces to maintain desired aircraft attitude
• Threat and error management

  1. Identify potential threats and errors

  2. Use hand-over, take-over procedure to maintain aircraft control
• Clock code


  Method to communicate traffic position relative to the aircraft