The Different Types of Aircraft Flight Control Systems

Flight control systems are fundamental for safe and effective flight. These surfaces manipulate an aircraft’s flight characteristics, giving pilots the means to guide and stabilize it to meet the specific needs of various operational phases. In this blog, we will take a closer look at primary and secondary flight control systems, discussing the key components that define each and how they contribute to aircraft performance.

Primary Flight Control Systems

Primary flight controls are essential for controlling an aircraft’s orientation along its three principal axes: pitch, roll, and yaw.

Ailerons

Located near the outboard trailing edge of each wing, ailerons are long, narrow surfaces that control roll. These components operate in opposite directions when one deflects upward, the other deflects downward—allowing an aircraft to bank left or right by altering the lift on each wing. They also help counteract adverse yaw, where an aircraft momentarily yaws opposite the intended roll direction.

The Rudder

In continuation, the rudder controls yaw, which is the side-to-side movement of an aircraft’s nose along the vertical axis. This flat surface is hinged to the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer at the tail, and it is operated by the pilot’s foot pedals, enabling them to steer the aircraft left or right. With this in mind, the rudder is especially important during takeoff, landing, and when correcting for crosswinds or asymmetric thrust at low speeds or high angles of attack.

The Elevator or Stabilator

Pitch control, or nose-up or nose-down movement around the lateral axis, is managed by either an elevator or a stabilator.

• Elevator: This component is a horizontal, hinged control surface attached to the fixed horizontal stabilizer. When the pilot pulls or pushes the control column, the elevator moves up or down to change an aircraft’s pitch, a configuration commonly utilized in general aviation and many commercial aircraft.
• Stabilator: A fully movable horizontal tail surface that replaces both the fixed stabilizer and hinged elevator, stabilators pivot as a single unit to control pitch. This provides more responsive control, particularly at high speeds, so stabilators are often used among high-performance military jets and some light aircraft.

Regardless of type, these control surfaces are located at the tail-end of an aircraft and respond to the pilot’s control column or yoke inputs.

Secondary Flight Control Systems

Secondary flight control systems are not necessarily vital for basic flight, but they complement the primary controls to bolster lift, drag, and stability.

Flaps

Flaps are hinged surfaces mounted on the trailing edge of each wing, usually positioned closer to the fuselage than the ailerons. Rectangular or slightly tapered in shape, they often span a portion of the inboard wing section and extend downward during takeoff and landing to increase wing camber. This change boosts lift at lower airspeeds, making it easier for aircraft to become airborne or descend safely—especially when operating on shorter runways.

At the same time, flaps can increase drag, allowing for slower flight and better maintained control during critical phases. Once airborne and at cruising altitudes, flaps are retracted to reduce their effect on drag, helping balance low-speed handling needs with high-speed performance.

Trim Systems

Trim systems are designed to mitigate the continuous control pressure a pilot must apply to uphold stable flight. Serving to adjust the neutral or resting position of primary control surfaces, these systems contribute to far more comfortable and efficient handling. Typically mounted on the trailing edges of primary control surfaces, trim systems come in the following forms:

• Trim Tabs: These small, adjustable surfaces can be manually or electrically controlled to keep a desired deflection of the main control surface.
• Servo Tabs: Slightly larger than trim tabs, servo tabs move automatically in the opposite direction of the main control surface to lessen the control force required by the pilot.
• Anti-Servo Tabs: Similar to servo tabs, anti-servo tabs move in the same direction as the stabilator to increase control resistance and prevent over-controlling, particularly in aircraft with all-moving tailplanes.

Spoilers

Spoilers are flat, rectangular panels mounted flush with the upper surfaces of an aircraft’s wings, often near the mid-chord area between the leading and trailing edges. When deployed upward and into oncoming air, they disrupt smooth airflow over the wing, diminishing lift and increasing drag. This makes them notably useful during descent and landing, as they allow for steeper approaches, controlled speed reduction, and improved braking effectiveness after touchdown.

Secure Primary and Secondary Control System Parts on ASAP Aero Supplies

Whether your aircraft needs repairs or upgrades to its flight control systems to uphold its maneuverability, ASAP Semiconductor is proud to offer access to a wide range of high-quality aviation components through its website, ASAP Aero Supplies. With thousands of industry-standard items from leading manufacturers presented across our database, we ensure our customers can secure all that they need from a single, convenient source.

Our goal is to provide the most convenient purchasing options, where one can always benefit from highly competitive pricing and timely fulfillment on the wide array of products we carry. Furthermore, we are well prepared to accommodate even the most unique or challenging requirements, with our team working hard to curate optimal solutions in response to every quote request. If you have any other questions about our parts or services, we are always just a call or email away from assisting you.

1. gary anderson
2. Posted on April 19, 2022
3. aviation

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