flightcontrol

Flight control refers to the systems and devices that enable an aircraft to be flown and steered, including both human input and automated control. In fixed-wing aircraft, primary flight controls determine attitude and path: ailerons control roll, elevators control pitch, and the rudder controls yaw. Secondary controls such as flaps, slats, and spoilers adjust lift and drag, while trim devices help maintain a chosen attitude.

Most modern airplanes use either manual mechanical linkages or fly-by-wire systems. In mechanical configurations, control wheels and sticks move cables that deflect control surfaces. In fly-by-wire designs, pilot inputs are interpreted by flight control computers, which issue surface commands through actuators. Actuators may be hydraulic, electric, or electrohydraulic and are designed with redundancy to maintain control in the event of a component failure.

Autopilots and autothrust automate routine tasks such as maintaining altitude, heading, or speed, reducing pilot workload. The flight control system uses sensors such as pitot-static systems, air data computers, inertial measurement units, and attitude reference systems to determine the aircraft’s state. Redundancy and fault management are central to safety, with multiple channels and cross-checks to handle failures.

In helicopters, controls differ: a cyclic for attitude and translation, and a collective for rotor lift, with anti-torque devices to control yaw. Many helicopters also employ flight control computers for stabilization and automation.

In unmanned aircraft, flight control software governs stabilization, navigation, and mission execution, and may run autonomously or be remotely piloted, often with protections against loss of control and cyber threats.