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Primary control providing lateral control

Aviation Mechanic Airframe (AMA) practice question 3 of 16 on Flight Controls. ACS element AM.II.C.K10 · difficulty: recall. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Aviation Mechanic Airframe (AMA) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONLateral control, the banking movement or roll of an airplane, is provided by which primary flight control surface?

  1. AThe ailerons
  2. BThe rudder
  3. CThe elevator and its trim tab
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. The ailerons

  • A — correct Lateral control is the banking movement or roll of an aircraft and it is controlled by the ailerons.
  • B — incorrect The rudder provides directional control, the left and right yaw movement of the aircraft.
  • C — incorrect The elevator provides longitudinal control, the climb and dive movement, and its trim tab only trims out control pressure.

BACKGROUND

The primary flight controls are the ailerons, elevator, and rudder, which provide the aerodynamic force to make the aircraft follow a desired flightpath. These hinged or movable airfoils change the attitude of the aircraft by changing the airflow over its surfaces, and they move the aircraft about its three axes. Lateral control is the banking movement or roll of an aircraft, controlled by the ailerons; longitudinal control is the climb and dive movement, or pitch, controlled by the elevator; and directional control is the left and right movement, or yaw, controlled by the rudder. Typically the ailerons and elevators are operated from the flight deck by a control stick, a wheel and yoke assembly, or a joystick, while the rudder is normally operated by foot pedals.

STUDY TIP

Link each term to its surface — lateral to ailerons, longitudinal to elevator, directional to rudder — and the axis questions become simple recall.

KEY POINTS

  • Lateral control (roll) comes from the ailerons.
  • Longitudinal control (pitch) comes from the elevator.
  • Directional control (yaw) comes from the rudder.

SOURCES

  • sources/ama-airframe/ch02.txt "Primary Flight Controls"
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MORE ON FLIGHT CONTROLS

SkyDrill is not affiliated with the FAA. This is an original practice item based on FAA-H-8083-31B Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – Airframe, and 14 CFR part 43. Regulations and handbooks are revised; confirm details against the current edition.