Definition
A control cable in an aircraft flight control system that connects two opposing control surfaces or two sides of a single control surface so they move together in coordinated, opposite directions when the primary control cable is moved.
Plain English
A second cable in the control system that links the two surfaces (or two sides of one surface) so that when one moves up, the other moves down by the same amount, keeping everything coordinated.
Context Anchor
Seen during aircraft maintenance, especially when inspecting or rigging aileron control cables in the wings.
Derivation
Called a 'balance' cable because its job is to keep paired control surfaces in balance with each other — when the pilot's input pulls one surface one way, the balance cable ensures the other surface moves the matching amount the other way.
Why Pilots Care
Correct tension ensures symmetric roll response and prevents binding or unequal deflection.
Intuition Check
Do not read balance cable as a weight-and-balance item or an electrical cable. Here it means a mechanical control cable that helps keep paired flight controls matched.
Example Sentence 1
During the rigging check, the technician verified that the aileron balance cable had the correct tension before closing the inspection panel.
Example Sentence 2
A loose balance cable allowed one aileron to deflect farther than the other during the roll check.