Definition
A flexible steel cable used in an aircraft to transmit pilot control inputs from the cockpit controls to the flight control surfaces. Control cables are typically constructed of stranded carbon steel or stainless steel wire, sized and tensioned to carry specific operating loads without stretching, and run through pulleys and fairleads between the controls and the surfaces they actuate.
Plain English
A strong, flexible steel cable that links the cockpit controls to the moving surfaces on the wings and tail, so when the pilot moves a control, the cable pulls the surface in the right direction.
Context Anchor
You may encounter control cables during preflight checks, aircraft maintenance discussions, flight control inspections, and descriptions of how the pilot’s controls move the aircraft.
Derivation
From Latin contrarotulare, meaning 'to check against a register' — the origin of 'control,' meaning to direct or command. 'Cable' comes from Late Latin capulum, meaning 'rope' or 'halter.' Together the term simply means a rope that carries a command — which is exactly what it does in the aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Correct tension, routing, and condition of control cables directly affect control response and flight safety; wear or failure can cause loss of control authority.
Analogy
A control cable is similar to a bicycle brake cable: when you move the handle, the cable carries that pulling motion to another part of the machine.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a control cable as an electrical cable. Here, it means a mechanical cable that physically carries pulling force and movement.
Example Sentence 1
During the preflight inspection, the mechanic checked the control cables for proper tension and signs of fraying where they passed over the pulleys.
Example Sentence 2
After the annual, the mechanic adjusted the tension on the elevator control cables to restore smooth pitch response.