Plain English Meaning

How hard the pilot has to push or pull on the controls to make the airplane do what they want. Light controls feel easy to move; heavy controls take real muscle.

Full Definition

The physical pressures a pilot must apply to the flight controls (yoke or stick, rudder pedals) to move the control surfaces and change the aircraft's attitude or flight path. Control forces depend on airspeed, aircraft design, control surface size, trim setting, and the loads acting on the surfaces.