Definition
A mechanical device installed on a parked aircraft to hold the flight control surfaces (ailerons, elevator, and rudder) in a fixed, neutral position so that wind cannot move them and cause damage to the control surfaces, hinges, or linkages.
Plain English
A clamp, pin, or bar that locks the flight controls in place while the aircraft is parked, so wind gusts cannot blow the controls around and damage them.
Context Anchor
Seen during parking, tiedown, storage, and preflight checks, especially when checking that the flight controls move freely before takeoff.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents wind gusts from damaging control surfaces, linkages, and actuators while the aircraft is unattended.
Intuition Check
Do not think of this as a flight safety lock used during flying. It is a ground-use lock, and it must be removed or released before flight.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the engine, the pilot removed the control locking device and confirmed the controls moved freely in all directions.
Example Sentence 2
During the walk-around the student removed the control locking device and stowed it in the baggage compartment.