Definition
A flight control input in which the pilot applies aileron in one direction and rudder in the opposite direction at the same time, producing uncoordinated flight with the airplane skidding or slipping.
Plain English
The pilot is turning the control wheel one way while pressing the rudder pedal the other way, so the airplane is no longer flying in a balanced, coordinated manner.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of asymmetric flap situations, slips, skids, and stall/spin risk during slow flight or landing approaches.
Derivation
Cross indicates opposing actions; control refers to the primary flight controls. The term describes simultaneous opposite inputs to aileron and rudder.
Why Pilots Care
The condition keeps the wings level but adds drag and demands close attention to airspeed and coordination until the flaps are corrected.
Intuition Check
Do not read cross-control as simply “using more than one control.” It specifically means the aileron and rudder are being used in opposite directions.
Example Sentence 1
After the asymmetric flap deployment, the pilot found the airplane could only be held wings-level with a cross-control condition: aileron into the good flap and opposite rudder.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor demonstrated a cross-control condition during the split-flap recovery drill.