Plain English Meaning

The parts of the airplane the pilot moves to make it turn, climb, descend, or stay steady — and the controls in the cockpit (like the yoke or stick, rudder pedals, and trim wheel) that move them.

Full Definition

The system of movable surfaces and the cockpit devices that operate them, used by the pilot to control the airplane's attitude and flight path. Primary flight controls (ailerons, elevator, and rudder) control the airplane about its three axes — roll, pitch, and . (such as , , and ) refine handling, reduce , or change the airplane's .