Definition
A type of aircraft wheel brake in which the braking force applied by the pilot is transmitted directly to the brake pads or shoes, without any mechanical self-energizing action that would use the rotation of the wheel to increase braking pressure. The stopping force comes only from what the pilot puts in through the brake pedal.
Plain English
A simple brake design where the harder you press the pedal, the harder the brake squeezes — and that's it. The brake doesn't help itself by using the wheel's own motion to grip tighter.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft brake system descriptions and maintenance discussions, especially when comparing different brake designs.
Derivation
"Servo" comes from the Latin servus, meaning servant or helper. A servo brake has a built-in "helper" action where wheel rotation amplifies braking force. "Non-servo" simply means that helper action is absent — the brake doesn't assist itself.
Why Pilots Care
They require greater pedal force than servo brakes but provide more predictable and linear braking response.
Grounding Statement
When you press the brake, the stopping force is only the force the brake system applies, not extra force added by the wheel’s rotation.
Intuition Check
Nonservo does not mean the brakes are weak or not working. It means the brake design does not use a self-assisting action to increase braking force.
Example Sentence 1
Most light single-engine trainers use nonservo brakes, so the pilot feels a direct relationship between pedal pressure and stopping power.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight the pilot checked the nonservo brakes by verifying firm pedal resistance before taxiing.