Plain English Meaning

Pushing the rudder pedal on the side opposite to the way the airplane is turning or spinning, in order to stop that turning.

Full Definition

Rudder pressure applied in the direction opposite to an aircraft's yaw or rotation. In spin recovery, it refers to firmly applying full rudder against the direction of spin rotation to stop the yaw that sustains the spin.

Context Anchor

Used in stall and spin training, especially during the spin recovery steps in the Airplane Flying Handbook.

Derivation

“Opposite” means facing or acting against something. “Rudder” comes from an old word for a steering oar on a boat; on an airplane, the rudder controls the nose’s left-right movement. Together, “opposite rudder” means using the rudder against the airplane’s unwanted rotation.