Definition
The force a pilot applies to the rudder pedals with the feet to deflect the rudder and, on the ground, to operate nosewheel steering and toe brakes. In flight, pedal pressure controls yaw — the side-to-side movement of the aircraft's nose around its vertical axis.
Plain English
How hard you push on the rudder pedals with your feet. Pushing the left pedal swings the nose left; pushing the right pedal swings the nose right.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when using the turn indicator or turn coordinator to judge whether the airplane is turning in a coordinated way.
Derivation
“Pedal” comes from the Latin word for “foot.” “Pressure” comes from a word meaning “to press.” In this aviation use, the phrase points to a simple physical action: pressing with your feet to control the rudder.
Why Pilots Care
Correct pedal pressure keeps the aircraft coordinated; too little or too much creates a slip or skid that distorts instrument indications and can lead to loss of control.
Intuition Check
Do not think of pedal pressure as brake pressure here. In this context, it means rudder-pedal pressure used to coordinate the turn, not braking the wheels.
Example Sentence 1
As the airspeed dropped during slow flight, the pilot added right pedal pressure to keep the ball centered.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot added left pedal pressure to eliminate the skid shown on the turn coordinator.