Private Pilot Private Exam

Which device is considered a secondary flight control?

1. Spoilers

2. Ailerons

3. Trim tabs

4. Elevators

The correct answer is: Spoilers

Spoilers are considered a secondary flight control because they are primarily used to reduce lift and increase drag, which helps in various phases of flight such as descent and landing. Primary flight controls, like ailerons and elevators, directly manage the aircraft's movement about its axes—roll and pitch, respectively. Trim tabs, while also classified as secondary controls, serve a specific purpose in alleviating control forces for ailerons, rudders, or elevators but do not directly control the aircraft's flight path. Therefore, while both spoilers and trim tabs are secondary flight controls, spoilers are the best answer in this context due to their distinct role in modifying lift and drag characteristics.