Which components are considered primary flight controls?

• A. Ailerons, Rudder, Elevator, MFS
• B. Slats, Flaps, Ground Spoilers, Trim
• C. Horizontal Stabilizer Trim, Mach Trim, Auto Trim
• D. Landing Gear, Brakes, Spoilers

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested is which surfaces pilots move to directly steer the aircraft in flight. Primary flight controls are the movable surfaces that cause immediate rotation about the three axes: roll, pitch, and yaw. The ailerons on the wings produce roll, the elevator on the horizontal stabilizer controls pitch, and the rudder on the vertical stabilizer handles yaw. These three surfaces are designed for direct, real-time attitude control and are used for the core maneuvers of flying.

The other items are not primary flight controls. Slats and flaps mainly modify lift and drag during takeoff and landing, ground spoilers and trim adjust lift or stability rather than command attitude, and trim systems (like horizontal stabilizer trim and auto trim) help maintain the flight path rather than actively steering the aircraft. Landing gear and brakes are used on the ground rather than for in-flight attitude control.