UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF
AVIATION TECHNOLOGY
BACHELOR OF AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY (HONOURS) IN
AVIONICS

THEORY OF FLIGHT AND CONTROL (AAB20402)

TITLE: ASSIGNMENT 1
AIRCRAFT PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

LECTURER: MR MOHD EZWANI BIN KADIR

GROUP: ANGLE OF ATTACK

NO.

NAME

IDENTITY NUMBER

ZAHID BIN ZULKEFLEE

53213114267

AMIR SYAZWAN BIN ALI

53259113130

TUAH MAHATHIR BIN MUHAMAD

53213114402

MUHAMMAD IKRAM BIN ABD HAMID

53213114252

RAJA MUHAMMAD KAMAL BIN RAJA BADLY

53213114152

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NO

CONTENTS

PAGES

TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

AIRCRAFT PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

AIRBUS A320 SERIES PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

3-4

THE NEEDS OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

LOCATION OF CONTROL SURFACES

THE USE OF AIRCRAFT PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

FUNCTION AND OPERATION OF PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

REFERENCES

10

APPENDIX

5-6
7
8-10
11
12-20

INTRODUCTION
An aircraft is a machine that has the ability to fly by gaining support from air or
atmosphere in the planet Earth. The ability to fly needs certain mechanism. This mechanism is
not just for flying but to control the aircraft during flight. This is known as aircraft flight
control. Generally the aircraft flight control can be classified into three groups; the aircraft
primary flight control, the aircraft secondary flight control and the aircraft auxiliary flight
control. Below are the summary;
Aircraft
Flight
Control

Aircraft
Primary
Flight
Control

Elevator
Control
System

Aircraft
Secondary
Flight
Control

Aileron
Control
System

Elevator
Trim Tab
System

Rudder and
Aileron Trim
Tab System

Aircraft
Auxiliary
Flight
Control

Flap Control
Devices

High Lift
Devices

Rudder
Control
System

Figure 1. The classification of aircraft flight control

AIRCRAFT PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

Aircraft primary flight control is the mechanism to control the movement of an aircraft. This type
of flight control is the basic flight control compared to other two types. These consist of the
flight control surfaces and the engine power management. Below are the examples of primary
flight control;
i. Elevator Control System
ii. Aileron Control System
iii. Rudder Control System

AIRBUS A320
Airbus launched its single-aisle product line with
the A320, which continues to set industry
standards for comfort and operating economy on
short- to medium-haul routes. Typically seating
150 passengers in a two-class cabin or up to 180
in a high-density layout for low-cost and charter
flights the A320 is in widespread service around
the globe on services that vary from short
commuter sectors in Europe, Asia and elsewhere to

Figure 2. Airbus A320

Trans-continental flights across the United States.1 The Airbus A320 is fitted with a fly-by-wire
flight control system. This means that the mechanical linkage between control column and
control surface has been replaced by electrical wires. Just like the Boeing 737, the Airbus A320
flight controls are divided into primary and secondary flight controls. Both the primary and
secondary flight controls are controlled by a total of 7 computers. 2

A320 family. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a320family/a320/
2
A320 control system. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dutchops.com/Portfolio_Marcel/Articles/Flight
Controls/A320_Flight_Controls/A320_Primary_Flight_Controls.html
1

AIRBUS A320 SERIES PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

According to the A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight
Control (27-00-00) page 2 until 5, the roll and pitch controls of aircraft are electrical. They are
controlled by side stick inputs and digital processing by the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC)
and the Spoiler Elevator Computer (SEC), each of them being able to control the aircraft in both
axes. Some rudder control function such as trim and travel limitation are achieved by Flight
Augmentation Computer (FAC). Meanwhile if the aircraft in flight during a temporary complete
loss of electrical power, it controlled by hydro mechanical as well as the alternate horizontal
stabilizer control. When the primary flight controls on the Airbus A320 are being operated,
electrical signals from the side stick of Flight Management and Guidance System (FMGS) are
send to the flight control computers before being passed to the flight control hydraulic actuator. 3

Figure 3. Flight Control Surfaces (A320

A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-00-00) page 2 until
5
3
A320 control system. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dutchops.com/Portfolio_Marcel/Articles/Flight
Controls/A320_Flight_Controls/A320_Primary_Flight_Controls.html
3

Figure 4. Airbus A320 Flight Control

THE NEEDS OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

Elevator, aileron and rudder are the control surface for an aircraft. These control surface have
their own part or mechanism in aircraft primary flight control system. Below are the important of
aircraft primary flight control;
i.

Aircraft primary flight control will determine the position of the aircraft.

ii.

Elevator will help in aircraft pitching.

iii.

Aileron will help in aircraft rolling.

iv.

Rudder will help in aircraft yawing.

v.

They will involve in aircraft stability (vertical, lateral and longitudinal)

LOCATION OF CONTROL SURFACES

For aircraft primary flight control, the control surfaces involved are elevator, aileron and rudder.
Below are the locations of the control surfaces.

Control Surface

Location

Elevator

Figure 5. The elevator at the horizontal stabilizer (the tail)

A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-34-00) page 2
5

Aileron

Figure 6. The ailerons at both of the aircraft wing.

Rudder

Figure 7. Rudder at aircraft fin (the tail)

A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-14-00) page 604
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-21-00) page 504
6

THE USE OF AIRCRAFT PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

All the flight control is being controlled in the cockpit by the pilot. The pilot will use the primary
flight control during flight. The use of elevator is utilized during pitching maneuver. Pitching is
when the elevator tilts up or down, decreasing or increasing lift on the tail. This tilts the nose of
the aircraft up and down.4
The aileron will be used during rolling maneuver. During rolling the pilot will control the
control column in order to control the movement of the aileron. The aileron at the right wing will
turn upward while the aileron that is located on the left wing will turn downward in order to bank
the aircraft to the left side.
The rudder will be used during yawing maneuver. On the vertical tail fin, the rudder swivels
from side to side, pushing the tail in a left or right direction. A pilot usually uses the rudder along
with the ailerons to turn the aircraft.5

Figure 8. Pitching

Figure 9. Rolling

Figure 10. Yawing

Figure 8. 9. and 10. (Cessna) as an example of the basic movement of aircraft subjected
(A320)

Roll, pitch, and yaw. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://howthingsfly.si.edu/flight-dynamics/roll-pitch-andyaw

5
Ibid
4

FUNCTION AND OPERATION OF PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL

Elevator Control System
An elevator is mounted on the back edge of the horizontal stabilizer on each side of the fin in the
tail. They move up and down together. When the pilot pulls the stick backward, the elevators go
up. Pushing the stick forward causes the elevators to go down. Raised elevators push down on
the tail and cause the nose to pitch up. This makes the wings fly at a higher angle of attack which
generates more lift and more drag. Many aircraft use a stabilator (a moveable horizontal
stabilizer) in place of an elevator.

Figure 11. The elevator control system (reference)

Figure 12. The elevator control system of Airbus A320

A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-30-00) page 3/4
8

Aileron Control System

Ailerons are mounted on the trailing edge of each wing near the wingtips, and move in opposite
directions. When the pilot moves the stick left, or turn the wheel counter-clockwise, the left
aileron goes up and the right aileron goes down. A raised aileron reduces lift on the wing and
lowered one increases lift, so moving the stick left causes the left wing to drop and the right wing
to rise. This causes the plane to bank left and begin to turn to the left. Centering the stick returns
the ailerons to neutral maintaining the bank angle. The plane will continue to turn until opposite
aileron motion return the bank angle to zero to fly straight.

Figure 13. The aileron control system (reference)

Figure 14. The aileron control system

linkage (reference)

Figure 15. The aileron control system for Airbus A320

A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-10-00) page 3/4
9

Rudder Control System

The rudder is typically mounted on the back edge of the fin in the empennage. When the pilot
pushes the left pedal, the rudder deflects left. Pushing the right pedal caused the rudder to deflect
right. Deflecting the right pushes the tail left and cause the nose to yaw right. Centering the
rudder pedals returns the rudder to neutral and stops the yaw.

Figure 16. The rudder control system (reference)

Figure 17. The rudder control system for Airbus A320

A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-20-00) page 3/4

10

REFERENCES
A320 family. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a320family/a320/
A320 control system. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.dutchops.com/Portfolio_Marcel/Articles/FlightControls/A320_Flight_Contro
ls/A320_Primary_Flight_Controls.html
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-00-00)
page 2 until 5
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-34-00)
page 2
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-14-00)
page 604
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-21-00)
page 504
Roll, pitch, and yaw. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/flight-dynamics/roll-pitch-and-yaw
Ibid
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-30-00)
page 3/4
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-10-00)
page 3/4
A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Chapter 27 Flight Control (27-20-00)
page 3/4
Theory of Flight AAB 20402, UniKL MIAT

11

APPENDIX

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