Which primary flight control surface controls movement about the lateral axis?

• A. Aileron
• B. Elevator
• C. Rudder
• D. Flap

Answer: (B)

Pitch is the motion about the lateral axis, causing the nose to move up or down. The elevator is the surface that controls this movement, mounted on the horizontal stabilizer and deflected up or down to change the aircraft’s pitch. When the elevator moves, it creates a pitching moment: deflecting upward typically raises the nose, while deflecting downward lowers the nose. The other surfaces don’t control pitch: ailerons tilt the aircraft to roll about the longitudinal axis, the rudder yaws about the vertical axis, and flaps mainly increase lift (and drag) during takeoff and landing rather than serving as primary pitch controls.