What is Aircraft Flight Control? A Complete Guide

The flight control components are a set of mechanical and electronic parts that control and navigate the aircraft. This system not only ensures navigation but also guarantees the safety, efficiency, and stability of the flight. The aircraft’s guidance system may vary. In older systems, the flight control system was mostly mechanical, but with advancements in science and technology, it is moving towards digital and intelligent systems.

Among the tasks of the flight control system in an aircraft are the management and control of direction, altitude, and speed. These systems are being integrated with smart systems and artificial intelligence to reduce human error and increase efficiency.

Flight Control Components Consultation

Sakht Pooshesh Company, with several decades of experience and expertise in the field of repair, overhaul, and flight control services for both small and large aircraft, is one of the leading companies in Iran in the area of flight control component repair and refurbishment. The refurbishment process and corrosion removal is performed according to AD2014-05-12, with the components being rebuilt with nickel and cadmium coatings on the Flap Carriage Assembly. Additionally, you can contact our specialists if you have any questions.

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Flight Control System Components

The flight control system is made up of mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic components, each of which has a specific function within the aircraft’s flight control system. Below is a complete introduction to these components.

Ailerons : Ailerons are small movable components located on the trailing edge of an aircraft’s wings, typically at the wingtip. They cause the aircraft to roll left or right using the lift force difference between the two wings. For example, if the pilot wants to turn the aircraft left, they use the control stick, and the ailerons on the left wing move upward while the right wing’s aileron moves downward. As a result, the right wing moves upward and the left wing moves downward, causing the aircraft to roll to the left. During the roll, the ailerons on the opposite wings also move in opposite directions
Elevators : Elevators are located on the tail surfaces of the aircraft and are used to control the aircraft’s pitch, which is the movement of the nose up or down. The way they work is that when the pilot moves the elevators upward, the pressure on this part causes the aircraft’s nose to rise. Conversely, when the pilot moves the elevators downward, the nose of the aircraft is directed downward
Rudder : The rudder, located on the tail of the aircraft, is responsible for controlling the aircraft’s yaw, which is the movement of the nose left or right. The rudder and ailerons complement each other in controlling the aircraft’s direction, with both working together to guide the aircraft left or right. The difference between them lies in their location: ailerons are located on the wings, while the rudder is positioned on the tail. The rudder changes the direction of the aircraft’s nose through its rotation, while the ailerons alter the aircraft’s body orientation. Rudders are especially important for maintaining the aircraft’s balance in specific and sensitive conditions, such as strong winds, helping to stabilize the aircraft.

Types of Flight Control Systems

Hydromechanical :

In this system, movement includes mechanical components such as cables, gears, pinions, and mechanical linkages that transmit commands to the Ailerons, Elevators, and Rudder. These systems were commonly used in aircraft in the past. The hydromechanical system uses fluids to transfer force and power, typically utilizing hydraulic oil for the hydraulic components.
Fly-By-Wire (FBW) :

In this method, the pilot’s commands are transmitted as electrical signals, and computers control the flight surfaces. This system offers advantages such as reduced weight and less complexity compared to the previous hydromechanical method.

Next, we will examine the hydromechanical system on the Sakht Pooshesh website.

Hydraulic Pumps: These are used to pressurize fluids and generate force to move liquids.

Cylinders: These are used to move various components.

Conversion of Hydraulic Force to Mechanical Force: Mechanical tools are used to convert hydraulic force into mechanical force. These tools help transform one form of energy into the other.

Disadvantages of Mechanical and Physical Systems:

1- These systems have their own complexity, and the total cost of this system may be higher than that of newer systems because it is a combination of two systems. Many devices are used in this system.

2- Since the components are mechanical, they quickly wear out and degrade, leading to high maintenance costs. Given the cost of aircraft part repairs over time, maintenance expenses increase.

Features	Hydromechanical	Fly-By-Wire
Signal Transmission Method	The pilot’s force is amplified and transmitted mechanically.	The pilot’s input is amplified and transmitted mechanically.
Weight and Complexity	Heavy due to the extensive mechanical and hydraulic components.	Lighter with reduced weight, but has software complexity.
Safety	Dependent on the pilot’s force and sensitive to vibrations and mechanical failures.	Higher safety due to the absence of human-related conditions and errors.
Impact on fuel consumption.	It lacks average and automatic optimization for reduction.	Lower consumption due to reduced load and more precise control.
Maintenance cost.	Lower initial cost, but higher long-term maintenance expenses.	Higher initial cost, but lower maintenance costs due to reduced use of mechanical components.
Example of the aircraft used.	Boeing 727	Boeing 777 ، Airbus A320