flight control

noun

1. the direction of airplane movements, especially takeoffs and landings, by messages from the ground.
2. the system by which this direction is done.
3. the office from which this direction is done.
4. the system by which the pilot of an airplane controls the movement of the airplane.

Word History and Origins

Origin of flight control¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Both crashes were primarily attributed to a poorly designed flight control system, which activated at the wrong time due to a sensor failure.

From BBC

Both crashes were linked to faulty flight control systems.

From BBC

That’s because planes have backup hydraulic systems, which are used to power equipment like the landing gear, brakes, wing flaps and flight controls, allowing planes to take off, fly and land.

From New York Times

Flaws in that new flight control system led directly to the crashes that killed 346 people.

From Seattle Times

Barnett said he saw discarded metal shavings near wiring for the flight controls that could have cut the wiring and caused a catastrophe.

From Seattle Times