Most of the time, the typical pilot flying the typical airplane will be in a straight-and-level attitude. When it comes time to join a traffic pattern, for example, enter a holding pattern or fly an ATC vector, we abandon straight-and-level for turning flight. When we turn, we change the airplane’s aerodynamics—the degree of change depends quite literally on the degree of bank—and one outcome can be uncoordinated flight. Ideally, we all would be adept at maintaining coordinated flight, in turns and other maneuvers.
The reality is that we often let the airplane get somewhat out of coordination, especially when beginning a turn. Then, realizing what we’re (not) doing, we add pressure to a rudder pedal and/or change the bank angle to bring things back into line. The additional reality is that uncoordinated flight usually isn’t dangerous, fattening or illegal. Yes, uncoordinated control inputs can risk an inadvertent spin in certain circumstances. And lack of coordination in our flying also can be uncomfortable for the airplane’s occupants. Ultimately, however, the extent to which, if any, the airplane is not coordinated speaks more to the quality of our control inputs and how well we are flying it today than any unsafe practice. That said, coordinating our use of the flight controls ensure eking out the greatest speed in cruise and preventing an inadvertent spin when demonstrating a stall.
