There are some in-flight failures that are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recover from. One such malfunction is the failure of a major control surface. A positive control check is part of the preflight procedures section of the practical test standards for gliders since they are often assembled right before the flight. While a positive control check may not be warranted for each flight in certified airplanes, it’s definitely worth doing every time there has been any type of maintenance done to the airplane or if you’re flying an airplane that is not yours.
Positive Control Check
Key Takeaways:
- Failure of a major control surface is an extremely difficult, often impossible, in-flight emergency to recover from.
- A "positive control check" is a crucial two-person preflight procedure, especially after maintenance or with unfamiliar aircraft, to thoroughly ensure all control linkages are properly connected and surfaces move correctly.
- This two-person check is more comprehensive than a standard runup control check, which can fail to detect critical issues like a partially connected elevator, as demonstrated by a pilot's near-disaster.
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