To maintain a constant heading, a pilot must manage yaw primarily with:

To maintain a constant heading, a pilot must manage yaw primarily with:

• A. Cyclic
• B. Collective
• C. Anti-torque pedals
• D. Trim tab

Answer: (C)

Maintaining a constant heading requires controlling rotation about the vertical axis. In a helicopter, the main rotor’s torque tends to rotate the fuselage in the opposite direction, so the tail rotor’s thrust must be adjusted to counter that torque. The anti-torque pedals are used to vary tail rotor thrust, producing the yaw moment needed to hold heading steady or to change heading as desired. The cyclic tilts the rotor disk to produce forward motion and will initiate turns, which changes heading, but it’s not the tool you use to keep a heading fixed. The collective changes rotor lift and overall torque, which can indirectly affect yaw, but it’s the pedals that directly manage yaw. Trim tabs help reduce control force but don’t actively control heading.

Maintaining a constant heading requires controlling rotation about the vertical axis. In a helicopter, the main rotor’s torque tends to rotate the fuselage in the opposite direction, so the tail rotor’s thrust must be adjusted to counter that torque. The anti-torque pedals are used to vary tail rotor thrust, producing the yaw moment needed to hold heading steady or to change heading as desired. The cyclic tilts the rotor disk to produce forward motion and will initiate turns, which changes heading, but it’s not the tool you use to keep a heading fixed. The collective changes rotor lift and overall torque, which can indirectly affect yaw, but it’s the pedals that directly manage yaw. Trim tabs help reduce control force but don’t actively control heading.