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• Habitually flying with one wing low or maintaining directional control using only the rudder control. 

• Failure to make timely and measured control inputs when deviations from straight-and-level flight are detected. 

• Inadequate attention to sensory inputs in developing feel for the airplane. 

## Trim Control 

Proper trim technique is an important and often overlooked basic flying skill. An improperly trimmed airplane requires constant flight control pressures from the pilot, produces tension and fatigue, distracts the pilot from outside visual scanning, and contributes to abrupt and erratic airplane attitude control inputs. 

Trim control surfaces are required to offset any constant flight control pressure inputs provided by the pilot. For example, elevator trim is a typical trim in light GA airplanes and is used to null the pressure exerted by the pilot on the pitch flight control, which is being held to produce the tail down force required for a specific angle of attack (AOA).  [Figure 3-9] This relieves the pilot from holding a constant pressure on the flight controls to maintain a particular pitch attitude and provides an opportunity for the pilot to divert attention to other tasks, such as evaluating the airplane’s attitude in relation to the natural horizon, scanning for aircraft traffic, and maintaining situational awareness. 

Because of their relatively low power, speed, and cost constraints, not all light airplanes have a complete set (elevator, rudder, and aileron) trim controls that are adjustable from inside the cockpit. Nearly all light airplanes are equipped with at least a cockpit adjustable elevator trim. As airplanes increase in power, weight, and complexity, cockpit adjustable trim systems for the rudder and aileron may be available. 

In airplanes where multiple trim axes are available, the rudder should be trimmed first. Rudder, elevator and then aileron should be trimmed next in sequence; however, if the airspeed is varying, continuous attempts to trim the rudder and aileron produces unnecessary pilot workload and distraction. Attempts to trim the rudder at varying airspeeds are impractical in many propeller airplanes because of the built-in compensation for the effect of a propeller’s left turning tendencies. The correct procedure is when the pilot has established a constant airspeed and pitch attitude, the pilot should then hold the wings level with aileron flight control pressure while rudder control pressure is trimmed out. Finally, aileron trim should then be adjusted to relieve any aileron flight control pressure. 

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A properly trimmed airplane is an indication of good piloting skills. Any control forces that the pilot feels should be a result of deliberate flight control pressure inputs during a planned change in airplane attitude, not a result of forces being applied by the airplane. A common trim control error is the tendency for the pilot to overcontrol the airplane with trim adjustments. Attempting to fly the airplane with the trim is a common fault in basic flying technique even among experienced pilots. The airplane attitude must be established first and held with the appropriate flight control pressures, and then the flight control pressures trimmed out so that the airplane maintains the desired attitude without the pilot exerting flight control pressure. 

## Level Turns 

A turn is initiated by banking the wings in the desired direction of the turn through the pilot’s use of the aileron flight controls. Left aileron flight control pressure causes the left wing to lower in relation to the pilot. Right aileron flight control pressure causes the right wing to lower in relation to the pilot. In other words, to turn left, lower left wing with 

