Yaw
What is yaw?
Yaw is the side-to-side movement of the airplane's nose left or right around its vertical axis. It is controlled by the rudder, which the pilot operates with the foot pedals. Think of it as the airplane "shaking its head" no—turning the nose left or right without banking. On the test: yaw = vertical axis = rudder.
Also known as: yawing
Studying for an FAA written test?
Terms like yaw show up on the FAA knowledge test. Study them in context with ACS-aligned practice questions, AI explanations, and the cited FAA handbook reference behind every answer — free to start.