What is a forward slip used for?

A forward slip is a flight maneuver primarily used to steepen the descent during approach to land. This technique involves yawing the aircraft while maintaining a controlled descent to lose altitude more rapidly without increasing airspeed. When a pilot performs a forward slip, typically by deflecting the ailerons in one direction and the rudder in the opposite direction, the aircraft creates additional drag while maintaining a controlled descent, making it an effective method for adjusting the descent profile, particularly in situations where the pilot needs to lose altitude quickly without sacrificing airspeed or without extending the flaps excessively.

This maneuver is especially useful when the pilot needs to approach a landing zone that may require more descent than what is achievable through normal glide paths, such as when encountering obstacles or flying towards shorter runways. It is not utilized for reducing speed in general, counteracting wind during takeoff, or balancing weight distribution; instead, its focus is on managing descent angle and rate specifically during the approach stage.