What type of aircraft control surface is used for lateral control?

Lateral control in an aircraft is primarily managed by the ailerons. These control surfaces are located on the outer sections of the wings and function by varying the lift on each wing. When the pilot moves the control yoke or stick to one side, one aileron deflects upward while the other deflects downward, creating a difference in lift. This differential lift causes the aircraft to roll to the side of the wing with decreasing lift and is crucial for turning and maintaining balanced flight.

Elevators are responsible for controlling pitch, which affects the nose of the aircraft moving up or down. The rudder primarily controls yaw, which is the left or right movement of the aircraft's nose, while flaps are used during specific phase changes in flight, such as takeoff and landing, to increase lift by changing the wing's shape but do not directly contribute to lateral control.