Yaw describes the rate of change of which flight parameter?

• A. Pitch angle
• B. Heading
• C. Altitude
• D. Bank angle

Answer: (B)

Yaw is the angular motion about the vertical axis, which describes how quickly the aircraft’s heading—the direction the nose is pointing relative to north—changes. In other words, the yaw rate is the rate of change of heading. This is distinct from pitch (nose up/down about the lateral axis) and bank/roll (rotation about the longitudinal axis), and from altitude (vertical position). The helicopter uses pedals to control yaw, adjusting how fast the heading changes.