ASTB Aviation/Nautical Information Test (ANIT) Practice

Spoilers serve a critical role in aircraft performance, particularly during landing phases. Their primary function is to disrupt lift and increase drag, which effectively reduces the aircraft's lift. This is vital for landing, as decreasing lift helps the airplane descend more rapidly and aids in settling down onto the runway. By increasing drag, spoilers provide additional control to the pilot during the approach and landing phases, allowing for more precise speed management and descent angles.

During landing, the deployment of spoilers helps to create a downward force, which counteracts the lift generated by the wings. This is particularly important in ensuring that the aircraft can touch down securely and that it does not float above the runway due to excessive lift. Additionally, the increased drag from the spoilers assists in decelerating the aircraft after touchdown, facilitating a smoother braking process.

While spoilers do disrupt lift, their design is not intended to enhance stability or maintain speed, nor do they contribute to increasing lift during takeoff. Those other functions are managed by different components of the aircraft, such as flaps for lift enhancement or other aerodynamic surfaces designed specifically for stability.