What flight control surface is primarily used for lateral control of the aircraft?

The ailerons are the flight control surfaces primarily responsible for lateral control of the aircraft. They are located on the outer portions of each wing and move in opposite directions: when one aileron goes up, the other goes down. This creates differential lift across the wings, causing the aircraft to roll towards the wing with the aileron that is raised.

Lateral control is crucial during maneuvers, as it allows the pilot to maintain level flight, initiate turns, and stabilize the aircraft against disturbances like wind gusts. Unlike the other control surfaces, which play different roles—such as controlling pitch or yaw—the ailerons directly impact the aircraft's ability to roll and change its orientation around the longitudinal axis.