The pilot's steering wheel is called a control yoke, or simply the yoke. In some aircraft—most notably many Airbus models—the primary control input is a sidestick instead of a wheel, and ground steering uses a separate tiller.
Primary flight control devices
The control yoke sits in front of the pilots and is connected to the control column. When you turn the wheel or push/pull, it moves the aircraft's ailerons and elevators to change roll and pitch. Sidesticks operate on a similar principle but use a handheld joystick rather than a wheel.
Common terms used for these devices
Airplane pilots and manuals use a few different terms for the input device. The following list covers the most widely used names and their typical associations.
- Control yoke (also called "yoke" or "control wheel") — the wheel-style input found on many Boeing and other aircraft.
- Sidestick — a handheld joystick used as the primary input on some Airbus aircraft and other models.
- Control column — the mechanical assembly that translates the pilot's input to the flight controls; terms are sometimes used interchangeably with "yoke."
Note that the exact naming can vary by manufacturer and era, but the basic function remains the same: to command pitch and roll and, with rudder and throttle inputs, to control the aircraft's flight path.
Ground steering and other controls
On the ground, steering is usually performed with a separate tiller that turns the nose wheel. In lighter aircraft, the yoke may contribute to ground steering under specific configurations, but the tiller is the primary tool for taxiing and maneuvering on the apron.
Summary
The steering input used by pilots is commonly called the control yoke or simply the yoke. Some aircraft use a sidestick instead, and ground handling uses a tiller. Terminology varies by manufacturer and aircraft type, but the basic purpose is the same: to control the airplane's pitch and roll and guide its flight path.