ATPL Subject Air Regulations (SARON) and Subject Air Meteorology and Regulations (SAMRA) Practice Exam 2026 - Free Aviation Regulation and Meteorology Practice Questions

Dihedral wings are designed with an upward angle relative to the horizontal plane, which enhances the aircraft's lateral stability. When turbulence causes a wing drop, this design helps to restore the wings to a level position through the natural forces acting on the aircraft. Specifically, if one wing drops, the aircraft will enter a state of side slip towards that dropped wing.

This side slip generates a difference in lift between the two wings because the upturned dihedral wing (the one that is up) will produce more lift due to its greater angle of attack relative to the relative wind. Conversely, the down wing (the one that has dropped) will have a reduced angle of attack and produce less lift. As a result, this disparity in lift causes the aircraft to roll back towards level flight, effectively restoring wings level without the need for the pilot to intervene heavily with ailerons or power adjustments.

The other options do not directly relate to the natural stability mechanisms of dihedral wings in addressing a wing drop. For instance, increasing power to climb does not directly impact the lateral stability provided by dihedral. Excessive deflection of the ailerons can lead to over-control and complicate recovery instead of allowing the natural aerodynamic characteristics to work effectively. Level