Aviation Standard Test Battery-E (ASTB E) Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT one of the four basic maneuvers in flight?

1. Descent

2. Turn

3. Hover

4. Climb

The correct answer is: Hover

In aviation, the four basic maneuvers are typically recognized as climb, descent, turn, and level flight. These are fundamental actions that pilots perform to control the aircraft's altitude and heading. Hovering, on the other hand, is a maneuver primarily associated with rotary-wing aircraft, such as helicopters. While hovering is an essential capability for helicopters, it does not apply to flight maneuvers in fixed-wing aircraft, which is why it is not included in the standard listing of basic maneuvers. So, in this context, hovering is not considered one of the four basic maneuvers used in the operation of all types of aircraft, distinguishing it from climb, descent, and turn, which are universally applicable to both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.