What control surface on a fixed-wing aircraft creates movement around the lateral axis?

The control surface that creates movement around the lateral axis of a fixed-wing aircraft is the elevator. This surface is located on the tail section of the aircraft and is primarily responsible for pitch control; it allows the pilot to raise or lower the nose of the aircraft. When the elevator is deflected upward, it increases the lift on the tail, causing the nose to pitch up, and when it is deflected downward, it decreases the lift on the tail, causing the nose to pitch down.

Movement around the lateral axis is crucial for ensuring that the aircraft can ascend or descend effectively. Understanding how the elevator operates is fundamental for pilots controlling the flight attitude of the aircraft. The other control surfaces serve different functions: for instance, the ailerons control roll about the longitudinal axis, the rudder controls yaw around the vertical axis, and the wings are the main lifting surfaces, not control surfaces in this context.