Which bank angle is most associated with CWS causing altitude and velocity excursions?

• A. 25 degrees
• B. 40 degrees
• C. 30 degrees
• D. 35 degrees

Answer: (D)

When Control Wheel Steering is active, the pilot’s wheel input can override normal automatic stabilization, making the airplane more responsive to roll commands. In a banked turn, the aircraft experiences higher load factor and induced drag, so maintaining target airspeed and altitude requires extra thrust and precise pitch control. The mid-30s degree bank angle is where these effects become most pronounced in typical operation, leading to noticeable changes in altitude and velocity if CWS input drives a stronger roll without immediate thrust/pitch adjustments. That’s why thirty-five degrees is the bank angle most closely tied to CWS–induced altitude and velocity excursions. Lower bank angles produce smaller effects, while extremely high banks can produce different dynamics, but the data here point to the mid-30s range as the peak association.