You need to keep the plane in the safe, stable flight you found it in. Use the control wheel and the horizon displayed on the attitude indicator to level the wings. Communications. The yoke is the primary control for pitch and roll movements of the aircraft. Becoming a Pilot: How to Fly an Airplane Basics Yoke. Rudder. We went to the air show. But most of all, flying your own plane is freedom. In other words, the pilot must be ready to take over and fly the airplane safely to its destination (or until smoother air allows the pilot to reconnect the autopilot). Depending on the make and model of the aircraft and the type of autopilot in use, this may cause the autopilot to disconnect and revert the aircraft into manual flight mode. The rudder pedals are arguably the most important controls on an airplane. Communications is a vital part of learning how to fly an airplane. Flying your own plane is fun, it’s cool, it’s glamorous, and, to most people, it’s an exotic treat.