What Are Spoilers?

Answer:

Picture taken aboard 6Y-JMH (Air Jamaica) December 2004. Shows the spoilers deployed after touchdown.

Spoilers are devices fitted to wings which increase drag and decrease lift. They are usually hydraulically-operated long narrow strips of metal mounted spanwise along the top surface of the wing.

Some aircraft employ spoilers which work in coordination with the ailerons during turns, increasing aileron effectiveness and/or limiting the effects of adverse aileron yaw.

Spoilers can also be used to assist in braking after landing, destroying lift and immediately transferring all the aircraft’s weight to its wheels, improving braking effectiveness.