What is the purpose of an air stabilizer?

• A. Reduce descent speed to minimize shock from water
• B. Increase descent rate
• C. Improve lateral stability in air
• D. Stabilize electrical charge

Answer: (A)

Air stabilizers are used to manage vertical motion during water landings, helping to cushion the impact. By slowing the descent just before contact with the water, they reduce the deceleration forces the occupants and the aircraft would experience on impact. That’s why reducing descent speed to minimize shock from water is the best answer.

Increasing descent rate would make impact forces worse. Improving lateral stability in air relates to side-to-side stability during flight, not the landing on water. Stabilizing electrical charge is unrelated to how the aircraft interacts with water on impact.