The operation of flaps and slats varies depending on the aircraft. In most cases, they move together and are controlled by the flap control lever. There isn’t typically a separate slat lever. When the flap lever is moved from the retracted position, both flaps and slats move simultaneously.
However, in modern jet aircraft, there’s a notable exception. When the flap lever is moved to the first stage from the retracted position during flight, only the slats move while the flaps remain retracted. This helps the aircraft maintain lift at lower speeds without generating excessive drag. The slats increase the wing’s camber and introduce a slot, energizing the boundary layer and allowing for a significant reduction in speed, often over 20 knots in the A320, without deploying the flaps. This reduction in drag leads to lower fuel consumption, benefiting the airline or operator.
On the ground, both slats and flaps typically move even when only the first stage is selected. In Airbus aircraft, this configuration is referred to as “1+F,” where “1” represents slats and “F” represents flaps. Selecting “flaps 1” on an Airbus moves both the slats and flaps to the first stage, providing pilots with the option to take off with flaps set to 1.Activate to view larger image,
