To maintain altitude during a banked turn, the pilot must increase what?

In a banked turn, when a pilot initiates a maneuver by banking the aircraft, the lift vector is tilted, which means some of the lift is used to counteract the force of gravity while some is directed towards the center of the turn to maintain the circular path. As a result, the total vertical lift must increase to maintain altitude.

To achieve this, the pilot needs to increase the angle of attack. By increasing the angle of attack, the wings generate more lift. This is particularly important during a turn because the aircraft's weight is still acting downward while the lift vector must not only counteract gravity but also provide the necessary centripetal force for the turn.

While increasing power setting could help in some scenarios, in a banked turn it is primarily the angle of attack that is adjusted to ensure that lift remains adequate for level flight. Adjusting speed and flap deflection do not directly address the immediate need to maintain lift against the altered lift vector during a turn. Thus, increasing the angle of attack is the most effective and direct method to maintain altitude in a banked turn.