Refer to figure.

The Collective Pitch Control (or simply “Collective” or “Thrust lever”) is located on the left side of the pilot’s seat and is operated with the left hand. The Collective is used to make changes to the pitch angle of the Main Rotor blades and does this simultaneously, or collectively, as the name implies. As the Collective Pitch Control is raised, there is a simultaneous and equal increase in pitch angle of all Main Rotor blades. As it is lowered, there is a simultaneous and equal decrease in pitch angle. This is done through a series of mechanical linkages and the amount of movement in the Collective lever determines the amount of blade pitch change.

The Cyclic Pitch Control (or simply “Cyclic”) is usually projected upward from the cockpit floor, between the pilot’s legs or between the two pilot seats in some models. This primary flight control allows the pilot to fly the helicopter in any direction of travel. The Total Lift Force is always perpendicular to the tip-path plane of the Main Rotor. The purpose of the Cyclic Pitch Control is to tilt the tip-path plane in the direction of the desired horizontal direction. The Cyclic controls the rotor disk tilt versus the horizon, which directs the rotor disk Thrust to enable the pilot to control the direction of travel of the helicopter.

Depending on the complexity of the helicopter, the Cyclic and Collective may be linked together by a Mixing Unit, a mechanical or hydraulic device that combines the inputs from both and then sends along the "Mixed" input to the control surfaces to achieve the desired result.

The movements of the Cyclic and Collective controls are transferred to the rotor disk by control rods through the swashplate assembly.