An air bearing surface of a slider is described. In one embodiment, the
air bearing surface comprises a center channel. The air bearing surface
further comprises a plurality of side channels, wherein at least one side
channel of the plurality of side channels is open to the center channel,
and a plurality of pocket areas. The center channel, the plurality of
side channels, and the plurality of pocket areas are configured to allow
air to flow along the center channel toward the trailing edge of the ABS,
such that a change in ambient pressure and a change and relative velocity
of a head assembly with respect to a data storage medium of a data
storage device would not significantly affect the fly height of a head
assembly utilizing the ABS.