A flying head slider that keeps out dust particles while improving the CFH characteristics, skew dependence characteristics, and linear speed dependence characteristics for achieving a stable fly height. A flying head slider includes a positive pressure generating surface, which includes a leading pad for ensuring pitch stiffness; a pair of side pads, which are positioned behind of the leading pad and to the right and the left for ensuring roll stiffness; and a center pad, which is positioned between the side pads and controls the fly height characteristics. Furthermore, the flying head slider includes steps, which are at a lower height than the positive pressure generating surfaces and extend from the front of the slider toward side edges thereof in order to prevent dust particles from entering an area between the flying head slider and a disk surface.