Head for tape drive with transversely varying contour

A system, comprising:

• a head having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers in the tape bearing surface, the transducers being selected from a group consisting of readers, writers and servo readers, a length of the array being defined between outer transducers thereof;
• the head having a feature that induces formation of a larger air bearing between a tape and portions of the tape bearing surface closest to a plane extending across tape-facing sides of the transducers and positioned laterally to the array in a direction about perpendicular to a direction of tape travel thereacross than between the tape and a contiguous portion of the tape bearing surface spanning a plurality of the transducers,
• wherein the feature has a continuous length that is at least as long as the length of the array,
• wherein the portions of the tape bearing surface positioned laterally to the array over which the air bearing is formed lie substantially along the plane extending across the tape-facing sides of the transducers,
• wherein the portions of the tape bearing surface positioned laterally to the array over which the air bearing is formed are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the array defined along the length of the array.