Angle of Attack

Research by the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee, a group chartered by the FAA to improve GA safety, attributed 40 percent of fatal GA accidents to loss of control in flight. That is more than the next six causes, combined. Many of these accidents resulted from inadvertent stalls and spins. The groups top recommendation for improving safety was installing AOA indicators in GA airplanes.

When it comes to flying a wing, only one thing matters-angle of attack (AOA). For airplanes, we add power to that wing and get performance. While power is accurately displayed via engine instruments, AOA is an enigma fleetingly glimpsed through airspeed and attitude. The books state that airplanes can stall at any attitude, yet our training confuses that information. Practicing stalls at one G teaches us that stalls occur when a certain attitude is reached. The results are troubling.

But, just slapping an AOA indicator on the glareshield wont magically solve these problems and make you a better or safer pilot. Strategic planning and tactical techniques enable AOA systems to effectively battle lift.

jmiller

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Angle of Attack (AOA) indicators are crucial for general aviation safety, recommended by the FAA-chartered General Aviation Joint Steering Committee to prevent loss of control, which accounts for 40% of fatal GA accidents.
Unlike airspeed, AOA is the fundamental determinant of lift and stalls, enabling pilots to achieve consistent, optimal performance for landings, climbs, and glides regardless of aircraft weight or center of gravity.
AOA indicators provide early stall warnings, reducing the "startle effect" and enhancing safety; they also improve performance by allowing precise flight at optimal AOA for various flight regimes.
For maximum effectiveness, AOA indicators should be used as supplemental information to traditional instruments, rather than primary, to avoid potential flight instabilities like phugoids.

See a mistake? Contact us.

When it comes to flying a wing, only one thing matters—angle of attack (AOA). For airplanes, we add power to that wing and get performance. While power is accurately displayed via engine instruments, AOA is an enigma fleetingly glimpsed through airspeed and attitude. The books state that airplanes can stall at any attitude, yet our training confuses that information. Practicing stalls at one G teaches us that stalls occur when a certain attitude is reached. The results are troubling.