The FAA’s recent announcement that it is going to make the installation of angle-of-attack indicators in light general aviation airplanes as easy as possible is an incredible development. Why would the FAA reduce the certification barriers of a flight-critical instrumentation system? The answer is simple: AOA indicators are long overdue in general aviation airplanes, and flying with the technology will improve safety.
There’s an old saying among pilots that “airspeed equals life.” In other words, keep your speed up, and you’ll avoid stalling the wing during critical phases of flight, such as the base-to-final turn. But that’s a misnomer since the stalling airspeed of a wing will change based on aircraft weight and load factor. Also, how do you know that your airspeed indicator is properly calibrated? When was the last time it was checked? Chances are the only check that was ever made was right after the airplane left the factory.
