Ultimate Issue: AOA Gets Revisited—Again

Designing an accurate angle-of-attack system represents only half the challenge.

Monday, July 08, 2024 at 09:13 AM ET

Verified

There is also the problem, perhaps even more difficult than designing an angle-of-attack system, of how best to present the information to the pilot. [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

The article advocates for reframing Angle-of-Attack (AOA) indicators as "lift fraction indicators" to better convey the amount of available lift in use, offering a universal understanding for critical flight speeds across all aircraft.
Despite historical challenges in adoption and display, advancements in technology have enabled the creation of accurate, low-cost AOA systems (e.g., under $100 using microcontrollers).
A prototype lift-awareness system by FlyONSPEED.org combines visual cues with an innovative, continuous aural feedback mechanism that communicates critical flight information (e.g., speed, stall proximity, slip/skid), reducing the need for constant visual attention.

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For as long as I can remember—I started doing this in 1968—writers for FLYING and other aviation publications have been singing the praises of angle-of-attack (AOA) indicators.

They were rare in general aviation airplanes until 2014 when the FAA simplified the requirements for installing them. A proliferation of aftermarket AOA systems followed, ranging in price from around $300 to more than $3,000. I don’t know how widely these devices have been adopted, nor do I know whether any study has been made of their impact on the GA accident rate.

Peter Garrison

Peter Garrison taught himself to use a slide rule and tin snips, built an airplane in his backyard, and flew it to Japan. He began contributing to FLYING in 1968, and he continues to share his columns, ""Technicalities"" and ""Aftermath,"" with FLYING readers.