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

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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 author advocates for replacing traditional airspeed indicators with "lift indicators," arguing that referencing "lift fraction" provides a universal and more intuitive understanding of critical flight speeds across all aircraft types.
Recent technological advancements, exemplified by Dave Rogers' 2018 paper, have made it possible to create highly accurate angle-of-attack (AOA) systems at a very low cost (under $100) using simple probes and inexpensive microcomputers.
The FlyONSPEED.org group has developed a prototype lift-awareness system that effectively combines visual cues with innovative aural feedback (e.g., varying tones for speed, stereo sound for slip/skid) to provide continuous, intuitive information to pilots, fulfilling the author's long-held "modest proposal."

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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.

Ultimate Issue: AOA Gets Revisited—Again

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

Key Takeaways:

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