Early in flight training, we learn that an aircraft can stall at any airspeed and at any attitude. So in order to prevent loss of control of the aircraft because of a stall, we practice stall recognition and recovery and are required to demonstrate that we can fly the aircraft at minimum controllable airspeed.
While the airspeed indicator, stall warning horn, and tactical feedback from your airplane and flight instructor are helpful cues that the wing is close to reaching the critical angle of attack, wouldn’t it be nice to have a precise way to gauge when you’re about to wander beyond the wing’s lift capacity? That’s where an angle of attack (AOA) indicator comes in.
To understand the concept of AOA indicators and what systems are available for general aviation cockpits, the AOPA Air Safety Institute developed a short video, Margins of Safety: Angle of Attack Indicators, which provides an introduction to AOA and an overview of how these systems can benefit your safety with improved stall awareness and prevention. The video discusses advantages and disadvantages of the three main AOA indicators—vane, pressure-differential, and attitude heading reference system (AHRS)—and how they measure relative wind, compute the data, and display the result in the cockpit.
Although AOA indicators have been used by the airlines and military to provide precise information about aircraft performance, until recently they have been cost-prohibitive for GA cockpits. Thankfully, technological innovations and eased installation requirements are allowing AOA indicators to become a reality in GA cockpits.
Watch the video, developed with technical assistance from Aspen Avionics, and learn how an AOA indicator can help you avoid exceeding the critical angle of attack (www.airsafetyinstitute.org/aoaindicators).
The video is made possible by the Tom Davis Fund, and brought to you by Aspen Avionics.
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