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Angle of Attack
From our FAA. The FAASTeam
Safer Skies Through Education
(Click here to go back to the start of our AoA pages)
Brian Harrelson flies a King Air 350 for FAA Flight Check; he sent me this very useful data from the FAA Safety Team.
What’s your angle?
Notice Number: NOTC4886
Want to help reduce GA accidents? Know your angle. Angle of attack, that is…
The majority of GA accidents occur when a pilot loses control of the aircraft. This usually happens in airplanes when a wing stalls and the plane enters a spin. The wing stalls when the critical angle of attack (AoA) is exceeded.
Remember, the wing (and aircraft) can stall at:
Any airspeed
Any attitude
Any power setting
But, the wing always stalls at the same AoA.
The stall speed published in the airplane flight manual is only valid for:
Unaccelerated flight (1g load factor)
Coordinated flight (ball centered)
At (usually) max gross weight
So, a pilot may be surprised to find the wing has stalled above the published stall speed.
AoA can be very useful in enhancing safety. Having an AoA meter is the best way to remain aware of your AoA.
If you don’t have an AoA meter, here’s a quick tip on how to manage your critical AoA:
See it – in the pitch attitude and airspeed indication.
Hear it - in the existing stall warning systems.
Feel it – in the seat of your pants when the wing begins to buffet.
Recover it – by reducing the pitch of the aircraft.
Regardless of the aircraft’s attitude, reducing the pitch reduces the angle of attack and recovers from the stall.
Want to learn more? Get out there and practice!
Take the Online courses at FAASafety.gov
ALC-214: Avoiding Loss of Control
ALC-63: Performance and Limitations
ALC-36: Positive Aircraft Control
FAA-H-8083-3B, Chapter 4, page 4-3, figure 4-2
FAA-H-8083-15B, , chapter 4, page 4-6, figure 4-8
FAA-H-8083-25A, , chapter 4, page 4-22
NAVAIR 00-80T-80, , Chapter 1, Figure 1.11
Contact: Kevin Clover: kevin.l.clover@faa.gov
HUGELY IMPORTANT! ... RECENT NEWS! ... June 2015--in the , the FAA is making a big push to get AoA indicators installed in General Aviation aircraft.
In its extraordinarily helpful December 2011 FAA clarification letter, the FAA Small Aircraft Directorate explains that installation is a "minor alteration" on the vast majority of light general aviation aircraft.
Read some more from other pilots with General Aviation AoA Experience
Take a look at the accident summaries. Click here.
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