Common AOA Misconceptions
- Why do I need AOA, I fly by "the seat of my pants!"
- Why do I need a "AOA Gizmo" when I have airspeed indicator?
Why do I need AOA, I fly by "the seat of my pants!"
Every aircraft is able to fly because of AOA (angle of attack), it's NOT airspeed. The "feeling" that they sense, is the wing loosing lift, not too many pilots live to tell of entering an accelerated stall, on climb out at 100' off the end of the runway and share their story of how it "felt"! An Alpha Systems AOA in the cockpit will give the pilot instantaneous indications of the amount of lift over the whole range of AOA from Cruise to Stall.
80% of ALL accidents happen in slow flight, landings and take offs. Too many high time piolots get into situations "VERY QUICKLY" that need an immediate reality check of the only thing that keeps them in the air, LIFT! Having too much lift can be as dangerous as not enough!
Why do I need a "AOA Gizmo" when I have airspeed indicator?
There are multiple things wrong with that question. I guess the best way I can respond is that strictly from a safety standpoint, ALL commerical aircraft utilize the benefits of AOA, the airspeed number is only valid if the aircraft is at maximum gross weight in un-accelerated flight. An airspeed indicator has a significant lag, and to top that, I want to ask my readers, when was the last time your aircrafts' airspeed indicator was calibrated??? From 0 MPH to Vne? Does it give a true indication over the whole range? At slow flight? What's its response delay? Airspeed sort of gives an indication of what the aircraft should be able to do. AOA is accurate in ALL flight situations. Ask any military pilot that does carrier landings how important AOA is!!