This video takes a look at the benefits of angle of attack indicators, and how they provide pilots a visual reference on how close their wings are to stalling. For more information on stall/spin awareness, view the Aerodynamics Safety Center for a list of additional ASI resources.
Year after year, unintended stalls are among the leading causes of fatal aviation accidents. The "departure" or "power-on" stall is practiced during flight training, but in a controlled, coordinated scenario at a high altitude. Unexpected stalls during takeoffs or go-arounds are sudden, sharp, and frightening. At low altitude, even a brief loss of aircraft control may be unrecoverable. This video explains the differences in power-on stall training versus real-world scenarios, the aerodynamics of how stalls occur during takeoffs and go-arounds, and techniques pilots can use to prevent them.
Despite repeated practice of stall recognition and recovery in primary training, unintended stalls continue to be a leading cause of fatal accidents among GA pilots. One major reason is that the stalls we practice in training often look and feel different than stalls in real-world scenarios. In this video, we discuss the various complexities of the traffic pattern, and the ways in which distraction, poor pattern discipline, and sloppy stick-and-rudder flying can land you in hot water – all at an altitude where an inadvertent stall or spin may be unrecoverable.
Maneuvering an aircraft at low altitude is something we do on every flight, without giving it much thought. While it’s not much different than maneuvering at altitude, the slow speed and low altitude decrease the margins for error. In this video, we’ll talk about how to safely maneuver aircraft down low.
Made possible by the Tom Davis Fund.