A Level 1 AOA clarification

Stall/spin is a leading cause of death among GA pilots and
passengers.

Caused by the pilot not paying attention. Will having another
instrument that he's not paying attention to really help?

Best glide (potential emergency situation) is determined by AOA.

A few knots either way isn't going to make much difference. Plus, how
often is maximum glide range critical in an engine out situation? How
closely is the pilot really maintaining one airspeed (or AOA) during
an emergency?

Put an AOA sensor on GA planes with a hand that smacks the pilot on
the head

Some studies I've seen have shown that pilots are often oblivious to
warning horns and lights, though stick shakers are effective.

My prediction: put an AOA indicator on every airplane in the fleet
and you won't see much change in the accident rate due to stall spin.

Greg Esres wrote:
Stall/spin is a leading cause of death among GA pilots and
passengers.

Caused by the pilot not paying attention. Will having another
instrument that he's not paying attention to really help?

Yes, *if* the AOA is effectively communicated to the pilot. I'm not
suggesting we just stick a few LEDs on the panel. I would want to see some
audio piped into the headset, and/or a stick-shaker etc. I find it amazing
that everyone jumps all over this new GPS whizbang stuff - is it going to
increase or decrease the accident rate? I don't know. But a simple AOA
detector that will directly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities
goes completely ignored.


Best glide (potential emergency situation) is determined by AOA.

A few knots either way isn't going to make much difference. Plus, how
often is maximum glide range critical in an engine out situation?

Take a look at the fuel exhaustion/starvation accidents - they always seem
to 'land' a mile or two from their destination.



How
closely is the pilot really maintaining one airspeed (or AOA) during
an emergency?

I don't know - I haven't seen any research on this one.


Put an AOA sensor on GA planes with a hand that smacks the pilot on
the head

Some studies I've seen have shown that pilots are often oblivious to
warning horns and lights, though stick shakers are effective.

Lights are useless - the Arrow's stall light is embarrasing. Stall
'buzzers' are OK. So, let's figure out something new, or how about stick
shakers on GA aircraft. Just throwing up our arms while people continue to
die is not good enough.


My prediction: put an AOA indicator on every airplane in the fleet
and you won't see much change in the accident rate due to stall spin.

I completely disagree (if done correctly - see above).

Hilton

Yes, *if* the AOA is effectively communicated to the pilot.

You're really just talking about a more effective stall warning
system. Fine.

But a simple AOA detector that will directly reduce

Hypothesis. Skydivers point out that in spite of all the new safety
equipment they have these days, the fatality rate stays about the
same. People will always push the limits to achieve what they
consider an "acceptable" risk.

Consider that the unstallable airplanes such as the Ercoupe didn't
show any improvement in accident rates.

Just throwing up our arms while people continue to
die is not good enough.

The sure-fire way to reduce the fatality rate is to add ballistic
parachutes to our aircraft....no, wait, that hasn't worked either.
;-)

I don't know the solution to the problem. It may be an unavoidable
aspect of our freedom to fly.

Greg Esres wrote:
Yes, *if* the AOA is effectively communicated to the pilot.

You're really just talking about a more effective stall warning
system. Fine.

Both really (indicator and stall warning), but yes, a more effective stall
warning system would literally be the life saver.


But a simple AOA detector that will directly reduce

Hypothesis.

Are you contradicting your previous comment: "Some studies I've seen have
shown that pilots are often oblivious to warning horns and lights, though
stick shakers are effective."?


The sure-fire way to reduce the fatality rate is to add ballistic
parachutes to our aircraft....no, wait, that hasn't worked either. ;-)

I see the parachute guys got a mention on CNN. I wonder if/when the
research will start about the effect they have on a pilot's thinking,
decision making, and risk assesment. I know one was 'fired' when an aileron
became detached - was the plane really uncontrollable? Maybe, I'm not going
to doubt the pilot's remarks. But what about the other ones, and the
accidents where a pilot *perhaps* fly into 'unsuitable' conditions. BTW:
I'm also writing this in future tense.


I don't know the solution to the problem. It may be an unavoidable
aspect of our freedom to fly.

I'd like to think it's a solvable problem, or at least reducable.

Hilton

Are you contradicting your previous comment: "Some studies I've seen
have shown that pilots are often oblivious to warning horns and
lights, though stick shakers are effective."?

No, the discussion has vacillated between AOA indicators and warnings;
there is more justification for improved warnings than for indicators
which won't be used.

BTW, I do agree that AOA indicator would be *useful* in the right
hands (precise short field landings, e.g.), but I don't think it will
make much of a dent int he stall/spin accidents.

I'd like to think it's a solvable problem, or at least reducable.

Planes that fly themselves? ;-)