FAA Safety Briefing Making Flying Safer with Angle of Attack Indicators

This content is based on an article featured in the January 2026 issue of FAA Safety Briefing. It is shared within the EASA Community General Aviation to highlight the safety benefits of Angle of Attack indicators.

Making Flying Safer with Angle of Attack Indicators

Installing This Device Could Save Your Life

By Neil H. Mansharamani, FAA Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention

Quote: You planned a fun day of flying. You’ve gone through your safety checklist. You take off with sunshine and blue skies as far as the eye can see. But upon climb out, you face the unexpected — engine failure. The adrenaline starts to rush. Now what? Before the fear factor sets in, you need to make a decision.

Many pilots think they can make it back to the runway. So, they go for the “impossible turn” — a steep-bank turn more than 180 degrees heading back for the runway. But steep turns in such circumstances can lead to a stall, which could cause the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.

Such was the case of a fatal accident involving a Beechcraft B36TC Bonanza in Pembroke Pines, Florida, in 2021. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a final report (download at bit.ly/ERA21FA154) determining that one of the causal factors was the pilot exceeding the airplane’s critical angle of attack while turning back to the airport following the loss of engine power.

Enter Angle of Attack (AoA) Indicators

In a critical situation like this, an AoA indicator is the pilot’s best friend, helping them avoid an aerodynamic stall. These indicators feature a series of lights and aural alerts that change as the aircraft gets closer to an aerodynamic stall. The aural alerts free up the pilot’s vision so they can focus on what’s outside the window. While most newer planes come with these indicators preinstalled or available as an option, many older planes require a retrofit.

Easy to Install. Simple to Learn. Might Save Your Life.

Retrofitting an aircraft with an AoA indicator can be easy and relatively inexpensive, and the training to use it is simple. There are several brands available on the market, varying in style and appearance. These can be stand-alone devices, or increasingly, are included in an aircraft’s glass panel avionics.
 

The full article can be accessed here (registration required):

Making Flying Safer with Angle of Attack Indicators | by FAA Safety Briefing Magazine | Jan, 2026 | Medium

References and further reading

FAA Safety Briefing Magazine – Medium
This One Can Catch You By Surprise! | EASA Community
Sunny Swift: Impossible turn - Issue 8 | EASA
FAA's Impossible Turn safety brochure
Aviation News Talk on Engine Failure after takeoff
Stall Recovery Procedure | EASA Community