The FAA recommends owners of all airplanes install and calibrate an Angle of Attack (AOA) alerting system and receive training on its use.
“Increasing awareness of the benefits of these alerting systems may reduce the risk for loss-of-control (LOC) incidents and accidents,” is noted in the introduction of Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) 2024-07 — STALL WARNING SYSTEM, Angle of Attack Alerting Systems — issued on Dec. 26, 2024.
The bulletin references the 2009 Colgan Air crash (Flight 3407) and its NTSB investigation, which highlighted the risks of improper stall recovery and insufficient low-airspeed alerting.
The NTSB recommended the FAA require installation of such a system for all airplanes operating under Part 121, 135, and 91, subpart K.
The SAIB also summarizes the benefits and limitations of such a system, including:
AOA Benefits
Offers a more reliable indication of an impending stall than airspeed indicators alone.
Audible alerts improve pilot awareness before a stall occurs.
Indicators assist pilots in stall prevention, unusual attitude recovery, and energy management.
AOA Limitations
Pilots must be trained to use AOA indicators effectively.
Variations in AOA display types present standardization and training challenges.
Proper installation and calibration are essential to ensure accuracy.
SAIBs are informative, not mandatory.
