Comments on: Quit stalling – please!

By: Harold Zamora

Harold Zamora — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:33:27 +0000

Just what Instruments did they have to provide attitude( Pitch & Roll) info?
What happens to the Elevator & Stab when the Joy stick is not in the neutral position?

By: Zagorfly

Zagorfly — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:53:51 +0000

Af 448:
1) more radar weather training
2) mandatory departure delay to clear weather
3) emergency tail drag schute deployed automatically in stall conditions and jettisoned a soon aoa is within the flying envelope.
4) more training in manual handling at high cruise elevation

Regards

By: Jack Voss

Jack Voss — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:16:41 +0000

Getting back to GA from major airlines – it seems to me (still a student pilot) that angle of attack is so critical that it should be both indicated and taught as a major part of basic air skills.

I’m having an AOA indicator installed in my 172 in a couple of days, and expect to be less in doubt about how close I am really flying to the edge of control. If it helps to keep me alive and helps me to fly a bit better, that somehow seems to be moving in a good direction. But, I’m only a student.

By: Charles W. Carr

Charles W. Carr — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:55:01 +0000

There are is a long list of things in what I’ve read about AF447 that are hard to believe. How can a pilot who understands the relationship between pitch, power and airspeed stall an airplane which has lost the airspeed indication? What happened to the ground speed data? How can a pilot sit at the controls and watch an attitude indicator with over 30 degrees nose up and vertical speed at 10000 fpm down and not know the wing is stalled. Why would you design a flight control system to keep you within the flight envelope and provide no guidance when you’re outside the envelope? I understand why the auto throttle disengaged on loss of airspeed input but why the autopilot? AOA would be helpful in this case but attitude instrument flying basics would prevent the stall. Personally, I believe the full story is not being told. When it is there should be a lot to learn about training and system design.

By: Bruce Landsberg

Bruce Landsberg — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:34:45 +0000

Grumpy….

Better that than my navel!!!

Kidding aside, this was an exercise in max performance both for me and the aircraft. The nice thing about this installation is that it can be seen in peripheral vision as you’re looking out the front. The audio warning serves as an attentive co-pilot so I felt that I was focused on the main event.

The AOA makes it pretty easy to make consistent on-speed approaches – something that invariably precedes a good landing.

By: grumpy

grumpy — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:56:20 +0000

Bruce, please don’t tell us you’re gazing at your panel on short final. 5 knots? Seriously?

By: Pranesh Dey

Pranesh Dey — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:56:24 +0000

I believe the same guys who stalled 447 wouldn’t have done the same mistake in a light aircraft, with or without an AOA. What was it that overwhelmed the FP in 447 — lack of manual hanlding for a long time (that too at a high altitude where the aerodynamics are different), automation reliance, in a procedure-driven profession the absence of a procedure for the situation A447 found itself in? Since an airline’s procedures do not take into account each pilots’
individual weaknesses and strengths, all pilot must have his own personal checklist that appreciates his/her limitations and he/she remains prepared for them all the time. Even that old adage is good enough: aviate, navigate, communicate. He/she must appreciate that up there he/she is all alone.

By: Herb Ludgewait

Herb Ludgewait — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 03:12:28 +0000

Stop teaching pitch to altitude. Problem solved!

By: JJ Greenway

JJ Greenway — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:44:59 +0000

Actually, the system is quite legally installed. It’s an approved system and the considered a “minor alteration”.

By: Bruce Landsberg

Bruce Landsberg — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:32:38 +0000

Jim…

Let me defer to our resident expert on the project and advise. My understanding is that we are in compliance with all applicable rules that apply to CAR3 aircraft. Stand by for an answer and thanks for asking.