The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued a memo that clears the way for Angle of Attack (AoA) indicators to be fitted to light aircraft.
The memo, published on 5 February, is expected increase safety in light aircraft by giving pilots a more accurate method of assessing margin over the stall than using airspeed.
Under the new policy, manufacturers must build the AoA indicator system according to standards from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ATSM) and apply for FAA approval for the design via a letter certifying that the equipment meets ATSM standards and was produced under required quality systems.
“We have eliminated major barriers so pilots can add another valuable cockpit aid for safety,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “These indicators provide precise information to the pilot, and could help many avoid needless accidents.”
The new policy is currently restricted to US-registered aircraft, but it is expected that Honeywell Bendix King, manufacturers of the KLR10 Lift Reserve Indicator, will approach CASA to have the system approved under bilateral agreement.
Although they have been available for some time, the effort and cost associated with gaining installation approval for AoA indicators has limited their use in general aviation.