All new Skyhawk 172 airplanes now will be delivered with an angle-of-attack indicator as standard equipment, Cessna announced at Sun ‘n Fun today. The system, by Safe Flight, also will be available as an option on the Skylane 182 and the Turbo Stationaire 206. The dash-mounted system provides trend and AoA information during all phases of flight, with both visual and audio data. Cessna said the system is the only supplemental AoA device available that utilizes leading-edge lift information to measure angle of attack. Safe Flight has been manufacturing primary stall-warning and AoA systems for nearly 70 years.
The NTSB in January cited loss-of-control accidents in its annual list of most-wanted safety improvements for general aviation. Angle-of-attack indicators were suggested by the Safety Board as one means of mitigating that accident rate. Other measures include taking advantage of training opportunities and practicing “vigilant situational awareness,” the board said.
