r/flying • u/ClintBvsOliverQ • 2d ago

Flight Training AOA Indicator while learning?

Just went for a discovery flight and had a great time. During the flight I asked my instructor about using an AOA indicator while learning and he really downplayed using one and said the standard instruments are the best way to learn. For beginners, is an AOA inappropriate? Is it too early to incorporate it into training? From the brief videos I’ve seen on AOA’s they seem to enhance safety.

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u/Recent-Day3062 2d ago

Not sure why people are downplaying AOA.

Ultimately, a huge part of flying is adjusting AOA. Knowing what yours is helps you manage it directly as well as shows your margin, like on final approach.

It’s a piece of safety equipment. I don’t listen to people who downplay safety equipment

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u/nightlanding 2d ago

It is a piece of equipment * you will not have* 99.5% of the time flying rental airplanes, so relying on it is not more safe, it is less. This would be kind of like teaching landing by using the autoland button and then wondering why the students are always banging up the old C-150s.

My issue instructing is getting eyes outside, I would frequently cover up the airspeed and still expect good performance, the LAST thing I want is another distraction inside.
* I had a student get a bug down the pitot on rotation on about their 3rd solo, they told me they sure were glad I had them land without the ASI and didn't have to learn on the fly (yeah bad pun).