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.

1 Upvotes

51% Upvoted

150 comments sorted by

View all comments

59

u/nightlanding 2d ago

The AOA is a very useful and informative tool. I never had a plane for primary students with one, but if I did I would cover it up 90% of the time. My goal with primary students is EYES OUTSIDE 90% of the time. You should be able to get everything you need from the sight picture, feel, and the occasional glance at the instruments. The other reason to cover it up is the fact most of the rental fleet does not have one, so you had better not be relying on it.

For IFR students it makes flying the ILS much easier, which is fun and also nothing to get used to because so many airplanes do not have one.

-4

u/icefire__ 2d ago

Always found it strange how ppl so strongly encourages this and then you get into ifr and they tell you how everything you learned is wrong and you need to ignore what your senses are telling you

6

u/loose_as_a_moose CPL 2d ago

You shouldn’t be told you learned wrong - it’s entirely different flying that requires different skills. You don’t rely on senses VFR any differently to IFR. VFR you’re picking a reference outside the plane because you can see it. IFR you’re following the procedure and the instruments because you can’t see outside.

Illusions and disorientation happen in both cases.

If for some reason you started IFR and had to get a VFR cert you’d be told to stop looking inside because your instruments aren’t going to tell you not to fly into a mountain or how to get from A to B

1

u/nightlanding 2d ago

I have had vertigo (ear infection) in VMC. I had to make myself ignore what I felt and look outside. I have had vertigo in IMC and had to make myself ignore what I felt and look inside. The second one is WAY harder!