Definition
Cockpit instruments that display the wing's current angle of attack relative to the angle at which the wing will stall. They use sensors mounted on the airframe to measure the angle between the oncoming airflow and the wing, then present the result visually so the pilot can see how close the wing is to stalling regardless of airspeed, weight, bank angle, or load factor.
Plain English
An instrument that shows how close the wings are to stalling. Instead of guessing from airspeed alone, the pilot can look at the indicator and see directly how much lift the wing has left before it stops flying.
Context Anchor
Seen in cockpit instrument discussions, stall awareness training, slow flight, approaches, and aircraft equipped with angle of attack display systems.
Derivation
“Angle” means the amount of opening between two lines. “Attack” in this aviation use means how the wing meets or strikes the airflow, not aggression. “Indicator” means something that shows a condition. Together, the term means an instrument that shows the wing’s angle as it meets the air.
Why Pilots Care
It provides a direct, real-time indication of lift margin and helps prevent an unintentional stall.
Grounding Statement
A wing can be at a high angle of attack even when the airplane’s nose does not look especially high.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an Angle of Attack Indicator simply shows pitch attitude or nose-up angle. It shows how the wing is angled against the oncoming air.
Example Sentence 1
On final approach, the pilot glanced at the angle of attack indicator and noticed the needle drifting toward the stall range, so he lowered the nose slightly to restore margin.
Example Sentence 2
During the go-around the pilot referenced the angle of attack indicator to maintain best climb performance.