Definition
An automatic flight control safety device that physically pushes the control column forward when the airplane approaches a stall, lowering the nose to reduce angle of attack and prevent the stall from developing. It activates independently of the pilot, using sensors that detect approaching stall conditions, and applies a strong forward force on the controls.
Plain English
A safety system that shoves the control yoke or stick forward for you when the airplane is about to stall, forcing the nose down so the wing keeps flying.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in stall training, airplane systems descriptions, and procedures for airplanes equipped with automatic stall protection.
Derivation
Named for exactly what it does: it pushes the stick (control column) forward. The name is descriptive rather than technical -- distinct from a stick shaker, which only warns of an impending stall by vibrating the controls.
Why Pilots Care
It supplies an automatic last line of defense against inadvertent stalls when pilot reaction time is limited by surprise, workload, or degraded visual cues.
Intuition Check
A stick pusher is not a technique where the pilot chooses to push the stick. It is an automatic system that pushes the flight controls when the airplane is near a stall.
Example Sentence 1
As the crew pulled the nose up too aggressively during the go-around, the stick pusher activated and firmly pushed the column forward to break the impending stall.
Example Sentence 2
During the stall series, the instructor demonstrated how the stick pusher works together with the stick shaker to give both tactile warning and automatic recovery input.