Definition
An automatic stall-prevention system that, when the airplane approaches a stall angle of attack, applies a sudden forward force to the control column to lower the nose and reduce angle of attack before an actual stall develops.
Plain English
A safety device that physically shoves the control column forward for the pilot when the airplane is about to stall, forcing the nose down so the wing keeps flying.
Context Anchor
You may see this term in stall discussions, aircraft system descriptions, and the airplane’s operating handbook for airplanes equipped with automatic stall protection.
Derivation
Named for what it literally does: it pushes the control stick (or yoke). The name describes the action, not a brand or technical concept.
Why Pilots Care
It prevents stall-spin accidents by acting faster than a pilot can react, especially during distraction or in instrument conditions.
Intuition Check
Do not read “stick pusher” as a person pushing the controls. In this context, it means an automatic aircraft system that physically moves the flight controls forward.
Example Sentence 1
As the crew slowed below the target speed during the stall demonstration, the stick pusher activated and firmly pushed the yoke forward to lower the nose.
Example Sentence 2
The training syllabus required pilots to experience stick pusher activation in the simulator before flying the actual aircraft.