7 April 2016
All new Cessna 172 aircraft are to be equipped as standard with an Angle of Attack warning system. The AoA system from Safe Flight will also be available as an option on new 182 and 206 aircraft.
Safe Flight’s Angle of Attack system is called SCc, and it meets objectives set out by the US authority, the FAA, by providing both flashing red LEDs and an unmistakable audio output to alert the pilot of increasing AoA and an impending stall.
There are two key components of the SCc system. The Lift Transducer precisely measures the wing’s leading edge stagnation point and flow field. It’s a precise measurement of AoA regardless of aircraft weight, wing loading, slip condition or center of gravity. The second part is the Indexer Computer which uses an LED-lit display, making it easy to read in all lighting conditions. It also has a pilot-settable Reference Marker for establishing AoA Climb, Cruise and Approach AoA targets.
Safe Flight’s SCc Angle of Attack system. Left is the wing-mounted lift transducer, right the cockpit display.
In addition to Low Airspeed Awareness, the SCc provides the pilot with AoA-based guidance for a variety of high-lift operational conditions such as:
The Safe Flight SCc Angle of Attack system was certified in the USA last summer and is available for retro-fit. The price is $1,895, includes the Lift Transducer and Indexer Computer, along with all necessary wiring, connectors and installation hardware.
Cessna’s Doug May said, “Textron Aviation is constantly looking for innovative solutions for our piston customers and making the SCc Angle of Attack system standard on all Skyhawk aircraft is a great example of bringing the latest technology to our products.”
