NTSB member Earl Weener believes technology improvements such as the angle-of-attack (AOA) indicator are “the most desired” approach to solving aviation safety concerns such as loss of control (LOC). Pointing to successes of technologies such as ground proximity warning indicators, he told AIN yesterday at an NTSB forum addressing in-flight LOC issues, “If you can solve the issue in technology, then you don’t have to change behavior.” Weener, who presided over yesterday’s day-long forum, agreed with many of the forum panelists that behavioral change can be among the most difficult aspects of tackling loss of control.

As for the AOA, attendees discussed a potential need to standardize the displays. Dennis Berringer, senior scientist for flight-crew performance research in the FAA’s CAMI Human Factors Laboratory, noted a lack of specific display standards for AOAs in the aftermarket. “We need to put into place display standards for these things to make sure they are effective across the board,” he said, noting that pilots need to know how to calibrate and effectively use them.

The ASTM F44 international general aviation standards committee, meanwhile, is turning its attention to follow-on technologies for stall warning, now that the FAA has paved the way for easier installation of angle-of-attack indicators. Jeffrey Pierson, member of the ASTM F44 standards committee that was born out of the Part 23 rewrite effort, said committee members are looking at “version two,” which may include some tactile warning for stall warning. The committee is exploring concepts such as low-cost vibration technologies that could either augment an AOA or be incorporated into a multi-pronged warning system.