BARKINGMAD: from the AF447 final report
Angle of Attack Measurement
The crew never formally identified the stall situation. Information on angle of
attack is not directly accessible to pilots. The angle of attack in cruise is close to the
stall warning trigger angle of attack in a law other than normal law. Under these
conditions, manual handling can bring the aeroplane to high angles of attack such
as those encountered during the event. It is essential in order to ensure flight safety
to reduce the angle of attack when a stall is imminent. Only a direct readout of the
angle of attack could enable crews to rapidly identify the aerodynamic situation of
the aeroplane and take the actions that may be required.
Consequently, the BEA recommends:
that EASA and the FAA evaluate the relevance of requiring the presence
of an angle of attack indicator directly accessible to pilots on board
aeroplanes.