Angle of attack (AoA)

Flight planning

Angle of attack is the angle between the wing’s chord line and the relative airflow. It is not the same as pitch attitude or the angle of the flight path above the horizon.

German term: Anstellwinkel (Angle of Attack)
Abbr.: AoA

Increasing AoA generally increases lift up to the critical angle. Beyond that point, airflow separation causes a stall. AoA depends on aircraft motion and airflow, so a nose-high attitude alone does not prove a high AoA, and a stall is possible with the nose below the horizon.

In practice

In a stall recovery, reducing AoA is essential; follow your aircraft’s approved procedure. Do not judge stall risk from pitch attitude or indicated speed alone, particularly during manoeuvres.

Related terms

Official sources

FAA – Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

Content reviewed: 2026-11

For general information only. Always use official sources, your aircraft's flight manual and current national rules for flight decisions.