What is a stall in aviation terms?

In aviation, a stall specifically refers to a situation where the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack. This critical angle is the point at which the airflow over the wing can no longer remain attached to the wing's upper surface, causing a significant reduction in lift. When this happens, the aircraft can no longer maintain its current flight path and may begin to descend or lose control if not managed correctly.

Understanding stalls is crucial for pilots because they can occur at various flight attitudes and airspeeds, often unexpectedly, especially during maneuvers or when the aircraft is close to the ground. Proper training includes recognizing the signs leading up to a stall and how to recover from one safely, underscoring the importance of controlling the angle of attack during flight.