What is meant by the term 'stall' in aviation?

The term 'stall' in aviation specifically refers to a situation where an aircraft experiences a loss of lift due to exceeding the critical angle of attack. This critical angle is the maximum angle at which the wing can generate sufficient lift before airflow separates from the wing's surface, resulting in a significant decrease in lift. When this condition occurs, the aircraft may start to descend or become uncontrollable until pilot intervention restores the angle of attack to a safe level.

Understanding stalls is crucial for pilots, as they can occur under various flight conditions and can lead to dangerous situations if not properly managed. Pilots are trained to recognize the signs of an impending stall, such as changes in aircraft control response, and to execute proper recovery procedures. The other choices do not accurately describe a stall; rather, they refer to different aerodynamic or operational issues that are not directly related to the definition of a stall in the context of flight dynamics.