What is a stall in aviation terms?

A stall in aviation terms refers specifically to exceeding the critical angle of attack. The critical angle of attack is the angle at which the wing can no longer generate sufficient lift to support the aircraft. When an aircraft exceeds this angle, airflow separates from the wing's upper surface, resulting in a dramatic loss of lift. This situation can occur regardless of the aircraft’s airspeed and is primarily related to the angle of the wing relative to the oncoming air.

Understanding this concept is crucial for pilots, as recognizing and preventing stalls can directly contribute to flight safety. Pilots are trained to manage angles of attack during maneuvers to avoid reaching the critical limit. In practice, this means ensuring that control inputs and configurations during flight, especially when climbing, descending, or turning, keep the angle of attack within safe limits to maintain lift.

In contrast, continuous airflow over the wings relates to proper lift generation, exceeding the aircraft's weight limit pertains to load factors and structural limits rather than stall characteristics, and maintaining steady flight at low altitude does not inherently relate to stall conditions. Each of these answers addresses different aspects of flight dynamics but does not define a stall itself, reinforcing the importance of understanding the critical angle of attack in aviation.