As aircraft weight decreases, the AOA amber donut indicates the optimum no-wind airspeed in which phase?

• A. Landing pattern
• B. Takeoff
• C. Climb
• D. Cruise

Answer: (A)

The amber donut on the AOA indicator shows the airspeed that gives the best lift-to-drag ratio (the optimum no-wind airspeed) for the current weight and configuration. As weight decreases, this optimum speed drops roughly with weight because less lift is needed to support the airplane, so the speed for maximum efficiency falls.

In the landing pattern, you’re operating at slower, more controlled speeds as you descend and prepare to land, and weight is often decreasing due to fuel burn. That means the airplane’s best no-wind speed becomes lower, which is exactly what the amber donut will indicate in this phase. Takeoff and climb require higher speeds for performance, and cruise is typically flown faster for efficiency over distance, so the downward shift in the indicator’s value aligns most with the landing pattern.