What does AOA stand for in aviation terminology?

In aviation terminology, AOA stands for "Angle of Attack." This refers to the angle between the chord line of an aircraft's wing and the oncoming airflow or relative wind. The angle of attack is a critical factor in determining the lift and drag characteristics of an aircraft.

When the angle of attack increases, lift typically increases up to a certain point known as the critical angle of attack. Beyond this point, the airflow over the wing can become turbulent, leading to a loss of lift and the potential for a stall. Understanding the angle of attack is essential for pilots to maintain safe flight and control the aircraft effectively.

The other options represent concepts that are related to aviation but do not accurately define AOA. For instance, the angle of approach is more relevant to flight paths during landing and takeoff, while area of altitude and aspect of aerodynamics do not specifically pertain to the key aerodynamic concept that angle of attack embodies.