Piloted Simulator Investigation of Category a Civil Rotorcraft Terminal Area Cockpit Displays

Abstract

A piloted simulation experiment was conducted in the NASA Ames Research Center Vertical Motion Simulator as a preliminary invcstiplion of lhc use of integrated cwkpil dicplays in iermin;~l srra I I I I P K I~~O I I S for (.'atc~ury A civil n,t~~rrrafl. (:ate. gury A is the lranvport calcgory (~frt~torcrafl nhich arc rt.suired lo hv al,lc I,, recover frtm an enainu P~ilurc and rnnlinuc 11"e ~ ing. A UH-60 Black Hawk model was used for the simulation, with modifications made to the power available to simulate a civil mtorcraft. Hovering backups were flown from a confined area, raised vertiport site to a takeoRdecision point (TDP), followed by normal flyout. Pilots flew the task with the standard Black Hawk instrument set or with one of two integrated formats presented on a color, panel-mounted display. Engine failures \vere randomly inserted slightly before and slightly afier the TDP. The pilot was instructed to make a visual landback to the pad when an engine failed prior to reaching the I'DP and BI continue the flyout when an engine failed after passine through the TDP. Weather conditions were varied from calm. clear m n -ditions to low visibility and ceilings, with crosswinds and tnrhulence. Evaluations were conducted with seven pilots. Objective and subjective data describing task performance and pilot workload were collected. It was hypothesized that even rvithout the benefit of display assistance, pilots would achieve hetter performance handling an engine failure by using integraled displays during the all-engines-operating back up phase prior to the engine failure occurring. As expected, the pilots were ahle to maintain more precise flight path control during the backup with the integrated display. This precise control, in turn, placed the pilot in a better situation from which tn handle an engine failure. Pilot recognition of the TDP location was also highly improved with an integrated display. Emergency landhacks, on runs using the integrated display during the backup portion, were all performed within the specified tolerances. Some of the landhacks using the standard instrument set, however, exceeded the adequate performance parameters. Cooper-Harper Handling Qualities Ratings confirmed that pilot rvorkload was reduced and pilots were ahle to fly more consistently within the desired performance parameters with the integrated display than wilh the standard instruments and visual cues. Acronyms CATAPOD =Category A Terminal Area Procedures OEl Displays HQR = Cooper-Harper Handling Qualities Rating HCI = Horizontal Command Indicator OEl =One Engine Inoperative PMD = Pancl Mounted Display PNVS =Pilot Night Vision System RASCAL = Rotorcraff Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory TDP =Takeoff Decision Point JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HELICOF'TER SOClE' l"I' This project adapted military hover integrated display technology to Category A civil terminal operations. The goal of this project is to reduce !