PILOT JUDGMENTS OF AIRCRAFT RANGE AND RELATIVE ALTITUDE: GROUND-TO-AIR AND AIR-TO-AIR OBSERVATIONS.
Abstract
Two studies were conducted to approximate the accuracy with which pilots can estimate range and relative altitude of aircraft. Six ob servers made nearly 5800 groung-to-air esti mates, and three observers made nearly 500 air to-air estimates. Two sizes of target aircraft were used, and flight patterns were arranged to allow examination of the effects of range and altitude estimates of such variables as true range, true altitude, aircraft size, and train ing in estimating. Training in this study was by the method of Knowledge of Results. Data indicate that there is some tendency to estimate ''close'' aircraft as being farther away than they actually are and distant aircraft as being closer than they actually are. Training in es timating range tends to shift the errors from overestimates to underestimates,or from ''un safe'' toward '' judgments. Night rela tive-altitude estimates of aircraft within 5 degrees above the observer's altitude were more difficult than those at other viewing angles. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0417669