Aviator Performance During Day and Night Terrain Flight
Abstract
Terrain flying, both day and night, is now an Army aviation tactical requirement. The present investigation compared terrain flight during Low Level (LL) and Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) profiles for: (1) day flight with the unaided eye; (2) night flight with the unaided eye; and (3) night flight using night vision goggles. Data were acquired through use of the Helicopter In-Flight monitoring System(HIMS). The total sets of inflight measures were analyzed separately for both LL and NOE with further analysis on the subsets of pilot control variables and aircraft status variables. Multiple discriminant analysis techniques were used to determine which measures best discriminated between visual conditions. For the LL flight profiles, the results indicate that performance factors describing air speed and the frequency of small control inputs best discriminated between visual conditions. For NOE flight profiles, it was determined that performance factors measuring severity of roll angles, and the frequency and magnitude of control input, best discriminated between the three visual conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA034898
Entities
People
- Kent A. Kimball
- Lewis W. Stone
- Mark A. Hofmann
- Michael A. Lees
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab