Piloted Flight Simulator Study of Low-Level Wind Shear.

Abstract

A piloted flight simulation study was conducted to evaluate the need for improved cockpit displays and procedures for aiding airline pilots in anticipating and coping with the effects of low-level wind shear. The principal objectives of the study were to determine pilot and aircraft response to the shear encounter under baseline conditions, using existing cockpit displays and approach management procedures, and then to evaluate the improvement that might be realized from various ways of augmenting the information available to the pilot for wind-shear detection and flight control. The basic evaluation plan called for eight highly experienced airline pilots to fly the simulated approach and landing sequences under baseline conditions, and then to them using each aiding concept. The results of the study indicated that pilots would not be able to successfully cope with the more severe frontal and thunderstorm shears using existing flight instruments and procedures. All of the aiding concepts evaluated provided some useful information for alerting the pilot to a potential shear and for indicating the effects of the shear during the encounter. However, pilot preferences were strongly in favor of a display of ground speed integrated with the airspeed indicator.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADA047985

Entities

People

  • A. Charles Mctee
  • Walter B. Gartner

Organizations

  • SRI International

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airspeed Indicators
  • Boundary Layer
  • Engineering
  • Flight Crews
  • Flight Instruments
  • Flight Paths
  • Flight Simulations
  • Flight Simulators
  • Glide Slope
  • Ground Speed
  • Guidance
  • Simulators
  • Turbulence
  • Visual Approach Slope Indicators
  • Wind Shear

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.