An Analysis of Visual Tasks in Helicopter Shipboard Landing.
Abstract
The purpose of this research effort was to identify visual research issues concerning helicopter landings, particularly the hover phase, for future study in the Visual Technology Research Simulator (VTRS) program. Identification of salient visual issues is a step toward surfacing equipment features that can be modified and studied. As we discussed the task with pilots, reviewed NATOPS manuals, and witnessed simulations, it became apparent that the visual task may differ depending upon whether: experienced or inexperienced pilots are flying; a simulator or an aircraft is flown; the environment is day or night; the pilot sought to acquire or maintain a skill level. As a way of limiting this broad project, we elected to review intensively a scenario involving a highly experienced operator flying dusk/night approaches in a simulator. The Naval aviator we selected was prompted by another aviator more familiar with our objective who dictated verbal protocols of his visual and control activities during several landings. These protocols were sorted into ten phases in order to correspond to increasing distances in the landing task and the visual information processing within each stage was described. Therefore, the stages are delimited in terms of range or altitude from the ship. We believe the most useful outcome of this analysis will be a list of visual cue augmentations that may be implemented and studied over the various stages of landing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA161101
Entities
People
- K. S. Berbaum
- R. S. Kennedy