Air-To-Air Visual Target Acquisition Pilot Interview Survey.
Abstract
Pilots and NFOs in the Naval Aviation community indicate that a critical element in achieving a tactical advantage in the air combat environment is the early visual detection and tracking of airborne targets. Although precise data are not available, it is clear that initial acquisition of airborne targets occurs at ranges which are inferior to calculated visibility ranges. Once a target aircraft is detected, it is often reported to disappear or the observer is unable to relocate it after glancing away momentarily. Based on interviews, there appears to 1) great variability among pilots and NFOs in acquisition and tracking performance, and 2) top performers in visual detection and tracking are identifiable by one's peers (fellows aircrew members). As a result of these informal interviews, a peer ranking technique has been selected for use in an initial research effort to identify top performers initial visual target acquisition capability. The present study was conducted to obtain information from selected Navy pilots which could be used to design a peer ranking format and to document pilot comments relative to the initial visual target acquisition problem.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA179118
Entities
People
- Thomas N. Jones
Organizations
- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory