AH-1S Communication Switch Integration Program
Abstract
The C-6533/ARC communication system as installed on the test AH-1E cobra helicopter was modified to allow discrete radio selection of all aircraft radios at the Cyclic Radio/intercommunication system switch. The current Cobra- fleet use of the C-6533 system is cumbersome. Operationally, the current system C-6533 configuration and design requires the pilot to estimate when he can safely remove his hand from an active flight control to select radios during low-altitude flight. The pilot must then physically remove his hand from the flight control, look inside the cockpit to select and verify the radio selection and then effect the selected radio transmission by activating the radio/ICS switch on the cyclic. This condition is potentially hazardous, especially during low-level flight at night in degraded weather. To improve pilot performance, communications effectiveness, and safety, manprint principles were used in selecting a design modification. The modified C-6533 design was kept as basic as possible for potential Cobra-fleet modification. The communications system was modified and the design was subsequently flight-tested by the U.S. Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate and NASA. The design modification enables the Cobra pilot to maintain 'hands-on' flight controls while selecting radios during nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) flight without looking inside the cockpit which resulted in reduced pilot workload ratings, better pilot handling quality ratings and increased flight safety for NOE flight. Attack helicopters. (EDC)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA216901
Entities
People
- Frank J. Bick
- Loran Haworth
- Robert Shively
- Zoltan Szoboszlay
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration