How Compensation in Test and Evaluation Affects Aircraft Acquisition

Abstract

Systems developers and testers have assumed that human compensation is measurable, or at least that a cognizant and trained tester is able to identity and detect compensation. More than one study conducted at the Wright-Patterson LAMAPS facility indicates that this is not necessarily true. Test pilots were able to compensate sufficiently to fly and meet defined performance standards on intentionally crippled aircraft flight control designs. These flight control systems were designed to trigger pilot induced oscillations, but in most cases, test pilots could compensate sufficiently to prevent pilot induced oscillations and to control the simulated aircraft. Test pilot compensation hides critical handling qualities cliffs that can lead to loss of an aircraft when encountered by less skilled pilots. This observation has vast ramifications for test, evaluation, and development of all human interface systems.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA423468

Entities

People

  • Lionel D. Alford

Organizations

  • Defense Acquisition University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accidents
  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Design
  • Aircrafts
  • Compensation
  • Control Systems
  • Engineering
  • Flight Control Systems
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Aircraft
  • Research Facilities
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • System Software
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Transport Aircraft

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design