DYNAMIC INTERFACE FLIGHT TESTS AND THE PILOT RATING SCALE

The US Navy (USN) conducts Dynamic Interface (DI) shipboard rotorcraft tests to improve all aspects of shipboard rotorcraft compatibility. This paper summarizes current USN DI shipboard test methodology, test coordination, and data collection, reduction, and analysis techniques, emphasizing the unique piloting and test procedural requirements imposed by adverse shipboard operational conditions. The paper highlights technical challenges encountered during recent DI test programs, and summarizes innovative test methodologies currently employed to resolve those challenges. The paper discusses the USN’s DI Pilot Rating Scale (PRS), which is a simplified version of the Cooper-Harper Rating Scale. The PRS is used as the major basis for evaluation of shipboard helicopter operational flight tasks, since it more adequately addresses the complicated mission task element interactions that occur in the shipboard environment. DI PRS development history, PRS category definitions, and DI PRS test usage examples are also discussed. PRS and Cooper-Harper Rating Scales are compared, emphasizing the impact of each on both DI flight test operational efficiency and data validity.