Head-up displays in modern fighter aircraft evolved from rustic gun sights into the complex flight information and weapons delivery presentation of today. During this evolution, symbology, display parameters, terminology and flight procedures and techniques changed significantly. Unfortunately this resulted in a proliferation of terms, symbols and methods of describing the various applications.
Pilots today are using these new displays, the functions of which are often not intuitively obvious and which are described by literature that is sometimes confusing or incomplete. As a result, pilot opinions on the HUD and its use for aircraft control and navigation range from “I never use it” to “I wouldn't fly in weather without it.”
If the HUD is to become a viable means of providing information in a full mission context, a reasonable standardization of terms is needed to identify and describe its various features and their use. A common baseline is needed among various aircraft, designers and users alike.
The paper will cover examples of current display symbology, mechanization schemes, needs, and some possible modifications.