Pilot Workload Assessment For NO AFCS Mission Helicopter Dispatch

This paper presents the methodology followed by AW to measure and analyze the Pilot workload in order to assess the capability of a test helicopter to be operated by a single pilot in VFR day and night with NO Automatic Flight Control System operative. The flight evaluations were performed using, as a starting point, the test methodology used and proven to be effective during the certification process of the AW139 and AW109 helicopter models for IFR requirements. Based on that, the flight test team modified the methodology in order to explore and define a safe flight envelope for NO AFCS operation. This modified methodology was used in three separate test phases: The first phase used the measure of the pilot workload as a limiting factor to define a safe envelope for normal operation, considering an average Pilot. In the second phase the pilot workload evaluation has been verified for acceptability in the most critical flight envelope points, considering malfunction and emergency conditions. In the third phase the pilot workload evaluation was used to investigate the acceptability of specific operational conditions as Night, Hoist and cargo Hook operations. In each phase the flight data gathered has been assessed using different criteria. This was carried out to customize the differing priorities dictated by each phase within the whole flight test campaign. The conclusions merged the results of the three test phases and defined the helicopter flight envelope for NO AFCS operations.