Piloted Simulator Investigation Of Category A Civil Rotorcraft Terminal Area Cockpit Displays

A piloted simulation experiment was conducted in the NASA Ames Research Center Vertical Motion Simulator to investigate the use of integrated cockpit displays in terminal area operations for Category A civil rotorcraft. Category A is the transport category of rotorcraft which are required to be able to recover from an engine failure and continue flying. The UH-60 Black Hawk model was used for the simulation with some modifications made to the power available to simulate a civil rotorcraft. Hovering backups were flown from a confined area, raised vertiport site to a takeoff decision point (TDP), followed by normal flyout. Pilots flew the task with the standard Black Hawk instrument set or with one of two integrated formats presented on a color panel-mounted display. Engine failures were randomly inserted between takeoff and the TDP region both slightly before, and slightly after, the TDP. For an engine failure occurring prior to the TDP, the pilot made a visual landback to the pad. For one occurring after the TDP, the pilot continued the flyout. Weather conditions were varied from calm, clear conditions to low visibility and ceilings with cross-winds and turbulence. Evaluations were conducted with six pilots. Objective and subjective data describing task performance and pilot workload were collected. The pilots were able to maintain more precise flight path control during the backup with the integrated display. This precise control placed the pilot in a better situation from which to handle an engine failure. Pilot recognition of the TDP location was also highly improved with an integrated display. Emergency landbacks, on runs using the integrated display during the backup portion, were all performed within the specified tolerances. Some of the land-backs using the standard instrument set, however, exceeded the adequate performance parameters. Cooper-Harper Handling Qualities Ratings (HQR) confirmed that pilot workload was reduced and pilots were able to fly more consistently within the desired performance parameters with the integrated display than with the standard instruments and visual cues.