Exploratory Investigation into Rotorcraft Pilot Strategy and Visual Cueing Effects in the Shipboard Environment

Abstract

The present work reports the results of a research investigation into the handling qualities of a helicopter conducting a ship approach and landing task. The investigation was performed via fixed-base, pilot-in-the-loop flight simulation and included six test pilots with extensive operational and test experience in the shipboard environment. Representative approach/landing tasks were flown with three different response types to a field landing zone and to multiple spots on an amphibious assault ship. The ship was stationary, and there was no simulated ship airwake, so the fundamental differences between the field and ship approaches were limited to visual cueing. Traditional subjective handling qualities ratings were supplemented with multiple other analysis techniques, including pilot eye-tracking analysis and pilot control activity analysis. The results show that there are fundamental differences in the pilot gaze patterns between field and ship approaches that are caused by the different cueing environments. Additionally, subjective assessments indicated that pilots preferred higher degrees of aircraft stabilization in the shipboard environment than in the field environment, though there were not significant differences between pilot control techniques in these environments for a given aircraft response type.