Abstract
Degraded visual conditions present a great challenge to rotary-wing aircraft. These conditions can obscure cues used to interpret speed, location and approach. With such cues obscured, pilots must rely on in-cockpit instrumentation, increasing workload, whilst reducing situation awareness. When operating within degraded visual conditions, pilots require easy access to flight critical information, presented in a way that minimises additional workload and maximises situation awareness. One technology that can be beneficial within such conditions is a head-up display (HUD). This study explores the impact of an iteratively designed HUD on pilots’ workload and situation awareness during the safety-critical descent and landing flight phases, during both clear and degraded visual conditions across a series of simulated trials. Results suggest that access to the HUD facilitated pilot awareness, whilst maintaining workload in all conditions. Results support the view that HUDS are beneficial to rotary-wing pilots, particularly in degraded visual environments.
Highlights
Rotary-wing operations in degraded visual environments are a great challenge
This can be clearly seen when considering that the lowest rating of situation awareness and highest workload ratings can be seen during the final phase of landing in degraded visual conditions without the head-up display (HUD)
The current results offer support to previous work which has demonstrated that the presentation of information in a HUD that does not require the diverting of cognitive resources into the cockpit, reduces workload and increases situation awareness (Snow and Reising 1999; Ververs and Wickens 1998)
Summary
Rotary-wing operations in degraded visual environments are a great challenge. Weather, low visibility, remains a leading contributor to both flight delays and, more critically, airline accidents worldwide (Allan et al 2001; Sridhar and Swei 2006; Federal Aviation Administration 2001). Degraded visual conditions are of significant concern to rotary-wing operations, wherein it is a key contributor to fatalities (De Voogt and Van Doorn 2007). The operational benefits of rotary-wing aircraft, including low-altitude flight, vertical take-off/landing and the capacity to hover with zero ground speed mean they are often used for flights to remote, unscheduled locations including flight to unimproved landing sites without aviation-related ground supportive infrastructure (Baker et al 2011; Swail and Jennings 1999). Of central concern with the use of rotary-wing aircraft is that recorded accident rates are significantly greater than fixed-wing aircraft counterparts (Doehler et al 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
