Takeoff performance monitoring system display options

Abstract

This article summarizes the development of head-up and head-down cockpit displays for an airplane takeoff performance monitoring system (TOPMS). Basic TOPMS displays provide pilots with real-time graphic information concerning their airplane's current and projected runway performance. The displays also indicate the status of associated airplane systems (e.g., flaps, engines) and optionally, they provide advice and a continually updated prediction of where the airplane can be braked to a stop. The displays have been developed and evaluated on the NASA Transport System Research Vehicle (TSRV) B-737 simulator by more than 40 government, airline, and industry pilots who rated the displays favorably and judged them easy to monitor. The TOPMS has also been flight tested successfully on the TSRV B-737. Based on these evaluations and on discussions with the commercial aircraft community, the displays have evolved to a baseline final configuration containing basic performance and system-status data to which GO/NO-GO advisory and predicted stop point information can be added as options.