Simulator Design Features for Helicopter Shipboard Landings. 2. Performance Experiments

Abstract : The Vertical Takeoff and Landing Simulator (VTOL) at the Naval Training Systems Center's (NTSC) Visual Technology Research Simulator (VTRS) was used to evaluate the effects of five simulator design features on performance for helicopter shipboard landings. The research was designed to evaluate the effect of current design features of the SH-60B Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) , and other design features for training helicopter shipboard landings. The design features investigated were: 1) scene detail (SH-60B OFT scene versus an upgraded scene), 2) field of view (wide versus a smaller SH60B OFT field of view), 3) dynamic seat cueing (on versus off), 4) dynamic inflow (standard aero model available in existing trainers versus an updated aero model), and 5) visual transport delay (117 msec versus 183 msec). Twelve SH-60B helicopter pilots performed an approach, hover, and landing task on a representation of an FFG-7 frigate, and a precision hover (over the deck of the frigate) and landing task. The two tasks were performed separately and constituted two independent experiments. Two environmental factors were included. Calm and moderate seastate conditions were used to manipulate task difficulty during the approach, hover, and landing task, and vertical wind gusts were included as a standard feature in the precision hover task. Pilots were separated into low and high experience levels, defined in terms of their shipboard landing experience.