Flight Evaluation of a Pilot-Assist Stability Augmentation System for Light Aircraft

摘要

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of a light aircraft pilot-assist stability augmentation system in extricating the noninstrument qualified pilot from accidentally encountered instrument flight conditions. Ten noninstrument rated pilots flew a predetermined course consisting of visual flight and instrument flight conditions. The aircraft was equipped with the pilot-assist system and a conventional stability augmentation system. The utility of the pilot-assist system was established through comparisons of continuous photographic data recordings of the airspeed, heading, bank angle, altitude, and altitude rate indicators on the aircraft's instrument panel, and through comparisons of pilot opinionnaire and detailed questionnaire data obtained for flights with both systems. The analysis of these data for both the pilot-assist system and the conventional stability augmentation system demonstrated that the utility of the pilot-assist system exceeded that of the conventional system. This relative utility was demonstrated both in terms of improvements in pilot performance and potential pilot acceptance. (Author)