Flight Director/Flight Path Angle Application to Non-ILS Approach Environment

摘要

Four pilots flew 72 hooded approaches to determine the application of flight director techniques, flight path angle and absolute altitude information to a non-ILS approach environment. It was determined that: (1) Flight director techniques can be used in a non-ILS approach environment to increase precision and decrease pilot workload. (2) Path angle information is more meaningful to the pilot than vertical velocity for glide slope following. (3) Pitch augmented rate, the vertical component of flight path angle, is a significant improvement over barometric vertical velocity. (4) Due to variations in terrain contour, the utility of absolute altitude with current landing weather minima is limited. However, it is essential to an IFR touchdown capability. Properly presented it provides the pilot with accurate and easily interpreted rate of closure information. (Author)