A Novel Flight Instrument Display to Minimize the Risk of Spatial Disorientation

Abstract

This novel flight instrument display presents information to the pilot in a simple and easily comprehensible format by integrating the five orientational flight parameters (aircraft attitude, airspeed, altitude, rate of climb or descent and aircraft heading). It allows the pilot to select specific orientation parameters and then follow a simple tracking task which ensures that these parameters are maintained or, if necessary, recovered. Our assessment of the display in a UH-60 helicopter simulator showed that the novel display makes recovery from unusual aircraft attitudes and instrument flying more accurate, and easier than when using a standard instrument panel. The display will be demonstrated.