Research papers

A Development of 3-D Resolution Algorithm for Aircraft Collision Avoidance

A collision resolution algorithm, which includes both vertical and horizontal avoidance maneuvers of aircraft, is introduced, which compares between the performance of the proposed algorithm and that of algorithms with o…

An investigation of pilot fatigue in helicopter emergency medical services.

Some evidence of a statistically significant positive relationship between Hems pilot night shift respondent BFI scores and experience as an HEMS pilot is found, while controlling for consecutive HEMS Pilot night shifts …

Survival Time After Postcrash Fire in Transport-Category Airplane Accidents

Reviews postcrash-fire survivability data from worldwide commercial transport accidents. Identifies cabin material flammability, evacuation slide deployment reliability, and crew training as primary survivability determi…

The NASA aircraft icing research program

The objective of the NASA aircraft icing research program is to develop and make available to industry icing technology to support the needs and requirements for all-weather aircraft designs.

The importance of steady and dynamic inflow on the stability of rotor-body systems

The induced flow field of a rotor responds in a dynamic fashion to oscillations in rotor lift. This was long known to affect the stability and control derivatives of the rotor.

Search for the Tunguska event in the Antarctic snow

The Tunguska explosion in 1908 is supposed to have been produced by the impact of a small celestial body. The absence of any identifiable crater together with the huge energy released by the event suggest that the impact…

Amphibian fertilization and development in microgravity

During the year before launch, female frogs will be tested every 3 months for the quantity and quality of eggs produced. Two weeks or more prior to launch, male and female frogs will be transported to the John F.

Effects of thrust reversing in ground proximity

The changes in stability and control characteristics encountered by a thrust reversing aircraft during its final approach, landing, and ground roll are described.

Effects of ground proximity on a low aspect ratio propulsive wing/canard configuration

The effect of near proximity to the ground are investigated on a low aspect ratio propulsive wing/canard concept at STOL conditions. Data were obtained on a wing/body and wing/body/canard configuration at various heights…

The convertible engine: A dual-mode propulsion system

A variable inlet guide vane (VIGV) convertible engine that could be used to power future high-speed rotorcraft was tested on an outdoor stand.

Emergency medical services

When NASA was established in 1958, it was known that space flight would require efforts beyond those of NASA to ensure the health and safety of our astronauts. On 10 Aug.

Optimal nonlinear estimation for aircraft flight control in wind shear

The most recent results in an ongoing research effort at Princeton in the area of flight dynamics in wind shear are described. The first undertaking in this project was a trajectory optimization study.

Wind shear related research at Princeton University

The topics addressed are: (1) real-time decision aiding-aircraft guidance for wind shear avoidance; (2) reducing the thrust-manual recovery strategies; and (3) dynamic behaviour of and aircraft encountering a single axis…

Case history of FAA/SRI wind shear models

In order to understand the development of the FAA/SRI wind fields, it is important to understand the operating philosophy of the FAA's Wind Shear Program Office.

Air/ground wind shear information integration: Flight test results

An element of the NASA/FAA wind shear program is the integration of ground-based microburst information on the flight deck, to support airborne wind shear alerting and microburst avoidance.

Wind shear procedures and the instrumentation

The effect of pitch rate on abort landing caused by wind shear encounters is discussed. Optimal trajectories, airspeed, and wind shear warning systems are briefly discussed.

Experimental evaluation of candidate graphical microburst alert displays

The topics addressed are: (1) experimental evaluation of candidate graphical microburst displays; (2) microburst detection and alerting; (3) previous part-task simulator experiment-comparison of presentation modes; (4) p…

Model comparison of July 7, 1990 microburst

Model comparison of July 7, 1990 microburst is presented in the form of view-graphs. The following topics are covered: 7 July 1990 Orlando, FL simulations; model input sounding for 7 July 1990 Orlando case; 7 July 1990 O…

Summer 1988 TDWR microburst analysis

The Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) testbed system was operated during the months of July to August 1988 in a live operational demonstration providing microburst (and related weather hazard) protection to the Stapl…

Vertical wind estimation from horizontal wind measurements

This presentation begins with a brief description of the downdraft measurement problem for airborne Doppler based systems and the importance of the downdraft in assessing the hazard posed by a microburst wind shear.

Flight experience with windshear detection

Windshear alerts resulting from the Honeywell Windshear Detection and Guidance System are presented based on data from approximately 248,000 revenue flights at Piedmont Airlines.

Windshear detection effect of static air temperature bias

Data in vugraph form is given on vertical winds, atmospheric temperature bias output and simulation with and without temperature bias. A block diagram of a windshear detection algorithm is given.

Crew workload strategies in advanced cockpits

Many methods of measuring and predicting operator workload have been developed that provide useful information in the design, evaluation, and operation of complex systems and which aid in developing models of human atten…

Predicting operator workload during system design

A workload prediction methodology was developed in response to the need to measure workloads associated with operation of advanced aircraft.

Human factors of the high technology cockpit

The rapid advance of cockpit automation in the last decade has outstripped the ability of the human factors profession to understand the changes in human functions required.

Advanced automated glass cockpit certification: Being wary of human factors

This paper presents some facets of the French experience with human factors in the process of certification of advanced automated cockpits.

The telerobot workstation testbed for the shuttle aft flight deck: A project plan for integrating human factors into system design

The human factors design process in developing a shuttle orbiter aft flight deck workstation testbed is described. In developing an operator workstation to control various laboratory telerobots, strong elements of human …

Cockpit resource management training

The 6th General Flight Crew Training Meeting held in Montreal in May, 1984 was for most IATA member airlines the first time they had been exposed to what was then a relatively new aspect of flight crew training-resource …

Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) training in the 1550th combat crew training wing

The training program the 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, implemented in September 1985 is discussed.

The ESIS query environment pilot project

The European Space Information System (ESIS) was originally conceived to provide the European space science community with simple and efficient access to space data archives, facilities with which to examine and analyze …

Life prediction technologies for aeronautical propulsion systems

Fatigue and fracture problems continue to occur in aeronautical gas turbine engines. Components whose useful life is limited by these failure modes include turbine hot-section blades, vanes and disks.

Life prediction technologies for aeronautical propulsion systems

Fatigue and fracture problems continue to occur in aeronautical gas turbine engines. Components whose useful life is limited by these failure modes include turbine hot-section blades, vanes, and disks.

Space station momentum management

Gravity gradient stabilization is planned for the space station. Torques arise from air-drag since the center of pressure is not the same as the center of mass of the satellite.

Transfer of training and simulator qualification or myth and folklore in helicopter simulation

Transfer of training studies at Fort Rucker using the backward-transfer paradigm have shown that existing flight simulators are not entirely adequate for meeting training requirements.

The development and implementation of cockpit resource management in UAL recurrent training

Line Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) for United Airlines started in 1976. At that time it was basically no more than a line-simulated training function conducted in a full-mission simulator with no attention or stress on…

Current training: Where are we?

Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. maintains a staff of 750 helicopter pilots. The initial, transition, upgrade, and recurrent training for these pilots requires a significant financial outlay.

Training evaluation final report

In the area of management training, 'evaluation' refers both to the specific evaluation instrument used to determine whether a training effort was considered effective, and to the procedures followed to evaluate specific…

A systematic approach to training: A training needs assessment

In an effort to determine the gap between the actual performance and the necessary performance of employees for the effective and efficient accomplishment of an organization's mission and goals, an organization-wide Trai…

A systems approach to computer-based training

This paper describes the hardware and software systems approach used in the Automated Recertification Training System (ARTS), a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project for NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC…

The display of spatial information and visually guided behavior

The basic informational elements of spatial orientation are attitude and position within a coordinate system. The problem that faces aeronautical designers is that a pilot must deal with several coordinate systems, somet…

User type certification for advanced flight control systems

Advanced avionics through flight management systems (FMS) coupled with autopilots can now precisely control aircraft from takeoff to landing.

Certification of training

Training has been around as an informal process for countless years. Most higher order animals require some level of training in hunting, social skills, or other survival related skills to continue their existence beyond…

The Canadian Ozone Watch and UV-B advisory programs

The Ozone Watch, initiated in March, 1992, is a weekly bulletin describing the state of the ozone layer over Canada. The UV-B advisory program, which started in May, 1992, produces daily forecasts of clear-sky UV-B radia…

Thermodynamic and fluid mechanic analysis of rapid pressurization in a dead-end tube

Three models have been applied to very rapid compression of oxygen in a dead-ended tube. Pressures as high as 41 MPa (6000 psi) leading to peak temperatures of 1400 K are predicted.

Passive MMW camera for low visibility landings

A passive, millimeter wave imaging sensor for aircraft landing in low or poor visibility conditions is described. The sensor can be incorporated in a camera for future enhanced/synthetic vision systems.

Helicopter human factors research

Helicopter flight is among the most demanding of all human-machine integrations. The inherent manual control complexities of rotorcraft are made even more challenging by the small margin for error created in certain oper…

Are windshear training aid recommendations appropriate for other than large jet transports? Pilot procedures: Shear models

Information is given in vugraph form on pilot procedures in windshear, typical winds in a downburst, a downburst encounter at takeoff by a large jet transport and a light turboprop twin, and a comparison of pitch algorit…

Simulators for corporate pilot training and evaluation

Corporate aviation relies heavily on simulation to meet training and evaluation requirements. It appreciates the savings in fuel, money, noise, and time, and the added safety it provides.

Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) for FAR Parts 91 and 135 operators

The why, what, and how of CRM at Flight Safety International (FSI)--that is, the philosophy behind the program, the content of the program, and some insight regarding how it delivers that to the pilot is presented.

Impact damage in composite laminates

Damage tolerance requirements have become an important consideration in the design and fabrication of composite structural components for modern aircraft.