Human Ranging of Aircraft: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the basic ability of humans to range in-flight aircraft. The question was posed during another research study by the author for the purpose of setting a quantitative baseline for automated sense-and-avoid distance. An experimental research design was used for the study. Aircraft position was based on reported Automated Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) data which is based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) fix of the aircraft. Humans in the pilot study ranged aircraft with a mean absolute error of 50.34% at ranges between 650 and 9,738 meters.