Navigation and flight proficiency under nap of the earth conditions as a function of aviator training and experience

Specialized Training versus Experience in Helicopter Navigation at Extremely Low Altitudes

“…These factors interact to reduce the navigation effectiveness of aviators. Previous research by the Army Research Institute (ARI) quantified the amount of this reduction and indicated that the overall probability of mission success under NOE conditions was .57 (Fineberg, 1974). These results are in fairly close agreement with Canadian studies of aviator performance at very low levels (Lewis, 1961;Lewis, de la Riviere, and Sweeney, 1968).…”

“…Those measures more related to NOE performance were the percent of the NOE route flown off course by 250 m or more and the objective mission success score (OMSS). The OMSS is a composite score based on the number and distance of excursions from the planned route and ability to find designated landing zones en route (Fineberg, 1974). The last two measures, the ability to find the start of the NOE route from traditional altitude and flight planning, were measures related more to general aviation experience.…”

“…The U. S. Army has developed very low-level flight into a tactic known a s Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) flight, i.e., flight a t treetop level and below, using existing terrain features to mask the aircraft from radar and optical detection. This new style of flying will improve the chances of aircraft survival thereby increasing mission effectiveness and saving lives (Fineberg, 1974).…”