Studies of Helicopter Pilot Performance: I The Analysis of Maneuver Dimensions

Abstract

Measures o f helicopter pilot proficiency were obtained on samples o f student pilots in two training phases. Measures were based on students' performance on I6 and 12 separate maneuvers in the Primary and Basic training phases respectively. Intercorrelatitons of maneuvers in each phase were subjected to factor analysis. In both phases maneuver performance could be described in terms of six or seven clearly interpretable common factors. The results were discussed in terms o f the implications for understanding the structure and measurement of skilled psychomotor performance.Since World War I1 there has been considerable interest in the task of piloting aircraft. Early work focused on developing reliable proficiency measures (e.g., see Erickson, 1952, for a review), Later work focused on more objective flying proficiency measures (Houston, Smith and Flexman, 1954) and on identifying the basic abilities involved in piloting fixed wing aircraft (e.g., Fleishman and Hempel, 1956; Fleishman and Ornstein, 1960). With the proliferation of helicopters as basic military transport and combat vehicles, interest in the skills involved in piloting rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) has increased. Work to date (Greer, Smith and Hatfield, 1962; Heimstra, Louis and Young, 1962; DuEy and Colgan, 1963; Greer, Smith, Hatfield, Colgan and Duffy, 1963) has been concerned primarily with developing reliable, objective pilot proficiency measures. Performed by the Human Resources Research Office (HumRRO), this work resulted in two carefully developed proficiency tests for use with the Army's Primary Helicopter School trainees (Greer, et al., 1963).The present study, using data gathered with these proficiency tests, attempts to identify basic factors underlying performance of helicopter maneuvers. METHOD Brief description of helicopter control system.The helicopter has four basic pilot controls. The cyclic pitch control stick (cyclic) is mounted on the cockpit floor center forward of the pilot seat. It can be moved in any direction in a 360' plane perpendicular to the long axis of the stick. When the cyclic is moved to a particular position, corresponding changes in pitch rotation of the main rotor blades result in movement of the vehicle in that direction. By controlling the attitude of the aircraft, the cyclic also controls airspeed. The cyclic control stick is operated by the right hand and arm.The collective pitch Zever (pitch), mounted to the left of the pilot, controls vertical direction of flight. Up or down movements of pitch changes the positive pitch angle of the main rotor blades collectively and effects corresponding up or down movements of the vehicle. Pitch is operated by the left hand and arm.The throttle, located on the handle of the collective pitch lever, can be turned as on a '

Studies of Helicopter Pilot Performance: II The Analysis of Task Dimensions

“…A detailed description of the basic helicopter control system was given in the previous study (Zavala, Locke, Van Cott and Fleishman, 1965). Briefly, there are four basic controls in the helicopter; the cyclic pitch control stick which moves 360' in a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the stick and controls the leftright and fore-aft movement of the aircraft; the collective pitch lever which controls the vertical direction of flight; the throttle which controls engine RPM (and indirectly rotor RPM); and the anti-torque pedals which control the anti-torque rotor.…”

“…There are 16 maneuvers in the Basic PPDR with 3 to 20, specific tasks each. The maneuvers are described elsewhere (Zavala, Locke, Van Cott, and Fleishman, 1965). Some of the tasks appear in many different maneuvers, others in only a few.…”

“…In the Forced Landing and Basic Autorotation maneuvers no real hover is ever attained; rather the landing is more like a Running Landing, Thus the pitch applications do not have to be quite so perfect nor do they have to be performed so rapidly as compared with the Forced Landing from Hover maneuver. (See Zavala, Locke, Van Cott and Fleishman, 1965 for further discussion of the differences between these maneuvers.) This is a clear "Down Wind Leg and Turn Air Speed" factor.…”

“…The present study is the second in our series, which builds on this earlier work in an attempt to better understand the skill components of helicopter proficiency. Our first study (Zavala, Locke, Van Cott, and Fleishman, 1965) modified the procedures developed by Greer, et al and applied factor analysis techniques to the intercorrelations among "maneuver" proficiency scores developed from flights of helicopter pilots at two stages of training (Primary and Basic). This analysis of helicopter pilots followed an earlier study of fixed wing aircraft pilots (Fleishman and Ornstein, 1960).…”