FAA Simultaneous Non-Interfering Precision VFR (SNI-PVFR) Flight

General Research Description:

Study the effect of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) on helicopter navigation in high density traffic areas to determine optimal operating and training procedures

Detailed Research Description:

The overarching objective of this proposed program is to assist in the development of ATC procedures in the new NAS system for improving the efficiency of SNI operations. Towards this goal, we must first investigate navigation performance of VFR helicopter pilots using IFR qualified GPS receivers. This will allow us to evaluate how pilotage changes with the introduction of radio navigation. When performance envelopes can be established and validated, we can then experiment with different permutations of ATC procedures aimed at improving efficiency. We believe that a critical element of this study involves a model of pilot performance as a factor of pilotage cues (e.g. landmarks) and radio communications (e.g. GPS receivers). We need to know if a pilot fixates on landmarks versus GPS output. Do they simply “fly the needle” off of the GPS unit, do they carefully observe visual cues, or is it some mix of both? How does this affect the envelope we can assume they are maintaining, therefore indicating how traffic can be controlled around them? We assume that too much attention to the GPS receiver may adversely affect pilotage performance, but that the reverse may also be sub-optimal. The results of this study may support the identification of additional training, equipment, and approval necessary to get the benefit of flying a VFR SNI route where the controller will be able to permit simultaneous operations. 

Research Plan Outline:

• Phase One: Measure the difference in navigation performance with and without GPS
• Phase Two: Compare navigation performance in the real world to navigation performance in a virtual environment.
• Phase Three: Use eye-tracking to study how pilots use GPS while navigating.
• Phase Four: Develop and test alternative SNI procedures.

Current Progress:

Inflight data has been collected. The simulated environment has been recreated and evaluated. Based on these initial data collection efforts, a number of improvements on the original design of the virtual environment have been made.

• A brief description of the inflight portion of the study.
• A summary of the equipment used
• Details on the improvements made to the original design of the virtual environment.
• Software to diplay subject's flight path and out the window view - download page.