Search

Synthetic vision systems provide an in-cockpit view of terrain and other hazards via a computer-generated display representation. Two simulator-based experiments examined several display concepts for synthetic vision and evaluated how such displays modulate pilot performance. Experiment 1 (24 general aviation pilots) compared 3 navigational display (ND) concepts: 2D coplanar, 3D, and dual-perspective. Experiment 2 (12 commercial airline pilots) evaluated baseline “blue sky-brown ground” or synthetic-vision-enabled primary flight displays (PFDs) and 3 ND concepts: 2D coplanar with and without synthetic vision and a dynamic multimode rotatable exocentric format. In general, the results pointed to an overall advantage for a dual-perspective format, whether it be stand-alone (Experiment 1) or available via rotatable viewpoints (Experiment 2). Furthermore, Experiment 2 revealed benefits associated with utilizing synthetic vision in both the PFD and ND representations and the value of combined ego- and exocentric presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-two participants (12 with prior flying experience and 12 without), performed a series of trials in a low fidelity flight simulator in which they attempted to recover from a series of unusual attitudes. Two display variables were examined: (1) the attitude display was either a traditional head-up display (HUD) with an inside-out motion and pitch ladder, or an Arc-Segmented Attitude Reference (ASAR) display; and (2) a command icon that pointed to the appropriate airplane rotation for recovery direction in pitch and roll was either present or absent. The results revealed that the icon speeded the initial correction and reduced the number of roll reversal errors, while the traditional HUD decreased the total time to recovery. Experienced pilots were more disrupted by the ASAR display than were novices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]