Features of the new YAK-152 flight-training aircraft performance

Modern aircraft are distinguished by the extensive use of automation facilities for piloting control – a "glass cockpit". At the same time, the widespread use of automation in the aircraft flight limits the pilot's abilities to overcome force majeure circumstances arising in-flight. Subsequently when training pilots, particular emphasis must be placed not only on the formation of the operator's skills in the "glass cockpit" but also on the development of practical skills while "direct" piloting, what is especially important. Large focus should be put on the requirement to train military pilots with the implementation of large values of normal overload, taking into account the increasing maneuverability of fighters from generation to generation that are flown not based on the capabilities of the airframe design and power plant, but considering the psychophysiological human abilities. Limit modes, in particular, performing high angles of attack with a subsequent stall, entering a spin cause aviation accidents in both civil and military aviation. As noted in the findings of the investigations, insufficient skills of the flight crew for piloting in critical modes are referred to the reasons for these accidents among other things. It is clear that the flight performance of the training aircraft, on which the future pilot takes the initial training course, serve the primary purpose of forming flight skills. Until recently, outdated aircraft, in particular L-39, as well as foreign-made aircraft (DA-40, DA-42, etc.) were used in our country for this purpose. The new domestic training aircraft with a propeller-driven power plant Yak-152, which made its maiden flight in September 2016, is designed to ensure the required high level of initial training, including safe piloting training in critical flight modes in the "glass cockpit" interface. The article analyzes the main characteristics of the Yak-152, directly impacting the capabilities of its intended use as a training aircraft. It should be noted that all the performance presented in the article was obtained as a result of aircraft flight tests.

Utilisation of advanced avionics systems in basic flight training

The paper deals with the use of advanced avionics systems in basic flight training. From the point of view of aviation history, this issue is relatively new, because for many decades only aircraft with analog instruments have been used for training. From the content point of view, the paper can be divided into two significant parts. The first, theoretical part describes the knowledge of the issue. In 2019, two new Zlín Z-242 aircraft equipped with the Garmin G500 TXi glass cockpit were added to the fleet of the Air Training and Education Centre (LVVC). Therefore in the second, practical part we conducted a survey among instructors and students of LVVC on the issue discussed and their experience of training on this aircraft. In addition, we looked at how to effectively train pilots when using training aircraft with advanced avionics systems. Completion of the practical part of the paper was the creation of multimedia learning material, which should help novice pilots prepare for the use of basic features of Garmin G500 TXi and acquaint them with knowledge that will help especially the first flight hours to be more efficient as they begin the training on new aircraft

Lessons from the Glass Cockpit: Innovation in Alarm Systems to Support Cognitive Work

Nurses working in the hospital setting increasingly have become overburdened by managing alarms that, in many cases, provide low information value regarding patient health. The current trend, aided by disposable, wearable technologies, is to promote patient monitoring that does not require entering a patient's room. The development of telemetry alarms and middleware escalation devices adds to the continued growth of auditory, visual, and haptic alarms to the hospital environment but can fail to provide a more complete understanding of patient health. As we begin to innovate to both address alarm overload and improve patient management, perhaps using fundamentally different integration architectures, lessons from the aviation flight deck are worth considering. Commercial jet transport systems and their alarms have evolved slowly over many decades and have developed integration methods that account for operational context, provide multiple response protocol levels, and present a more integrated view of the airplane system state. We articulate three alarm system objectives: (1) supporting hazard management, (2) establishing context, and (3) supporting alarm prioritization. More generally, we present the case that alarm design in aviation can spur directions for innovation for telemetry monitoring systems in hospitals.

Systems on Board the NATO E-3A Platform

The article highlights the importance of the systems on board the NATO E-3A platform and how they influence the mission and work of the aircrew. The E-3A is an Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system designed to provide early warning information to battle managers through surveillance of airborne and maritime objects, and to provide aircraft control capabilities. Even though the system is integrated on the old airframe of Boeing 707, in the past 35 years there have been numerous upgrades. The biggest upgrade of them all is the conversion of the entire fleet of aircraft to the NATO Mid-Term (NMT) configuration and then to “glass cockpit”. Now, the fleet is embarking upon a final modernization effort to extend its service life to 2035.

Pilots’ Performance and Workload Assessment: Transition from Analogue to Glass-Cockpit

During their professional career, pilots often experience a change in workplace conditions in the form of an aircraft cockpit ergonomics change. Change of working conditions may impact their perception of flight data or the pilot’s psychophysiological condition, especially in cases of inexperienced pilots. The presented study deals with the influence of cockpit ergonomics change on the performance and pilot workload during a training course. We divided 20 subjects with no previous practical flying experience into two training groups (Gr. A and Gr. B). The flight training was focused on acquisition of basic piloting skills where both groups experienced cockpit ergonomics change in different training phases. The performance (piloting precision) was assessed based on deviations from predetermined parameters of the monitored flight manoeuvres. Heart rate variability qualified the extent of workload. The study showed the influence of the cockpit arrangement on piloting precision, where the transition to other type of cockpit ergonomics did not influence pilots’ subjective workload with statistical significance.

A Value Model Approach to Reduce PM Cargo’s Costs for the CH-47F Chinook Helicopter

The CH-47F is a multifaceted system incorporating a series of technological improvements that aim to improve flight crews’ performance. The new Chinook model marks a transition away from platforms with steam gauge based cockpits, federated mission systems equipment, and analog flight control augmentation systems. The aircraft has a highly integrated glass cockpit and digital flight control augmentation system reducing the crew’s workload and improving other capabilities, such as auto-hovering. This allows pilots to focus on aspects essential for mission success while operating in challenging environments. PM Cargo is responsible for maintaining the CH-47F to meet these demands, however, this has significant financial challenges to consider. PM Cargo asked us to produce courses of action that will reduce costs while also adding value to the CH-47F program. This will ensure the CH-47F, through PM Cargo’s stewardship, remains a staple of the United States Army into the future.

Development of a Full Mission Simulator for Pilot Training of Fighter Aircraft

With aircraft becoming more complex and avionics intensive and flight being almost autonomous based on waypoint navigation, software and displays becoming a significant component of the all glass cockpit of the modern day fighter aircraft, it is imperative that pilots are trained on missions using ground based full mission simulator (FMS) for routine flight as well as advanced missions. A flight simulator is as good as the real system only when it is able to mimic the physical system, both in terms of dynamics and layout so that the pilot gets the complete feel of the environment as encountered during actual sortie. The objective of this research paper is to provide a detailed insight into the various aspects of development of a FMS for pilot training with minimal maintenance operations for long hours of realistic flight training on ground. The approach followed by ADE in developing a FMS using a healthy mix of conventional flight simulation methodologies and novel approaches for various simulator sub-systems to tailor and meet the specific training needs, one presented. The FMS developed by ADE is presently being used by Indian Air Force for flight and mission critical training of squadron pilots.

Design practice in the translation traditional and glass cockpit based on General Aviation I-31T aircraft

Purpose The aim of this paper is to present the results preparation of a new glass cockpit for a general aviation category airplane with a TP100 turboprop 180 kW engine. All the works were carried out within the framework of the European programme: “Efficient Systems and Propulsion for Small Aircraft” – ESPOSA. Design/methodology/approach As a part of the ongoing work, the avionics equipment available on the market were thoroughly analysed. Optimization of choice was defined at the level of costs, ergonomics and development requirements of the engine manufacturer. The paper presents the issues of the realized project and discusses its specific characteristics, such as advantages and disadvantages in comparison to the conventional analogue cockpit and the possibility of adaptation for the plane. Findings New avionics, ground and in-flight tests were carried out. The data were collected, which, together with an ergonomics assessment done by the pilot and the observer, confirmed the previously established technical and operational objectives. Practical implications Most airplanes, when being modernized, encounter minor or major problems. A new approach to upgrading the avionics, involving the exchange of a piston engine with a turbine engine, which is supported by 3D software, has allowed a significant reduction of working time and costs. Originality/value The achieved results allow specifying a plan of changes, necessary to adapt the aircraft to a new avionic system. However, an important value is to show a new development direction of the turbine engine implementation in general aviation aircrafts.