Helicopter flight in degraded visual conditions (Issue 1, September 2007)

This report summarises the research carried out by QinetiQ for the Civil Aviation Authority.

The CAA research was undertaken in collaboration with a MoD Corporate Research Programme (CRP) study into how pilots use visual cues in the process of helicopter flight guidance and stabilisation, where the general objective was to improve the operational effectiveness and safety of military helicopter operations in degraded visual conditions.

The CAA's motivation for the collaboration stemmed from the continuing incidence of serious accidents involving civil helicopter operations in degraded visual cueing conditions, where poor aircrew situational awareness, and ultimately spatial disorientation or controlled flight into terrain, have been identified as primary causal factors.The approach was, firstly, to review the relevant civil accident data to identify the principal causal factors and establish the nature and extent of the problem (Phase 1).

This was followed by further investigation of these factors through piloted simulation experiments involving flight and operating conditions taken from typical accident scenarios (Phase 2/1). Data from these experiments were then analysed using special techniques developed under the CRP study, and the results compared with the findings of a review of the relevant civil regulations (Phase 2/2).