FLIGHT SIMULATION
Johnson and his research team are part of the U.S.
Helicopter Safety Team (USHST), a joint governmentindustry
group focused on improving helicopter safety
with a goal of reducing the helicopter fatal accident rate.
“This S-76 simulator will help us collect data on
various helicopter operational flight profiles or regimes,
rotorcraft maneuvers, and anomalous conditions,” Johnson
said. “This will enable us to develop and test better
simulation models for conditions that feature outside-ofthe
envelope flight.”
LOW ALTITUDE & ENHANCED VISION SYSTEMS
In addition to helping researchers discover additional ways
to prevent helicopter loss-of-control accidents, the S-76
simulator is also being used to test technologies to prevent
accidents involving low-altitude and unintended
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instrument meteorological conditions – events due to
controlled flight into terrain, poor weather, and specific
system failures.
More than 25% of fatal helicopter accidents in the
USA are a result of poor visibility; Johnson’s team will be
using the simulator for evaluating the concept of
expanding the potential use of enhanced flight vision
systems to helicopters. Known as Enhanced Helicopter
Vision Systems (EHVS), this technology consisting of
head-worn or helmet-mounted displays paired with
enhanced vision systems or combined vision systems
sensors offers helicopter pilots the ability to “see” visual
references or cues during approach and landing in lowvisibility
environments.
This provides an operational benefit to helicopters
flying instrument approaches to helipads and heliports
located both onshore and offshore. It could also offer pilots
the ability to detect and avoid obstacles such as towers,
wires, buildings, birds, and other obstructions or hazards
at low altitudes. EHVS is one technology the team is
evaluating, however they are also extending EHVS to
encompass augmented and virtual reality for information
displayed on head-worn or helmet-mounted displays.
Along with research into night vision goggles, and other
cockpit aids, such as electronic flight bags, the team is
“more than 25% of fatal
helicopter accidents are a
result of poor visibility”
4
3
3 // The simulator is built
from a decommissioned
Sikorsky S-76 helicopter
(Photo: FAA)
4 // Researchers enjoy
the high fidelity of the
simulator. (Photo: FAA)
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