United States Department of Transportation
i
The Use of Analog Track Angle Error Display for Improving Simulated GPS Approach Performance
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1995-08-01
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[PDF-3.82 MB]
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Edition:Final Report June 1994 - May 1995
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Abstract:The effect of adding track angle error (TAE) information to general aviation aircraft cockpit displays used for GPS
nonprecision instrument approaches was studied experimentally. Six pilots flew 120 approaches in a Frasca 242 light
twin aircraft simulator using crosswind and turbulence. Twenty-five-mile-long approach geometries were used, with and
without 45 degree dogleg turns on final approach. Performance and workload using three TAE display formats were compared
against results with two control formats presenting cross track error (XTE) only. Pilots found that the TAE displays
simplified determination of wind correction angle, and that they consistently chose to use analog rather than numeric
TAE data. Statistically significant differences between display formats and between pilots were found. The largest
average improvement in initial leg intercept and tracking performance resulted when the conventional "ten dot" XTE
display was supplemented with a sliding pointer display of TAE, moving in the same direction as aircraft bank. A second
TAE format, a sliding/rotating pointer integrated display, yielded the greatest improvement (35X) in the width of the
short final approach flight technical error envelope, but pilots reported occasional problems interpreting this display.
Both of these TAE formats improved final approach intercept and tracking performance after 45 degree turning maneuvers.
The addition of TAE information to the receiver display helped pilots create outer loop lead, and yielded approach
performance improvements comparable to relocating XTE information to an HSI within the pilot's primary scan. Bedford
workload scores were not significantly influenced by display format, but were found to depend on approach geometry and
phase.
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