AUTOMATED PILOT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT IN THE T-37: A FEASIBILITY STUDY

A T-37B was instrumented to digitally record 24 flight and engine parameters. An extensive computer software system was developed with which to reduce, calibrate, and analyze the recorded data from the lazy 8 and barrel roll maneuvers, and compute performance measures. Criterion values for the two maneuvers were developed by utilizing task analysis data, narrative descriptions, and recorded in-flight maneuver performance of a highly qualified Air Training Command instructor pilot. Utilizing recorded data from 16 students and 4 instructors, experimental performance measures were derived through an iterative analytic approach. Study results indicated that lazy 8 performance assessment can be accomplished using the flight parameters of roll angle, pitch angle, and airspeed in a single summary error measure. Barrel roll measurement is dependent upon roll and pitch angle, acceleration (g force), and roll rate. A definite relationship between roll and pitch was determined to be critical to measurement. Discussions of measurement validation methods, debriefing plots, a sampling rate study, instrumentation techniques, and problem areas are provided.