There is a steadily increasing tendency to use piloted flight simulators for official clearance of selected areas of flight envelopes and of system behavior or malfunctions. This is a natural and desirable evolution from the wide use of simulation during the development of new aircraft. However, there is a lack of guidance for certification authorities and aircraft manufacturers on simulation standards, validation procedures and general information on the advantages and disadvantages of using simulation as part of a clearance program. This could lead to either inappropriate use of simulators, or unnecessary (and costly) reluctance to use simulation when it is appropriate. In particular, there is concern by many involved with research and engineering development simulators that subjective pilot opinion is often the primary criterion for acceptance of simulators for certification activities. However, clearance demonstrations on a simulator will not usually be experienced in flight until an operational pilot encounters the conditions or configurations of the clearance. Thus validation of the simulator for clearance tasks must involve rigorous model and simulation system validation as well as pilot subjective tests. Subjective adjustments are unacceptable. Working Group 16 was formed by the Flight Mechanics Panel of AGARD to produce an Advisory Report on this subject. The aim was to provide advice and guidance to Certification and Acceptance Authorities, and Aircraft Manufacturers on the appropriate use of piloted simulation as the sole demonstration for aircraft and system flight clearances. The Group included members from Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States. Government R&D Establishments, Armed Service R&D Establishments, and aircraft and simulator manufacturers were all represented.
Homologation des Aeronefs et de Leurs Sous-Systemes Par la Simulation Pilotee (Aircraft and sub-System Certification by Piloted Simulation)
1994
62 pages
Report
No indication
English
Test Facilities & Equipment , Air Transportation , Certification , Control systems design , Flight control , Flight envelopes , Flight simulators , International cooperation , Pilot performance , Standards , Clearances , Pilot induced oscillation , Safety factors , Avionics , Computerized simulation , Criteria , Flight mechanics , Malfunctions , Product development , Foreign technology