Simulator evaluation of manually flown curved instrument approaches

Abstract

Pilot performance in flying horizontally curved instrument approaches was analyzed by having nine test subjects fly curved approaches in a fixed-base simulator. Approaches were flown without an autopilot and without a flight director. Evaluations were based on deviation measurements made at a number of points along the curved approach path and on subject questionnaires. Results indicate that pilots can fly curved approaches, though less accurately than straight-in approaches; that a moderate wind does not affect curve flying performance; and that there is no performance difference between 600 and 90 turns. A tradeoff of curved path parameters and a paper analysis of wind compensation were also made.