To return to an earlier point - the training capability of current simulators "beyond the normal flight envelope".
This is an area of current review within the flight simulation and training world.
Firstly I should note that virtually every current FFS in use is only qualified within the bounds of the airframe manufacturer provided data package, which will cover all "normal" flight envelope bounds, however MOST will not behave realistically beyond, and will likely use simple extrapolations once you err beyond 'normal'.
However it is obviously possible to model the behavior beyond the test flight data, and those with better aerodynamics understanding may be able to comment better, but the RAeS currently has an international working group titled ICATEE working on recommendations for the next generation of simulators to provide upset and extended flight envelope training.
For those interested here is the mission statement/plan for ICATEE as originally defined in 2009:
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AVIATION TRAINING IN EXTENDED ENVELOPES (ICATEE).
On 3 and 4 June 2009, the Flight Simulation Group (FSG) of the Royal Aeronautical Society organized and ran a Conference entitled Flight Simulation - Towards the Edge of the Envelope. The Conference subject was related to a growing need to address the aviation safety issues arising from loss of control in flight through better training and simulation beyond what is currently covered in flight and in ground-based flight simulators.
The Conference identified the need to improve aircraft upset training, the shortcomings in basic education and readiness of commercial pilots in reacting to upsets, and the technical challenges. At the conclusion of the Conference, the RAeS FSG was requested by the delegates to form a Committee to explore the formation of an International Working Group (IWG) to identify follow-on steps and to invite participation from other interested parties.
The FSG has considered this request and subject to Society approval plans to proceed with the leadership of this Working Group which we have titled the International Committee for Aviation Training in Extended Envelopes (ICATEE).
The ICATEE objectives can be stated as follows:
-To be a body independent of national, corporate or factional interests, amalgamating information on the subject matter
-To identify the problem and recommend prioritization for remedial action
-To identify and help qualify current processes and methodologies
-To collect data on enhanced envelope maneuvers
-To interact with research concerning improved training in extended flight envelopes
-To identify and recommend best practices
-To identify future related research activities
-To support the implementation of regulatory guidelines or updates for enhanced training
The main activities of the Working Group will be:
- to review current practice in extended envelope training
- identify the main shortcomings
- identify the data and training media requirements and further research required
- recommend the areas that need immediate improvement in flight training
- examine essential and desirable training elements
- suggest how standards can be established.
The FSG has established an ICATEE steering group of FSG members consisting of Sunjoo Advani (chair), Gordon Woolley (co-chair) and Peter Tharp (co-chair). This group will set up and confirm the plan of the Working Group, assign tasks, request the support of the participants to fulfill these responsibilities, establish the time lines,and report the findings outside the group. It will also prepare the Committee’s Constitution and Terms of Reference.
The RAeS Flight Operations Group has been invited to participate and the Human Factors and Air Transport Groups will also be kept updated with progress.
Participants in the group will be expected to finance their own involvement. No funding will be requested or required from the Society.
It is the intention to present the findings of the ICATEE at an RAeS Conference in the first half of 2011.
The first form of dissemination of the information gained within the Working Group will be through the Royal Aeronautical Society FSG meetings and conferences. It is proposed that several channels be established in order to disseminate the information from the Working Group:
-a web-based forum through the RaeS FSG website
-a limited number of meetings
-presentation at the appropriate conferences (e.g. FSG, AIAA, FSEMC, WATS)
-industry white papers to feed back key findings to the stakeholders.
-inputs to the International Committee for FSTD Qualification (ICFQ)
The steering group met on 23 July, and is planning the following actions:
1. Circulate the Master Plan document and invite participation in the Working Group
2. Issue Constitution and Terms of Reference, and obtain FSG approval
3. Establish the Working Group on the basis of responses to the invitation
4. Request the Working Group at its initial meeting to:
a. Review its objectives
b. Identify Work Packages, leaders and assistant leaders. See Appendix 1 for possible Work Packages.
c. Define meeting targets
d. Agree outputs and timetable
e. Set methodology for future meetings and discussions
f. Set up a reporting procedure to the Steering Group
See the RAeS FSG
website for the latest developments.
- GY