VIRTUAL ACOUSTICS, AERONAUTICS, AND COMMUNICATIONS

An optimal approach to auditory display design for commercial aircraft would utilize both spatialized (3-D) audio techniques and active nois e cancellation for safer operations. Results from several aircraft sim ulator studies conducted at NASA Ames Research Center are reviewed, in cluding Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) warnings, spoken orientation ''beacons'' for gate identification and collision a voidance on the ground, and hardware for improved speech intelligibili ty. The implications of hearing loss among pilots is also considered.