AV-8B FLIGHT HAZARD AWARENESS ANALYSIS AND TRAINING USING FLIGHT SIMULATION

The V/STOL capability of the AV-8B Harrier is provided through a sophi sticated combination of vectored thrust and aerodynamic technology. Th e proper interaction of the nozzle thrust and flap system is of extrem e importance. Specific combinations of nozzle angle and flap position are employed to optimize both jet lift and aerodynamic lift. However, if the proper flap-nozzle position schedule is violated, the resulting thrust and flap impingement may cause a severe nose-down pitching mom ent sufficient to override the pilot control. Depending upon ground pr oximity, this condition creates a hazard which causes great potential for loss of aircraft and/or pilot. Flap impingement hazard was identif ied on the AV-8B aircraft as a potential catastrophic flight hazard. I n response, a requirement was established to 1) study the severity of the flap impingement hazard on the AV-8B, 2) devise flight operational procedures which would minimize pilot exposure to the hazard potentia l and the resulting pilot control problems during flight, and 3) devis e a training capability to familiarize pilots with flap impingement ha zard characteristics and recovery procedures. This paper comprises the results of a study which utilized piloted flight simulation and fleet simulation trainers to meet these requirements.