User Perceptions of Side-Arm Flight Control in Rotary-Wing Aircraft.

It is anticipated that conventional primary flight controls will be replaced by side-arm devices in future rotary-wing aircraft. Side-arm controls are projected to have certain ergonomic advantages that will greatly enhance a helicopter pilots mission capability. Several studies have been conducted to test their feasibility, their handling qualities, and the optimal configuration but little work has been done to anticipate what human factors implications side-arm controls will have once integrated into the cockpit. Sixteen scout and attack helicopter pilots were interviewed regarding side-arm primary flight controls. Interviewee responses reflected some new as well as already identified problem areas. The authors suggest that these issues be addressed before actual implementation is made.