Fixed-base simulation study of decoupled controls during approach and landing of a STOL transport airplane

A fixed-base visual simulation study has been conducted to evaluate the use of decoupled controls as a means for reducing pilot workload during approach and landing of an externally blown jet-flap short take-off and landing (STOL) transport. All six rigid-body degrees of freedom were employed with the aerodynamic characteristics based on wind-tunnel data. The primary piloting task was to use a flight director to capture and maintain a two-segment glide slope, with a closed-circuit television display of a STOL airport used during simulations of the flare and landing. The decoupled longitudinal controls used constant prefilter and feedback gains to provide steady-state decoupling of flight-path angle, pitch angle, and forward velocity. The pilots were enthusiastic about the decoupled longitudinal controls but believed the decoupled concept offered no significant advantage over conventional controls in the lateral mode.