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Flight test of takeoff performance monitoring systemThe Takeoff Performance Monitoring System (TOPMS) is a computer software and hardware graphics system that visually displays current runway position, acceleration performance, engine status, and other situation advisory information to aid pilots in their decision to continue or to abort a takeoff. The system was developed at the Langley Research Center using the fixed-base Transport Systems Research Vehicle (TSRV) simulator. (The TSRV is a highly modified Boeing 737-100 research airplane.) Several versions of the TOPMS displays were evaluated on the TSRV B-737 simulator by more than 40 research, United States Air Force, airline and industry and pilots who rated the system satisfactory and recommended further development and testing. In this study, the TOPMS was flight tested on the TSRV. A total of 55 takeoff and 30 abort situations were investigated at 5 airfields. TOPMS displays were observed on the navigation display screen in the TSRV research flight deck during various nominal and off-nominal situations, including normal takeoffs; reduced-throttle takeoffs; induced-acceleration deficiencies; simulated-engine failures; and several gross-weight, runway-geometry, runway-surface, and ambient conditions. All tests were performed on dry runways. The TOPMS software executed accurately during the flight tests and the displays correctly depicted the various test conditions. Evaluation pilots found the displays easy to monitor and understand. The algorithm provides pretakeoff predictions of the nominal distances that are needed to accelerate the airplane to takeoff speed and to brake it to a stop; these predictions agreed reasonably well with corresponding values measured during several fully executed and aborted takeoffs. The TOPMS is operational and has been retained on the TSRV for general use and demonstration.
Document ID
19950006251
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Publication (TP)
Authors
Middleton, David B.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Srivatsan, Raghavachari
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Person, Lee H., Jr.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1994
Subject Category
Aircraft Stability And Control
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.60:3403
NASA-TP-3403
L-17274
Accession Number
95N12664
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 505-64-13-04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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