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May 13, 2003
Jonas Dino
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: 650/604-5612 or 650/604-9000
E-mail: jonas.dino{at}nasa.gov

Jack Satterfield
Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, Philadelphia, Penn.
Phone: 610/591-8399
E-mail: john.r.satterfield{at}boeing.com

NOTE TO EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: Media representatives are invited
to a demonstration of the Perspective Flight Guidance pilot display
on Thursday May 15, 2003 at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett field,
Calif. Developed by NASA and Boeing, the system is an enhanced
graphical system displaying a virtual pathway designed to improve
pilot performance. Flight tests are being conducted using a UH-60
Black Hawk helicopter modified to perform cockpit display and flight
control research. The demonstration will include a ground-based
simulation of the system and a tour of the UH-60 helicopter. The
event will be held in Hangar 248 at NASA Ames from 10:30 a.m. to
12:00 noon PDT. To get to Moffett Field from San Francisco, take
Highway 101 south or from San Jose, take highway 101 north, to the
Moffett Field exit. The visitor badging office is located on the
right of the main gate. Please call Jonas Dino at 650/604-5612 to
request clearance for the demonstration. Media Representative must
have valid photo identification.

RELEASE: 03-35AR

NASA AND BOEING TO TEST 'VIRTUAL PATHWAYS' IN THE SKY

NASA engineers are testing a revolutionary navigational display in
NASA's airborne flight simulator that may lead to safer skies and
greater airport capacity.

Engineers from the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.,
the U.S. Army and the Boeing Helicopter Division, Philadelphia,
Penn., will conduct flight tests of the Perspective Flight Guidance
(PFG) system May 12 to May 16, 2003, in a modified UH-60 Blackhawk
helicopter. The system displays a virtual pathway to guide pilots to
their destinations.

"Capacity at the nation's busiest airports could be enhanced by using
aircraft capable of operating from shorter runways," said NASA Ames'
William Hindson, the project's principal investigator. "Development
of new cockpit displays like the Perspective Flight Guidance display
may help enable pilots to precisely and safely fly into and out of
airports without affecting the primary traffic flow or increasing
noise to the surrounding community," he said. According to Hindson,
the concept is relevant for airports like San Francisco
International, which are located in highly populated urban areas and
frequently are affected by poor weather conditions.

Unlike conventional navigational displays, the PFG system presents a
perspective view of the next 60 seconds of the aircraft's ideal path.
Based on flight plan inputs, four segmented lines create a
three-dimensional pathway with bank and turn cues that the pilot can
easily follow. The software also is able to anticipate where the
aircraft will be in 4.5 seconds, based on the pilot's input, and it
will alert the pilot if actions will result in an 'off pathway'
trajectory.

The Perspective Flight Guidance system was originally developed for
the steep-angle landing approaches and departures of short take-off
and landing (STOL) aircraft, including fixed-wing aircraft,
tiltrotors and helicopters. The display also has military
applications, such as large-scale deployments that require the safe
operation of a high-density mix of conventional aircraft and
helicopters at night and in poor weather conditions.

The Army and NASA UH-60 Back Hawk helicopter is modified to be a
highly flexible airborne research platform for evaluating a wide
range of cockpit display and flight control technologies developed by
NASA, the military and industry partners. These flight tests will
validate ground-based simulations, and may improve design cycle
timelines and reduce development cost.

For related images visit:

http:// amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2003/03images/pfg/pfg.html

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