Real-time operational evaluations using advanced flight simulators

The increased speed with which new technologies are being introduced into the modern aviation operating environment has made it necessary to find new ways of evaluating certification, human factors, operational and safety issues. We no longer have the luxury of an extended development program, followed by an evolutionary period of products maturing into more complex forms, with an extended useful life. Modern technology delivers fully formed products to the marketplace with rapid wide distribution and, in many cases, a limited operating life due to forced obsolescence caused by new advances and technologies. Aviation has always been a technology leader, and this hasn't changed, so the introduction of new communication, navigation, surveillance and display technology is moving forward at a fast pace. Aviation is also a very competitive business, and maximum benefit comes from the early implementation of innovative new products and applications. While some time elements of the product life cycle have changed, critical requirements for validating safety, reliability and system integrity in civil aviation have not. The process of operationally integrating a new technology into an existing, highly complex, costly and potentially hazardous domain, such as airports and aircraft cockpits, demands an exhaustive evaluation of their effects on the existing system, while maintaining safety and performance standards, support logistics and affordability. To shorten the time required for equipment and procedural development, and operational implementation, the use of simulation has grown in importance. Simulation can consist of virtual modeling on a computer workstation, part task devices with actual system hardware and software, or full-mission man-in-the-loop simulators with visual systems and motion. All have their place in the process, and all play a role in shortening development time and cost. We will be looking at the use of full-mission simulators for piloted operational evaluations.