Training methods for aircraft simulator pilot

• US 20030054324A1
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fountain & Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fountain & Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Fountain, Phillip J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,790,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/37
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/12 Motion systems for aircraft simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/16 Ambient or aircraft conditions simulated or indicated by instrument or alarm

Abstract

A method of training an aircraft pilot using a flight simulator having a controller that generates a plurality of simulated fault conditions and a fault analysis guide. The fault analysis guide includes a fault procedures section printed with a plurality of fault procedures each corresponding to a fault condition, and further includes a visual procedure locator section and a nonvisual procedure locator section. The visual procedure locator section includes printed indicator symbols that are arranged in the same general spatial orientation as the arrangement of a plurality of indicators a warning light panel. Each printed indicator symbol is graphically representative of a single indicator and has an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section. The nonvisual procedure locator section includes a list of the physical error conditions not associated with the plurality of indicators.

Claims

1. A method of training an aircraft pilot to handle in-flight emergencies, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic aircraft flight simulator configured to simulate an aircraft, the simulator including a cockpit and a controller interfacing with the cockpit, the controller including a computer, wherein the controller generates a plurality of simulated aircraft conditions including a plurality of fault conditions and including fault conditions indicative of physical error conditions for control systems of the simulated aircraft, the cockpit having a plurality of aircraft simulator controls and a plurality of display panels, the aircraft simulator controls including at least an engine throttle and a yoke, the plurality of display panels including a plurality of gauges indicative of simulated aircraft conditions, the display panels also including a warning light panel with a plurality of indicators each providing a visual signal indicative of an associated fault condition;

providing the pilot with a fault analysis guide, the fault analysis guide including a fault procedures section printed with a plurality of fault procedures each corresponding to a fault condition, the fault analysis guide also including a visual procedure locator section and a nonvisual procedure locator section, wherein the visual procedure locator section includes printed indicator symbols that are arranged in the same general spatial orientation as the arrangement of the plurality of indicators on the warning light panel, wherein each printed indicator symbol is graphically representative of a single indicator and has an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section, and the nonvisual procedure locator section includes a list of the physical error conditions not associated with the plurality of indicators, wherein each physical error condition has an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section;

electronically generating simulated aircraft conditions in the simulator;

identifying any fault conditions generated;

selecting either the visual procedure locator section or the nonvisual procedure locator section to locate an appropriate fault procedure for each identified fault condition, wherein the visual procedure locator section is selected if the fault condition is associated with a visual signal from an indicator on the warning light panel and the nonvisual procedure locator section is selected if the fault condition is indicative of a physical error condition;

performing the appropriate fault procedure by manipulation of the aircraft simulator controls; and

electronically responding to the pilot'"'"'s manipulation of the aircraft simulator controls as the pilot performs the appropriate fault procedure to determine if the pilot properly performed the appropriate fault procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the locator symbol for each printed indicator symbol is printed adjacent thereto and designates a tabbed section of the fault procedures section and wherein the tabbed section includes a fault procedure to be performed by the airplane pilot when the associated indicator provides a visual signal indicative of its associated fault condition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each locator symbol is printed in a font color selected from the group including red, yellow and amber.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each locator symbol includes a black stroke.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the list in the nonvisual procedure locator section is alphabetized according to the physical error conditions generated by the simulator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the list in the nonvisual procedure locator section is expressed in a graphical hierarchical format including a first level that identifies and alphabetizes the control systems of the simulated aircraft, and a second level indented from the first level that separately specifies the physical error conditions for each control system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein duplicate words in the second level are eliminated with the addition of a third further indented level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fault analysis guide further includes a secondary visual procedure locator section which includes a list of fault conditions corresponding to the plurality of indicators on the warning light panel wherein each listed fault condition has an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each locator symbol designates a tabbed section of the fault procedures section.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the list in the secondary visual procedure locator section is alphabetized.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the list in the secondary visual procedure locator section is expressed in a graphical hierarchical format including a first level that identifies and alphabetizes the control systems of the simulated aircraft, and a second level indented from the first level that includes a separate list of the fault conditions associated with each control system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one fault procedure includes numbered procedure steps.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one fault procedure further includes designated informational items, limitations and action items.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one fault procedure includes informational indications including warnings, cautions and notes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each type of informational indication is printed in a standard font color and stroke.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a first fault procedure further includes a procedure call that references a second fault procedure and specifies the location of the second fault procedure within the fault analysis guide.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein each fault procedure is terminated with an ending designator.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein a fault procedure corresponding to a fault condition that has an indicator associated with that fault condition includes a printed indicator symbol that is a graphical representation of the associated indicator.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one fault procedure is organized in if-then-else format, wherein an ‘

if’

portion of the procedure indicates a specific simulated aircraft condition that may be generated by the simulator, wherein a ‘

then’

portion of the procedure includes a specified operation to be performed by the airplane pilot in the event the specific simulated aircraft condition exists, and wherein an ‘

else’

portion of the procedure includes an alternative operation to be performed by the pilot in the event the specific simulated aircraft condition does not exist.

20. A method of training an aircraft pilot to handle in-flight emergencies, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic aircraft flight simulator configured to simulate an aircraft, the simulator including a cockpit and a controller interfacing with the cockpit, the controller including a computer, wherein the controller generates a plurality of simulated aircraft conditions including a plurality of fault conditions, the cockpit having a plurality of aircraft simulator controls and a plurality of display panels, the aircraft simulator controls including at least an engine throttle and a yoke, the plurality of display panels including a plurality of gauges indicative of simulated aircraft conditions, the display panels also including a master warning light panel with a plurality of indicators each providing a visual signal indicative of an associated fault condition, and a second panel with a plurality of indicators each providing a visual signal indicative of an associated fault condition;

providing the pilot with a fault analysis guide, the fault analysis guide including a fault procedures section printed with a plurality of fault procedures each corresponding to a fault condition, the fault analysis guide also including a visual procedure locator section including a first section and a second section, wherein the first section includes printed indicator symbols that are arranged in the same general spatial orientation as the arrangement of the plurality of indicators on the master warning light panel, and the second section includes printed indicator symbols that are arranged in the same general spatial orientation as the arrangement of the plurality of indicators on the second panel, wherein each printed indicator symbol is graphically representative of a single indicator and has an associated locator symbol printed adjacent thereto that designates a location of a fault procedure in the fault procedures section;

electronically generating simulated aircraft conditions in the simulator such that at least one indicator provides a visual signal indicative of an associated fault condition;

identifying the indicator providing the visual signal and the panel on which it is located and matching the indicator to a printed indicator signal in either the first section or the second section of the visual procedure locator section;

locating the appropriate fault procedure in the fault analysis guide using the locator symbol associated with the matched printed indicator symbol;

performing the appropriate fault procedure by manipulation of the aircraft simulator controls; and

electronically responding to the pilot'"'"'s manipulation of the aircraft simulator controls as the pilot performs the appropriate fault procedure to determine if the pilot properly performed the procedure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a first printed indicator symbol has a first locator symbol and a second locator symbol associated therewith, each locator symbol having a designator, each designator associated with at least one other fault condition, wherein the existence of the other fault condition determines which of the locator symbols is selected to locate the appropriate fault procedure.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a designator is selected from the group including a bridging symbol and an asterisk.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein a printed indicator symbol has an associated first locator symbol printed in a first color and an associated second locator symbol printed in a second color, wherein the seriousness of a fault condition determines which of the locator symbols is selected to locate the appropriate fault procedure.

24. The method of claim 20, further including a nonvisual procedure locator section that includes a list of fault conditions not associated with the plurality of indicators, and the nonvisual procedure locator section is used to locate an appropriate fault procedure if the generated fault condition is not associated with one of the plurality of indicators.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the locator symbol for each printed indicator symbol is printed adjacent thereto and designates a tabbed section of the fault procedures section.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein each locator symbol is printed in a font color selected from the group including red, yellow, and amber.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein each locator symbol includes a black stroke.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the list in the nonvisual procedure locator section includes fault conditions indicative of physical error conditions, and the section is alphabetized according to the physical error conditions.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the list in the nonvisual procedure locator section includes fault conditions indicative of physical error conditions, and the list is expressed in a graphical hierarchical format including a first level that identifies and alphabetizes the control systems of the simulated aircraft, and a second level indented from the first level that separately lists the physical error conditions for each control system.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein duplicate words in the second level are eliminated with the addition of a third further indented level.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the fault analysis guide further includes a secondary visual procedure locator section that includes a list of fault conditions corresponding to the plurality of indicators on the master warning panels and the second panel wherein each listed fault condition has an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein each locator symbol designates a tabbed section of the fault procedures section.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the list in the secondary visual procedure locator section is alphabetized.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the list in the secondary visual procedure locator section is expressed in a graphical hierarchical format including a first level that identifies and alphabetizes the control systems of the simulated aircraft, and a second level indented from the first level that includes a separate list of the fault conditions associated with each control system.

35. A method of training an aircraft pilot to handle in-flight emergencies, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic aircraft flight simulator configured to simulate an aircraft, the simulator including a cockpit and a controller interfacing with the cockpit and including a computer, wherein the controller generates a plurality of simulated aircraft conditions including a plurality of fault conditions, the cockpit having a plurality of aircraft simulator controls and display panels, the aircraft simulator controls including at least an engine throttle and a yoke, the plurality of display panels including a warning light panel with a plurality of indicators each providing a visual signal indicative of an associated fault condition;

providing the pilot with a fault analysis guide, the fault analysis guide including pages printed with a plurality of fault procedures each corresponding to a fault condition, wherein at least one fault procedure is organized in if-then-else format, wherein an ‘

if’

portion of the procedure begins with the word “

IF” and

indicates a specific simulated aircraft condition that may be generated by the simulator, wherein a ‘

then’

portion of the procedure begins with the word “

THEN” and

includes a specified operation to be performed by the airplane pilot in the event the specific simulated aircraft condition exists, and wherein an ‘

else’

portion of the procedure begins with the word “

ELSE” and

includes an alternative operation to be performed by the pilot in the event the specific simulated aircraft condition does not exist;

electronically generating fault conditions in the simulator; and

electronically responding to the pilot'"'"'s manipulation of the aircraft simulator controls as the pilot performs the procedures identified in the fault analysis guide that are associated with the fault conditions to determine if the pilot properly performed the appropriate fault procedures.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the ‘

then’

portion of the at least one fault procedure is located underneath and indented with respect to the ‘

if’

portion to indicate subordination to the ‘

if’

portion.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the words “

IF”

, “

THEN” and

“

ELSE”

are printed in a different font than the rest of the fault procedure.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the words “

IF”

, “

THEN” and

“

ELSE”

are printed in a different color than the rest of the at least one fault procedure.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein a fault procedure includes another word acting as a logical operator and selected from the set including OR, AND, GOTO, BEFORE, ALLOW, PRIOR, WHEN, and CASE.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one fault procedure includes numbered procedure steps.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the numbered procedure steps include designated informational items, limitations, and action items.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one fault procedure includes informational indications including warnings, cautions and notes.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein each type of informational indication is printed in a standard font color and stroke.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein a first fault procedure further includes a procedure call that references a second fault procedure and specifies the location of the second fault procedure within the fault analysis guide.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one fault procedure is terminated with an ending designator and further includes an ending designator at any point where there is no need to continue the procedure.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein a fault procedure corresponding to a fault condition that has an indicator associated with that fault condition includes a printed indicator symbol that is a graphical representation of an associated indicator.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein the fault analysis guide includes a locator section having printed indicator symbols that are arranged in the same general spatial orientation as the arrangement of the plurality of indicators on the warning light panel, wherein each printed indicator symbol is graphically representative of a single indicator and has an associated locator symbol, and wherein the locator symbol indicates the location of the associated fault procedure in the fault analysis guide.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the associated locator symbol for each printed indicator symbol is printed adjacent to the printed indicator symbol.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein each locator symbol designates a tabbed section of the fault analysis guide and wherein the tabbed section includes a fault procedure to be performed by the airplane pilot when the associated indicator provides a visual signal indicative of its associated fault condition.

50. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one fault procedure includes a procedure step having a reference to an aircraft service change.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the reference to an aircraft service change is printed in a standard font color.

52. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one fault procedure includes a procedure step having a reference to a circuit breaker and specifying the location of the circuit breaker in the cockpit.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the reference to a circuit breaker is printed in a standard font color.

54. A method of training an aircraft pilot to handle in-flight emergencies, the method comprising the steps of

providing an electronic aircraft flight simulator configured to simulate an aircraft, the simulator including a cockpit and a controller interfacing with the cockpit, the controller including a computer, wherein the controller generates a plurality of simulated aircraft conditions including a plurality of fault conditions and including fault conditions indicative of physical error conditions for control systems of the simulated aircraft, the cockpit having a plurality of aircraft simulator controls and a plurality of display panels, the aircraft simulator controls including at least an engine throttle and a yoke, the plurality of display panels including a plurality of gauges indicative of simulated aircraft conditions, the display panels also including a messaging system providing a plurality of visual indications each indicative of an associated fault condition;

providing the pilot with a fault analysis guide, the fault analysis guide including a fault procedures section printed with a plurality of fault procedures each corresponding to a fault condition, the fault analysis guide also including a visual procedure locator section and a nonvisual procedure locator section, wherein the visual procedure locator section includes printed visual indication symbols that are each graphically similar to a respective one of the plurality of visual indications on the messaging system, wherein each printed visual indication symbol has an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section, and the nonvisual procedure locator section includes a list of the physical error conditions each having an associated locator symbol indicating the location of an appropriate fault procedure in the fault procedures section;

electronically generating simulated aircraft conditions in the simulator;

identifying any fault conditions generated;

selecting either the visual procedure locator section or the nonvisual procedure locator section to locate an appropriate fault procedure for each identified fault condition, wherein the visual procedure locator section is selected if the fault condition is associated with a visual indication on the messaging system and the nonvisual procedure locator section is selected if the fault condition is indicative of a physical error condition;

performing the appropriate fault procedure by manipulation of the aircraft simulator controls; and

electronically responding to the pilot'"'"'s manipulation of the aircraft simulator controls as the pilot performs the appropriate fault procedure to determine if the pilot properly performed the appropriate fault procedure.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the printed visual indication symbols are arranged in alphabetical order in the visual procedure locator section.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein printed visual indication symbols are printed in the same font color as the color of a respective one of the plurality of visual indications on the messaging system.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein if the locator symbols reference a non-titled procedure, they are printed in a first column and if the locator symbols reference a titled procedure, they are printed in a second column.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the fault procedures corresponding to non-titled procedures are grouped by sections denoting the seriousness of the fault procedures.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the fault procedure corresponding to titled procedures are grouped by sections denoting the aircraft control systems.