Flight Simulators: Safe and Cost-Effective Training

Flight simulators for conventional aircraft are very expensive, yet accepted as standard and essential tools. In simulated operations new pilots acquire skills, and experienced pilots maintain their proficiency. Instructors find it easy to identify piloting problems and safely repeat conditions that need improvement. Overall training costs are reduced and safety is improved, particularly in learning to cope with hazardous situations.

A Virtual Reality Parachute Training Simulator is now available from FXC that offers similar benefits but for parachutists. A unique, low-cost parachute simulator provides a highly effective tool for teaching, planning and practicing parachute flight and missions. This Virtual Reality Parachute Simulator supplements current field training techniques such as drop towers, towed launches and actual jumps.

The Problem:

Teaching trainees to correctly control and maneuver steerable parachutes has always been a difficult task. Maneuverable parachutes allow rapid deployment of mission specialists when fixed or rotary wing aircraft alone are inappropriate. However, parachutists who are injured on landing, or land in the wrong location, degrade or nullify operational effectiveness. Proficiency in controlling maneuverable parachutes is vital to mission success. Safe, accurate parachute maneuvering requires both training and practice of perceptual skills. Parachutists must learn to accurately sense visual motion cues, and to predict and manage their descent and drift toward the landing zone. The necessary maneuvering concepts are well documented. However, training techniques have previously been limited to texts, lectures, procedures practice, and actual (but solo) flights.

Aircrew emergency parachute canopy control training.

Military aircrew are equipped with steerable emergency four-line release or slotted parachutes. These parachutes cannot be steered and exhibit oscillations if the controls are not deployed, which contribute to visual disorientation and difficulty in achieving a non-injury Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) at touchdown. When deployed, these oscillations damp out and the parachute achieves a forward velocity which may be steered into the wind to minimize ground relative velocity or to avoid collisions.

These aircrew members find themselves flying a military aircraft in an emergency engine-out situation, having, at best, only received minimal training in its flight, and that under benign conditions at the beginning of their career. Subsequent training is limited to infrequent procedures training while suspended in a harness. Compared to operational paratroopers or smokejumpers, training to proficiency is particularly critical because in emergencies there are no options on critical factors such as time of day or night, wind maximums or weather, and on landing terrain or hostile forces. Given the obvious necessity of good aircrew parachute canopy control skills, what arguements have been made against providing training? Typically presented are issues of the hazards of real parachuting training to a highly (and very expensively trained) individual who hopefully will never actually need it, and fears about adding additional training time to an already busy schedule.

The Importance of teaching flight skills:

Teaching flight skills is important since skillful flight means landing safely, in the correct location. Unskillful flight is dangerous.

Past problems with Teaching flight skills:

The Ground schools could teach concepts, but couldn't train perceptual or motor skills. Extensive critical memorization increases anxieties and impedes rapid and accurate instinctive responses. So the training couldn't provide the skill proficiency nor meet the need for self confidence.

Radioed directions can guide first flights, but are rarely available and when they are available radios can fail.

Common errors committed by conventionally trained parachutists included, Failure to assess and quickly react correctly to equipment malfunctions. Disorientation due to abrupt control motions, not tracking other jumpers and target location. Delayed, missing elements, or wrong size approach pattern. Over focus on accuracy, not safety.

The Solution:

A low-cost computer-graphics simulator is now available from FXC that can dramatically increase the effectiveness of training. Flight simulation training, long accepted as an essential standard for military and commercial aircraft, is now being adopted by the professional parachuting communities. The same justifications that make aircraft simulation a success apply to parachute simulation: safety, availability, economy, and efficiency. The low-cost Parachute Flight Training Simulator has been developed and produced in quantity to provide flight training for smokejumper and military personnel, who fly round and ramair parachutes on a routine operational mission basis.

Professional parachute instructors provided input in the process of developing specifications for this low-cost simulation device. As a result, this simulator is optimized for teaching as well as practicing parachute flight concepts. The instructor evaluations of parachute simulator training note reduced training costs together with improved parachuting performance and safety. This has resulted in quantity production of these systems.

Teaching flight skills is now practical because the flight simulator allows lots of practice, encourages Student/Instructor dialog, teaches the safe handling of difficult situations, and provides unique teaching aids

Virtual Reality Flight Perceptions:

Wearing a VR head-mounted tracker and display, the trainee scans a richly detailed 3-D jump scene. This scene, which can be based on real mission terrain digital data maps, moves smoothly and accurately in response to parachute toggle inputs and head motions. This interactive scene motion provides the trainee with realistic perceptions of turning, drifting and maneuvering. The trainee can look overhead and react to simulated parachute malfunctions, and scan in any direction to avoid collisions and conduct operations with other recorded or networked jumpers.

Advantages of virtual reality parachute training flight simulator:

Proficiency requires experience. With this simulator a trainee completes many jumps in a short time. The instructor uses these repeated simulator jumps to focus on specific points. One of the most important skills a student must learn is judging the effect of wind on touch down location. The instructor may select from a variety of wind profiles. These provide each student with numerous and varied experiences in maneuvering to a desired touchdown spot in the presence of wind. Through these many experiences a student develops proficiency in handling winds.

Instruction is tailored to the student's needs.The instructor tailors the simulator's parameters to meet student needs with a wide range of situations. For example, the jumper's deployment altitude, location, and heading can all be defined.

Teaching Aids are included. The instructor may freeze the simulation at any time to discuss the progress of a jump, and then may continue or end the jump. The instructor records all jumps for instructor and trainee review using a playback option. The playback shows the motion as viewed by the trainee and includes a display of the trainee's toggle inputs. The simulator evaluates completed landings. These evaluations are displayed on the instructor's screen and can be printed to provide a report of a trainee's progress. Recent experience has shown that canopy control simulator training can occur simultaneously with standard recurrent suspended harness training, with little or no schedule impact, while providing a incentive which helps overcomes previous objections due to discomfort from the harness during training. One of the most important results of simulator training is the increase in aircrew's self-confidence in using their emergency parachute equipment when necessary. This decreases the natural tendency of personnel in an emergency situation to want to stay in an aircraft even beyond the point when procedures and good judgement would dictate otherwise. The low cost of this system is in sharp contrast to the enormous social, political, military, and financial consequences of aircrew losses.

How VR helps to teach plan and practice Parachute flight skills:

Equipment malfunction procedures. With a head mounted display and tracker, the jumper can observe the canopy overhead.

Canopy control skills. The VR headset produces an exciting immersive environment which, combined with special ground texture effects, creates a sensation of moving in a 3-D world and better landing cues due to ground rush from microtexture.

Collision avoidance. With a head mounted display and tracker, the jumper can keep track of other jumpers by scanning in all directions.

Mission preparation and rehearsal. Specific mission scenes can be created from digital map data and practiced with other recorded or networked jumpers.

Simulator Training Features that improve performance:

Different Scenes and Winds (Shears, Up/Down Drafts) Set Difficulty

Scenes Based on Mission Terrain Digital Maps for Planning and Rehearsal

Wind Display Options: Wind Sock, Smoke, Line, None

Alternative Landing Selections

Misspotting, Heading amp; Altitude at Start

Parachute Malfunctions Displayed Dynamically

Networked Jumpers for Collision Avoidance amp; Group Operations

Freeze, Continue, End, Repeat, Change Options

Automatic Scoring and Printout

Run Recording for Demonstrations

Jumper, Overhead, Map Views for Playback Review

VR equipment features:

Field of view and high display frame rate selected to eliminate simulator sickness. VR display and tracker can separate for use with actual flight helmet. VR visor allows view of harness, and cutaway and main and reserve handles.

Who uses the Virtual Reality Flight Training Simulator?

When the World is watching, training experts rely on virtual reality.

The Virtual Reality Parachute Flight Training Simulator was used by the United States Parachute Association and the US Army's elite Golden Knights team to train former President George Bush for his recent highly successful parachute jump inYuma, Arizona. Systems are also currently being used by United States Bureau of Land Management Smokejumpers, the United States Marine Corps, Aviation Physiology and Emergency Aircrew training centers.

Results reported:

The situation is reversed from the traditional method. Basic canopy control skills are functional on the first jump. Students need not focus on memorized descriptions. Instead they work on refining skills. Safety is improved reducing student and experienced jumpers' injuries.

Options:

FXC offers the Parachute Flight Training Simulator in a variety of configurations to meet specific training and budgetary requirements. All suggested system configurations provide capability to teach basic canopy control and can be readily enhanced to meet all customer's individual needs.

All systems can be used for mission planning and rehearsal by additional ground model options generated from Defense Mapping Agency digital terrain elevation data (DTED), digital feature analysis data (DFAD), and photographic imagery.

FXC recognizes the fact that many organizations have a need for specific custom configurations, or may have budgetary circumstances necessitating phased acquisition of system components. Minimum single monitor (combined student and instructor monitor) configurations are possible. Detailed information for ordering component options is available on request.

Pricing for site specific items will be dependent on the details of the particular site. Typical site specific items include: translated manuals, specific parachute and drop zone models, scene model creation tools, harness's for suspension per customer specification, validation for customer supplied hardware, and international delivery, installation, training, and power capability.

Computer manufacturers frequently change their hardware and software designs, often without changing model numbers. All FXC supplied equipment is tested for compatibility and operation. FXC can only support customer supplied equipment on a time and material charge basis.

All prices are quoted in US$, and FOB Origin and costs associated with custom modifications, export requirements, on-site installation and training services, etc. Are additional unless noted herein. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Teaches basic canopy flight skills, malfunction detection and emergency procedures, avoiding canopy collision with recorded jumpers. Suitable for training military operational parachutists and aircrew in emergency parachuting.

Includes:

* Simulation-compatible personal computer

* One 14" monitor for instructor's screen and one 20" monitor for student's screen

* Basic Parachute Flight Training Simulator software with 2 parachute models and

2 ground scene models chosen from standard library models

* Malfunctions software includes 6 standard malfunctions for the parachute models

* Control Force Loader System with digital interface card

* 3D graphics card

* VR video-type headset

* Joystick

* Printer to document student performance

* Uninterruptible Power Supply to protect computer hardware and software

* Parachute harness equipped with instrumented Emergency Cutaway and Reserve cables

* Frame for suspending student in harness and mounting controller

* Three days on-site training/assistance at FXC Corporation, Santa Ana, CA., U.S.A. with setup, training, simulator assembly installation, and operation, or 32 hours classroom time at Systems Technology, Inc., Hawthorne, California, USA, on the same topics. Documentation

and instruction in English. Does not include the cost of airfare, hotel and perdiem expenses.

Provides a customer with a complete ready-to-go training device and personnel trained in its operation. Customer provides a facility with a normal office environment with 10 feet of overhead clearance.

Canopy Control Training Simulator Methods:

Introductory Classroom Lecture

Instructor Demonstrates Concepts

Class Learns by Watching Student on Simulator

Start with Easy, Varied Terrain and Wind

Teach Planning Ahead for Smooth Control

Increase Terrain and Wind Difficulty

Find Problem Students on the Ground

Review Jump Problems on Simulator

Provide Experienced Jumpers Practice in Difficult Situations

President Bush's jump

Former President Bush Trains in Virtual Reality to Jump Again.

In World War Two, a young Lt. Bush made an emergency jump from his burning torpedo bomber. Things didn't go right. Eventually rescued by a submarine, Bush was injured and his crew of two died. For over fifty years, Bush kept secret a wish to be able to jump again, and get it right. At a Parachute Industry symposium in Houston, Bush finally found the right audience while being presented with a parachute similar to the one he had used before. The US Parachute Association and the US Army Golden Knights offered to make this happen. In pursuit of this goal, this team turned to FXC for the use of the unique virtual reality training device. With this equipment, the trainee reaches proficiency on the ground, before any actual jumps. One specific design goal had been to produce a device to train pilots for emergency parachute situations without the risk of injuries or fatalities that had occured during Bush's first jump. On Monday, March 24, 1997, Bush hung in the simulator's parachute harness for 45 minutes of intensive but enjoyable training with 4600+ jump-expert instructor Larry Pennington, who got a laugh with his comment; "Takeoffs are optional, landings are mandatory, Mr. President". When Larry was satisfied that the simulator had taught Bush a high level of parachuting skills, he capped the experience with a nostalgic change from ground scenes to an aircraft carrier. On Tuesday, Bush's skills were warmed up with refresher training before his highly successful actual parachute jump which culminated with a perfect tiptoe landing.

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