Flight Simulator Runway Visual Textural Cues for Landing

Abstract

The effect of visual textural patterns superimposed upon the runway touch-down zone area was studied as a potential factor in excessive vertical velocity at touchdown during flight simulation. Six simulated daytime runways with varying degrees of textural cues, as well as one night runway scene were used. The average vertical velocities at touchdown were higher in the simulator than comparable test landings in actual aircraft, but the textural cues did produce statistically significant differences in simulated vertical velocities at touchdown. Apparently the texture patterns did help to improve pilot performance, but they were not sufficient by themselves to completely solve the problem of excessive vertical velocities at touchdown.