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The Cranfield aircraft handling qualities rating scale: a multidimensional approach to the assessment of aircraft handling qualities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

D. Harris ,
J. Gautrey ,
K. Payne  and
R. Bailey
D. Harris
Affiliation:
College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK
J. Gautrey
Affiliation:
College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK
K. Payne
Affiliation:
College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK
R. Bailey
Affiliation:
College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK
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Abstract

The Cooper-Harper scale is currently the only well-established scale for assessing aircraft handling qualities. However, as a result of having a unidimensional format the Cooper-Harper scale lacks diagnostic power and has also been criticised for exhibiting poor reliability. The Cranfield Aircraft Handling Qualities, Rating Scale (CAHQRS) is a new, multidimensional rating scale using concepts from two established scales, the NASA-TLX workload scale and the Cooper-Harper scale. This paper provides an overview of the development of the CAHQRS and the results from a series of validation trials in an engineering flight simulator. An in-flight refuelling task and an approach and landing task using a range of control laws were used in these evaluations. The results showed that the CAHQRS had high positive correlations with the Cooper-Harper scale. However, the CAHQRS also demonstrated greater validity, diagnostic power and higher test/re-test reliability than the previous scale.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 104 , Issue 1034 , April 2000 , pp. 191 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2000 

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