Pilot’s Eyes-Out Capability with a Haptic Torque Protection During Helicopter Takeoff

Tactile limit cueing with active inceptors can reduce limit exceedances and workload. The often-stated assumption that it would enable the pilots to look more outside and less at the instruments has not been verified yet. In a simulator study, the pilots’ gaze during a high-performance takeoff maneuver with and without a haptic torque protection system was now measured. It confirmed the assumption. Also, as expected, the pilots’ workload was lower and the accuracy of limit tracking improved with the haptic torque protection system.