OPERATIONAL MEASURES OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER LANDING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

Measures of final landing approach performance during day and night aircraft carrier recovery are analyzed and interpreted. Approximately 1,800 recoveries were recorded for experienced and inexperienced pilots across four aircraft carriers, six different types of jet aircraft, and various environmental conditions. The salient features of the findings are reviewed and evaluated for their operational implications, with special emphasis on night carrier recovery. Practical applications of the performance data to visual landing aid design and evaluation, pilot and landing signal officer training, and aviation safety are discussed. Empirical landing performance criteria are developed and used to predict the probability of landing success as a function of deviations in final approach performance. © 1969, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. All rights reserved.