Seeing through the mist: an evaluation of an iteratively designed head-up display, using a simulated degraded visual environment, to facilitate rotary-wing pilot situation awareness and workload

Degraded visual conditions present a great challenge to rotary-wing aircraft. These conditions can obscure cues used to interpret speed, location and approach. With such cues obscured, pilots must rely on in-cockpit instrumentation, increasing workload, whilst reducing situation awareness. When operating within degraded visual conditions, pilots require easy access to flight critical information, presented in a way that minimises additional workload and maximises situation awareness. One technology that can be beneficial within such conditions is a head-up display (HUD). This study explores the impact of an iteratively designed HUD on pilots’ workload and situation awareness during the safety-critical descent and landing flight phases, during both clear and degraded visual conditions across a series of simulated trials. Results suggest that access to the HUD facilitated pilot awareness, whilst maintaining workload in all conditions. Results support the view that HUDS are beneficial to rotary-wing pilots, particularly in degraded visual environments.