Preliminary Flight Evaluation of a Painted Diamond on a Runway for Visual Indication of Glide Slope

Gee, Shu W. and McCracken, Robert C. (1973) Preliminary Flight Evaluation of a Painted Diamond on a Runway for Visual Indication of Glide Slope. Technical Report NASA TM X-2849, Research Engineering, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

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Abstract

A diamond sized to appear equidimensional when viewed from a 3.6 degree glide slope was painted on the end of a small general aviation airport runway, and a series of flights was made to evaluate its usage as a piloting aid. Twenty pilots each flew five approaches and landings with the diamond and five without it. The pilots could detect and fly reasonably close to the glide slope projected by the diamond. The flight path oscillations that were recorded during approaches using the diamond were not significantly different from the oscillations that were recorded without the diamond: the difference that did exist could be attributed to converging on a known projected glide slope in one case, and flying an unknown, random glide slope in the other. The results indicated that the diamond would be effective as a means of intercepting and controlling a predetermined glide slope. Other advantages of the diamond were positive runway identification and greater aim point visibility. The major disadvantage was a tendency to overconcentrate on the diamond and consequently to neglect cockpit instruments and airport traffic.

EPrint Type:	NASA Technical Memorandum
Keywords:	Visual glide slope, Cessna 150, Diamond-projected glide slope
Subjects:	(01 - 09) Aeronautics: (03) Air Transportation And Safety
ID Code:	750
Deposited On:	24 Febuary 2006
Additional Information:	22 pages.