Toward a unifying theory for aircraft handling qualities

A structural model of the human pilot that has been used to study a variety of problems in manual control tasks is applied to the study of aircraft handling qualities. A physical theory for handling qualities is reviewed and interpreted in terms of the model. The theory postulates that, in manual control tasks, rate-control activity on the part of the human is the sole determining factor in the generation of pilot opinion ratings. Using the structural model, rate-control activity is related to the power in a proprioceptive feedback signal proportional to vehicle output-rate due to control input. By appealing to single-axis tracking tasks, the model and theory are shown capable of demonstrating the manner in which three major determinants of aircraft handling qualities can effect pilot opinion ratings. A brief comparison with a handling qualities metric derived from the optimal control model is made.