OVERVIEW
This course aids understanding of the balance between workload and performance when the pilot is controlling an aircraft. Basics of flight dynamics and control are covered, along with the longitudinal and lateral-directional criteria that govern handling qualities. Recent additions include more real-world lessons learned, demonstration of analysis methods, flight test approaches and suggestions for specifications, including extension to unmanned aircraft. The emphasis is still on insight into the design, analysis and test processes.

MATERIALS: All course slides and additional references will be available for immediate download. Stream the 16 hours of video recordings anytime, 24/7. No part of these materials may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted, unless for course participants. All rights reserved.

CERTIFICATE: Receive an AIAA Course Completion Certificate upon viewing all course recordings. Please contact Lisa Le for a certificate.

COURSE FEES (Sign-In To Register) 
- AIAA Member Price: $895 USD
- Non-Member Price: $1095 USD
- AIAA Student Member Price: $495 USD

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OUTLINE

I. The definition and importance of flying/handling qualities and pilot opinion

II. The importance of requirements for cost-effective design and safety

III. Pilot rating scales: Cooper-Harper, PIO. Pitfalls with ratings, and their relation to safety

IV. Static stability, longitudinal axes, equations and transfer functions

V. Illustrate how dynamic derivatives are obtained

VI. Short- and long-period longitudinal modes: physical meaning, contributing factors

VII. The lateral-directional modes: spiral, roll, Dutch roll and coupling parameters

VIII. Pilot in the loop analysis

IX. Introduction to closed-loop control: advantages and pitfalls of fly-by-wire

X. Effects of control features: robustness, feedforwards, nonlinearities, good design principles

XI. Longitudinal short period and requirements

XII. Low Order Equivalent Systems: history, motivation, application, recent lessons

XIII. Other longitudinal criteria: bandwidth, Neal-Smith, RSmith, Nelson, Gibson

XIV. High-angle-of-attack criteria

XV. Conducting effective flight simulations and flight tests

XVI. Design for good handling qualities: CONDUIT

XVII. Lessons learned (from many example aircrafts)

INSTRUCTOR

Mr. John Hodgkinson’s deep handling qualities experience includes fighter/attack aircraft and transports at British Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, and NASA. He has published extensively on handling qualities and is author of the only available book on the subject. Chair emeritus, AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Technical Committee. AIAA Associate Fellow.

CLASSROOM HOURS / CEUs: 16 classroom hours / 1.6 CEU/PDH

CANCELATION POLICY: On-demand short course purchases are non-refundable.

CONTACT: Please contact Lisa Le or Customer Service if you have any questions about the course or group discounts (for 5+ individuals).

Frequently Asked Questions