Mark in Idaho's picture

Interesting article if it wasn't so convoluted with too much information. How about some comments about how video game enthusiasts make better pilots of UAS's? They don't come with the pre-conditioning that comes with being a real pilot.
Not up to Flying Magazine's standards.

Shutterjocky's picture

The current state of the art in flight simulation seems to have been mostly ignored in the design of the flight control system. For fifty bucks, I can buy a copy of Austin Meyer's X-Plane, and experience a remarkable level of control realism, HUD displays, realistic control placement, and intuitive operation and aircraft "feel" - even using a single monitor!

Have a look on YouTube at the multi-monitor simulator stations (some even with MOTION!) that have been built in basements by simming enthusiasts, and it really makes one wonder how myopic government & industry can be, considering their virtually unlimited budgets.

Give Austin a call... http://www.x-plane.com

NASA Pilot's picture

For Mark in Idaho. I often hear that remark, "...video gamers can do this...". I answer with a qualified "Yes, IF". That is, IF the video gamer also posseses the collection of experience and knowledge, which might be called "airmanship", or "air sense", requiring intimate familiarity with the realm other requisite skills: navigation, airspace procedures and regulations, air traffic control coordination, communication protocols, weather interpretation and forecasting, systems operations, aircraft performance, emergency procedures, decision-making and judgement skills, crew resource management, ...the BIG picture on situational awareness. Our human senses contribute in many ways to completing this picture, and the designers of systems we're tasked to operate should account for the shortfalls that are unique to remotely-piloted aircraft. Flying is much more than eye-hand coordination.