Page 29 - Volume 15 Number 10

In short, it was the most complete briefing I had ever received. It was at this point in the morning that I realized they thought I was a real pilot. This was going to be interesting.The actual flight, flown in real time, included the TEB 6 departure, a substantial re-route, a hold on the MTN approach due to deteriorating weather, and a circle-to-land after an RNAV approach to circling minimums. At multiple points during the flight, I was asked to press the stress meter. Sometimes it was a one. Often, much higher numbers. All the while, my exact eye movements were recorded. Just where was I looking? For how long? Pretty cool stuff. But exactly where I was looking was the last thing on my mind. I was just trying not to damage the simulator.Very early in the flight it became apparent that I was looking in some strange direction. The researchers couldn’t figure it out. At the conclusion of the leg they asked, “What were you looking at?”“My iPad,” I answered. “It has all the approach plates on it.” Oops. Everything ground to a halt while the technicians hovered in a small group. No one had thought that a pilot would stare in his lap as much as I did. A brief time-out followed while a camera was realigned. Now, there was no place to hide.After lunch I flew from KMTN to KHSP (Hot Springs, Va.), had an immediate descent for conflicting traffic, assisted a “lost” pilot on the center frequency, executed a missed approach on the ILS at minimums due to an aircraft on the runway and finished with a vector for a final ILS. I was exhausted.Well StudiedBetween breaks and lunch, I spent almost six hours in the simulator. Then we commenced a 1.5 hour debrief. It was a fascinating day. I learned a lot about myself and how I cope with challenges andOCTOBER 2011stress. I realized I wasn’t so good at programming a full re-route in the G1000 system while flying in an unfamiliar part of the United States. And hopefully, the researchers got some good data points for their study.Dr. Burian, a pilot and owner of a Rans S7S, commented that I was the best pilot they had seen in the study, and then reminded me that I was also the only pilot seen so far. So much for NASA humor.The first report they are working on right now, dealing with performance and energy management during the approach and landing phase, will be finalized soon. Stay tuned for some fascinating details.Compared to my day in the simulator, the short flight back home was inc•redibly uneventful. But I have to get one of those cool stress meters! T&TTWIN & TURBINE • 27