A theoretical study of height control in flight close to the ground as affected by elevator lift and cockpit position

Abstract

During the final landing approach pilots are often observed to attempt tight control of flight path by coarse elevator usage. It is shown by theoretical analysis that this form of control is inherently conducive to instability and that adverse elevator lift is detrimental in this situation. However, if the pilot is located in a cockpit far forward of the centre of gravity of the aircraft, he perceives 'false' motion cues which tend to reduce the possibility of this form of pilot-induced oscillation.