An Experimental Evaluation of Four Types of Altimeters Using Both Pilot and Enlisted Men Subjects

摘要

Eighteen pilots and seven Navy enlisted men participated in an evaluation of four altimeters: counter-pointer (CP), counter-drum-pointer (CDP), drum-pointer (DP), and three-pointer (3P). The experimental situation required the subjects to track a dot on a crt while reading altimeter settings suddenly presented by the opening of a shutter. Subjects operated a hand switch to close the shutter after reading the altitude presented. Measures were taken of the length of the exposure time and the accuracy of the reported altitude. The results indicated that for both pilots and enlisted men the CP and CDP altimeters yielded nearly identical exposure times, with the DP and 3P showing progressively longer times. Both groups made considerably more errors in reading the 3P than any of the other altimeters. On the basis of all the data obtained, the rankings of the altimeters, from best to worst, are: CP, CDP, DP, and 3P, with the difference between CP and CDP considered to be very slight. (Author)