• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2024

The majority of civil aviation accidents are caused by human factors, and especially for rotary-wing aircraft, accidents often occur in situations where pilots unexpectedly or unintentionally enter into instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC). This research analyzed the error rates of rotary-wing aircraft pilots under low visibility conditions from various angles to gain insights into flight characteristics and to explore measures to reduce accidents in IIMC situations. The occurrence rate of errors by pilots under low visibility conditions was examined using a flight simulator equipped with motion, with 65 pilots participating in the experiment. Flight data obtained through the experiment were used to aggregate and analyze the number of errors under various conditions, such as reductions in flight visibility, the presence or absence of spatial disorientation, and the pilot's qualifications. The analysis revealed peculiarities in flight characteristics under various conditions, and significant differences were found in the rate of error occurrence according to the pilot's qualification level, possession of instrument flight rules (IFR) qualifications, and during different phases of flight. The results of this research are expected to contribute significantly to the prevention of aircraft accidents in IIMC situations by improving pilot education and training programs.