Virtual Reality Landings a Reality?

NASA is working with Gulfstream to test a “fly-by-cam” system in which the pilot of a supersonic business jet would be able to land an aircraft using a video feed from a high definition camera. According to The Register, the system is aimed at solving one of the vexing issues facing development of supersonic bizjets in that their design almost inevitably dictates a high angle of attack for landing and the long pointy nose of such aircraft obscures the forward view. Concorde designers solved the problem with an intensely complicated drooping nose but that is unlikely to be practical for business jet-sized aircraft. So, the researchers are trying to convince the FAA that cameras can be a replacement for the view out of a windshield and they’re inviting FAA pilots to test the theory for themselves.

NASA and Gulfstream have been flying an F-18 with a camera set up for the pilot in the back seat to use for landing. A safety pilot with an unimpeded view sits in the front but so far, he or she has been a passenger in the successful landing experiments. The FAA will reportedly get its chance to fly the system before the end of the year.