FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-10/14

Title and Subtitle: An International Survey of Transport Airplane Pilots' Experiences and Perspectives of Lateral/Directional Control Events and Rudder Issues in Transport Airplanes (Rudder Survey)

Report Date: October 2010

Authors: Peterson LS, Haworth LA, Jones RC, Newman RL, McGuire RJ, Lambregts AA, McCloy T, Chidester TR

Abstract: Following the AA587 accident, the National Transportation Safety Board requested that the FAA explore certain elements of transport aircraft and rudder usage, including but not limited to awareness that sequential full, opposite-rudder inputs (rudder reversals), even at speeds below the design maneuvering speed, may result in structural loads that exceed those addressed by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 25, 25.1507.

The Transport Directorate initiated a Web-based survey developed in conjunction with the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute to survey the population of Transport Category Airplane Pilots' (TCAP) understanding of the use of rudder and their experiences with rudder, both as the pilot flying and as the pilot not flying.

The survey also explored TCAP's experiences with upset, including magnitude and recovery. The survey further explored TCAP's experience with rudder training, unusual attitude recovery training, and their perceptions of additional training needed. Additionally, the survey explored the issue of maneuvering speed and movement of rudder, aileron, and elevator controls. Survey results indicated:

1. Rudder is reported to be used more than the Rudder Survey Team expected;
2. Rudder is reported to be used or considered for use in ways not always trained and in ways not recommended by the manufacturers;
3. Erroneous and accidental inputs occur, and it is reasonable to believe that this will continue in the future;
4. Some respondents reported making pedal reversals (cyclic rudder-pedal commands);
5. Some respondents are not clear on appropriate use of rudder, and many felt they needed more training;
6. Wake vortex encounters were reported to be the most common initiator of upset; these were most likely to be reported in the approach phase; and
7. Respondents did not seem to be concerned with differences among control system designs across aircraft.

Given these findings, a set of recommendations is suggested to guide further research.

Key Words: Transport Airplane, Upset(s), Rudder, Lateral/Directional Control Events, Upset Recovery Training Aid, Unusual Attitude Recovery Training, Simulator Training, Maneuver Speed, Wake Vortex, Sequential Opposite Rudder Input, Rudder Reversal

No. of Pages: 45