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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-13-2004 Airport Commission Meeting Minutes Special IT MINUTES FINAL IOWA CITY AIRPORT COMMISSION THURSDAY,MAY 13, 2004 - 4:30 P.M. IOWA CITY AIRPORT-BUILDING H MEMBERS PRESENT: Randy Hartwig, John Krstenansky,Daniel Clay, John Staley, and Carl Williams MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Sue Dulek The meeting began at 4:31 p.m. The Commission met prior to its formal meeting to participate in a demonstration of a simulator by Professor Tom Schnell of the University of Iowa in Building H. Dennis Gordon welcomed the Commission to the hangar and introduced the concept of SOES, Spatial Orientation Enhancement System. Professor Schnell said that the idea behind SOES was to remove visual indicators from the flying process. For example, tactile cues connected to pilots' backs and thighs and auditory cues were used to allow the pilot to fly the plane accurately without relying on visual observations.The research was designed to assist Air Force pilots but should benefit general aviation pilots as well. Funding is provided by NASA, the Air Force, and Rockwell-Collins. Professor Schnell's research has four simulators. Two are in the hangar at the Airport and two are on University property. He then presented a short slide show providing additional information on SOES. Next week 7 high officials from the FAA, 2 from NASA, 2 from the Air Force, and 4 for Collins would be attending a meeting at the hangar. The purpose is to seek FAA input on the SOES research. Professor Schnell explained how he and his students built the simulator. He introduced some of his students and others involved in the research. Richard Rodemaker is from Delft University in the Netherlands,where pioneering research on spatial orientation has been going on for fourteen years. Alex Postnikov is with Rockwell Collins, and Jason Wenger is from the University of Iowa. He then pointed out the 19 computers that are necessary to operate the simulator and explained what each does. Professor Schnell then took the Commissioners into the simulator where all but Staley either piloted or co-piloted the simulator. The simulator is nearly identical in size to a Boeing 737-800 cockpit and simulates an approach and landing at the airport in Seattle. The Commissioners all commented on the "very real" experience of flying. They exited the simulator, and he demonstrated the second simulator. It is called GAWS, for General Aviation Work Station. It, too, is a NASA simulator. This is used to address the question of how many pixels are best for visual aids to pilots. The simulator can simulate a much higher number of pixels per square inch than are available on the market. By looking at different resolutions, different sizes, and different points of view, one can study how pilots fly 1 ' with different resolutions, different sizes, and different points of view. The simulator includes an eye movement system that measures the movement of pilots'eyes as different pixel configurations are simulated. The two simulators located on campus are a F-15 simulator and a"generic" simulator. The latter is primarily used to develop software that is then applied on the two simulators in the hangar. The Commissioners thanked Professor Schnell and Dennis Gordon. Clay inquired whether it would be possible to give a similar demonstration to the City Council. Professor Schnell responded that he would very much like to have the Council out to the hangar. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.