The quality of the man/machine interface (MMI) optimizes the integration of the flight crew with the helicopter. It also provides dynamic assistance to the pilot, thereby reducing the risks to the aircraft and its passengers.

In terms of flight safety, the man/machine interface offers preventive functions in two different ways.
First of all, the status of the aircraft’s key components, such as the engine and the rotor, are constantly monitored, and the MMI alerts the crew to the “health” levels of the helicopter before any malfunction, failure and/or damage can occur.

Secondly, the MMI provides important flight information to the pilot, together with data about external events such as ground proximity, other aircraft, obstacles, and drift. Pilot work load is alleviated even further as the pilot can select the information that he or she wants displayed according to the type of mission being performed.

Improving Pilot Perception
To offer optimum guidance to the crew, the man/machine interface takes into account the physical and mental constraints the pilot is exposed to – such as risk of error, inattention, and stress.
Different warnings, messages and diagnoses improve pilot perception in any given situation so that the most appropriate decision can be made.
Finally, the man/machine interface checks that the action performed by the pilot corresponds to the decision that was taken.

“Helicopters like the NH90 or the EC225/EC725 have man/machine interfaces that are so sophisticated it was necessary to rank the information supplied to the crew,” explained Michel Godard, the Head of Man/Machine Interface Development at Eurocopter.
The pilot must be able to decide at any moment what visual and audio information he or she wants to receive, based on the operational phase or when preparing a mission. This helps to prevent the pilot from being distracted by non-vital information.

“Current Eurocopter aircraft are equipped with computer-driven man/machine interfaces that are the most powerful on the market.
The research that we are currently conducting aims to provide all the necessary data without pilots having to lower their eyes, thanks to optimized use of the senses (sight, sound, speech, touch) based on the action to be taken,” said Mr. Godard.
“Our research also takes into consideration the cost, space and weight limitations specific to the helicopter cockpit environment. The goal is to be able to offer these systems for both civil and military helicopters, and to extend their use to smaller aircraft.”