Artificial Feel

The feedback that the pilot receives on the movement of control column or control stick with respect to the speed of the aircraft and associated stresses can be termed as feel.

When the feel is provided artificially to the pilot in the cockpit, it is known as artificial feel.

Aircraft that uses mechanical flight controls does not require artificial feel on the control stick as the pilot can feel the stresses directly. But, taking in consideration to the advancement of technology, especially the Fly-by-wire/Fly-by-optics systems, the need for artificial feel increases.

Without artificial feel, the pilots will have a tendency to give high inputs/unregulated movement of control surfaces.

Why to limit the movement of control surfaces?

– To reduce the load and stresses experienced by the control surface, thereby reducing the fatigue condition and increasing the life of the component/structure.

Artificial feel is dependent on:

• Deflection of control surfaces by pilot

• Speed of aircraft

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We can say, greater the speed of aircraft, greater is the resistance to the control stick movement and vice versa.

There are generally 5 types of artificial feel incorporated in present days. They are:

• 2 spring method

• Pneumatic

• Hydraulic

• V-cam (Hydraulic + Spring)

• Spring & V-cam