1. IEEE Aerospace Conference 2007
PC Rapid Modification Tool for Aircraft Experimentation & Training for the MH-60S/MH-60R Helicopters
IEEE Aerospace Conference 2007
Presented by: Robert Richards, Ph.D.

2. MH-60S and MH-60R Displays
Both of these helicopters utilize Lockheed-Martin’s Common Cockpit design.
The Common Cockpit includes all the flight and mission instrumentation in both of the helicopters.
It enables both the pilot and co-pilot to share workload through dual flight and mission instrumentation.
The pilot and copilot each have two LCD screens: the Mission Display (MD) and the Flight Display (FD).
The pilots interact with these displays primarily through a set of bezel keys around each display and a keypad located in the center console.

3. OMIA and the MH-60S/MH-60R Helicopters
The US Navy's PMA-205 with Stottler Henke has developed and deployed a training tool for the US Navy’s new MH-60S and MH 60R helicopters.
The tool is the Operator Machine Interface Assistant (OMIA), an expandable, easily modifiable low-cost PC-hosted desktop crew trainer.
OMIA is currently in use for training at HSC-2, HSC-3 and HSM-41.
Both helicopters have been constantly evolving, so OMIA uses flexible, low-cost, rapid development methods.

4. The Keypad Contains: A set of fixed function keys (FFK),
A set of context-dependent programmable keys (PK),
A small joystick known as the “hook”.

5. OMIA Splash Screen
OMIA can teach both the Sierra and Romeo versions of the helicopter.
The user can select either the Sierra or Romeo helicopter.
They can select the pilot or co-pilot seat for the Sierra or the pilot, co-pilot, or sensor operator seat for the Romeo.
The user can select if they are flying solo, or if they are in a network configuration.
If in a network configuration, they select either server or client.
The MH-60S and MH-60R both use the Common Cockpit, but the helicopters have different capabilities and missions.
A programmable keyset (PK) supports the differences.
The software for the two platforms are not at the same version.
When OMIA starts, it asks which platform and seat it should emulate.

6. OMIA Mission Display (click to play in external player)

7. OMIA Flight Display

8. OMIA and MS Flight Simulator
Upon startup, OMIA silently searches for a running instance of MS FS using FSUIPC, and if found, the interface is automatically established.
If the interface is established, OMIA utilizes FSUIPC to get the wind heading, wind speed, ground speed, true heading, altitude, and latitude and longitude.
This information is used to provide correct readings for the OMIA interface that shows the user all of the above information. An update is performed once each second.

9. Mission Avionics System Trainer (MAST)

10. AOP Experimentation KeyBuilder Menu Builder Encapsulated Java Design
NMCI

11. KeyBuilder
KeyBuilder is used to modify / update the layers used by the Programmable Keyset.
The KeyBuilder Software allows a user of the OMIA system to adjust the layout of a common cockpit programmable keypad. There are eight different types of keys
Blank key.
Transparent Key. Shows the key on the underlying layer.
Menu Key. Brings up a menu.
Table Key. Brings up a table and a layer with keys for editing the table.
Layer Key. Navigates to a new layer.
Toggle Key. Toggles a system variable.
MultiStateToggle Key. Toggles between 2-12 items.
LinkedMenu Key. Brings up a menu and a new layer.
Video

12. KeyBuilder
The KeyBuilder Software allows a user of the OMIA system to adjust the layout of a common cockpit programmable keypad. There are eight different types of keys
Blank key.
Transparent Key. Shows the key on the underlying layer.
Menu Key. Brings up a menu.
Table Key. Brings up a table and a layer with keys for editing the table.
Layer Key. Navigates to a new layer.
Toggle Key. Toggles a system variable.
MultiStateToggle Key. Toggles between 2-12 items.
LinkedMenu Key. Brings up a menu and a new layer.

13. Example Menu & MenuBuilder

14. MenuBuilder
The MenuBuilder utility has been developed so non-programmers, by answering a series of questions, can build from scratch or modify present menus.
The MenuBuilder is not as evolved as the KeyBuilder so it is not as graphical.
Examples of these questions:
Please enter the key name
Please enter the class name
Please enter window name
Please enter number of list
The MenuBuilder utility has been developed so non-programmers, by answering a series of questions, can build from scratch or modify present menus.
The MenuBuilder is not as evolved as the KeyBuilder so it is not as graphical.
Examples of these questions: “Please enter the key name,” Please enter the class name,” Please enter window name,” “Please enter number of list.”

15. Results of Modifications to AOP – From PC to MAST

16. OMIA Client-Server Details

17. OMIA Java Implementation – Runs on NMCI

18. Seahawk Demo, Interior and Exterior (click to play in external player)

19. Summary
OMIA Provides
PC Rapid Modification Tool for Aircraft Experimentation
Training for the MH-60S/MH-60R Helicopters
OMIA – flexible, leveraging COTS, integrated with MS Flight Simulator and custom hardware
OMIA is constantly being enhanced to make customization easier.
Future enhancements include
FLIR & Armed Helo
OMIA is available at

20. Extra Slides

21. Simulator Overview

22. NB Integration Menu

23. OMIA Configuration Settings
OMIA can teach both the Sierra and Romeo versions of the helicopter.
The user can select either the Sierra or Romeo helicopter.
They can select the pilot or co-pilot seat for the Sierra or the pilot, co-pilot, or sensor operator seat for the Romeo.
The user can select if they are flying solo, or if they are in a network configuration.
If in a network configuration, they select either server or client.

24. Additional Hardware and the Mission and Flight Displays
If optional hardware is attached, OMIA and Windows discover it and works correctly with it automatically.
The simplest example is multiple monitors: the Mission Display and the Flight Display can be displayed on separate monitors, with one of the monitors also displaying the Center Console.
One or more of the screens can be a touch screen, as is done in the Mission Avionics System Trainer (MAST).
Additional Hardware and the Mission and Flight Displays
If optional hardware is attached, OMIA and Windows discover it and works correctly with it automatically.
The simplest example is multiple monitors: the Mission Display and the Flight Display can be displayed on separate monitors, with one of the monitors also displaying the Center Console.
One or more of the screens can be a touch screen, as is done in the Mission Avionics System Trainer (MAST).

25. Seahawk Demo, Interior and Exterior (click to play in PowerPoint)

26. Mission Display with FTP Menu

27. OMIA Mission Display (click to play in PowerPoint)

28. MAST
The MAST includes actual hardware in the Center Console that is exact aircraft hardware or a very close facsimile.
The MAST is a medium resolution trainer driven completely by OMIA software and MS FS software.
The MAST can be used for many different types of operations, including coordinated operations because the two seats can be used independently; or in conjunction so the pilot and co-pilot are flying the same mission.
The MAST includes actual hardware in the Center Console that is exact aircraft hardware or a very close facsimile.
The MAST is a medium resolution trainer driven completely by OMIA software and MS FS software.
The MAST can be used for many different types of operations, including coordinated operations because the two seats can be used independently; or in conjunction so the pilot and co-pilot are flying the same mission.

29. Summary
OMIA Provides
PC Rapid Modification Tool for Aircraft Experimentation
Training for the MH-60S/MH-60R Helicopters
The complexity and number of the sensors under control of the crew on the MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters pose a difficult training task for the Navy.
To meet this challenge the US Navy's PMA-205 in conjunction with Stottler Henke and various hardware vendors has developed and deployed OMIA, a flexible, low-cost PC-hosted desktop crew trainer.
OMIA is a flexible solution leveraging COTS solutions, designed for evolving needs and able to be integrated with MS Flight Simulator and custom hardware for enhanced functionality.
To learn more regarding the past, present and future of OMIA, please visit the project web page at