HOTAS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HOTAS, an abbreviation for hands on throttle-and-stick, is a style of aircraft cockpit Human-Machine Interaction "HMI" which allows the pilot to access the cockpit functions and fly the aircraft. This design style is seen on all modern US and European fighter aircraft, and on some Russian aircraft, where there is no direct access to the Flight Control System (FCS).
HOTAS is a shorthand term which refers to the pattern of controls in the modern fighter or interceptor cockpit. Having all switches on the stick and throttle allows the pilot to keep his "hands on throttle-and-stick", thus eliminating the need to take his eyes off the horizon and HUD. This should improve the pilot's situational awareness, improve his ability to change switch settings in turbulence and high acceleration maneuvers, and reduce his reaction time.
The concept has also been applied to the steering wheels of modern open-wheel racecars, like those used in Formula One and the Indy Racing League. The HOTAS system has also been adapted for game controllers used for flight simulators and in cars equipped with radio controls on the steering wheel. In the modern military aircraft cockpit the HOTAS concept is sometimes enhanced by the use of Direct Voice Input to produce the co-called "V-TAS" concept.
