WP5: Operational Assessment

The main objective of WP5 is to study and evaluate the introduction of tilt-rotors in the European Air Traffic Management System.

Detailed objectives are:

  • To define a concept of use and possible scenarios for tilt-rotor operations in the context of European managed airspace;
  • To improve existing codes (EUROPA and TOP) to calculate performance data for the tilt-rotor to be used for normal and emergency procedures definition;
  • To define requirements for ATM systems (including ATC and avionics) induced by tilt-rotor operations;
  • To evaluate the proposed scenarios and procedures through human in the loop simulations;
  • To analyse safety levels and environment (noise) aspects of tilt-rotor operations.

These will be achieved through the activities of six tasks:

Task 5.1: Operational service and environment definition (month 1 - month 12)

The objective of this task is to define a concept of operation and possible scenarios for tilt-rotor applications in the context of the European Air Traffic Management System.

It includes two subtasks:

  • Subtask 5.1.1: Operational concept of use of the tilt rotor in the context of the European ATM system.
  • Subtask 5.1.2: Operational scenario for civil tilt-rotor operations

Task 5.2: ATC Procedures (month 1 - month 30)

The objectives of this task are:

  • To adapt and to validate steady and unsteady performance simulation codes (EUROPA and OPT) for the ERICA tilt-rotor and to establish steady performance data and charts for hover, level flight, climb and descent in the different modes and auto-rotation capabilities;
  • To establish and optimise the H-V diagram;
  • To study normal (AEO) and emergency (OEI) take-off and landing procedures for a clear airport, a restricted heliport and an elevated helideck;
  • To define approach and landing procedures for tilt-rotor based on the available results of the OPTIMAL Project.

The task is broken down into four subtasks:

  • Subtask 5.2.1: Code specification and software coordination.

Aiming to specify the code needed for the development of the different models foreseen for performance computation.

  • Subtask 5.2.2: Models development for tilt-rotor application.

Aiming to develop codes (EUROPA and TOP) in order to implement aerodynamic and inertial models, tilt-rotor pilot model and control system.

  • Subtask 5.2.3: Manoeuvring performance computations.

Aiming to evaluate and optimise steady and unsteady performances of the tilt-rotor in the three different modes of operation (helicopter, transition phase and aircraft) and different phases of flight for the ERICA tilt-rotor configuration.

  • Subtask 5.2.4: New ATM procedures for departure and approach

Aiming to define ATM procedures for departure and approach according to the results of the previous subtasks and the operational scenarios and concept of use for the tilt-rotor defined in task 5.1.

Task 5.3: ATM infrastructure (month 31 - month 39)

Submitted on Wed, 2006-12-06 20:19.

The objective of this task is to identify requirements for ATC and airborne systems related to the tilt-rotor applications. These requirements will be identified according to the operational scenario and concept of operation defined in task 5.1 and will use results of the piloted and ATC simulations performed in task 5.5.

Task 5.4: Safety Assessment (month 31 - month 45)

Knowing the peculiarity of the tilt-rotor under definition, this task aims to evaluate the impact such aircraft could have on the traditional airspace operations; in particular, the impact of the new procedures under development on the safety of the overall airspace operations.

Specific objectives are:

  • To identify possible safety critical scenarios related to the interactions between tilt-rotor and other traffic in different airspace class and types;
  • To identify possible hazards related to tilt-rotor operations;
  • To evaluate critical scenarios and hazards in terms of risk classification and analysis;
  • To identify and analyse safety bottlenecks and constraints affecting ATM operations;
  • To define safety objectives, safety requirements and safety recommendations.

The task is broken down into three subtasks:

  • Subtask 5.4.1: Hazard identification
  • Subtask 5.4.2: Preliminary hazard analysis.

Aiming to analyse the risks related to the hazards identified task 5.4.1.

  • Subtask 5.4.3: Hazard analysis.

This includes a consolidated analysis of all the identified hazards, using feedback from task 5.5.

Task 5.5: Evaluation and Simulation (month 21 - month 45)

The proposed ATC procedures and scenario, elaborated in the previous tasks will be validated in terms of feasibility, efficiency and operational acceptability in a pseudo real environment, performing Real Time Human-in-the-loop experiments with stand alone aircraft and integrated ATC/aircraft simulators.

For this, the aim of task 5.5 is threefold:

  • To develops appropriate test beds capable to test the defined ATM concepts and procedures;
  • To evaluate performances calculated in task 5.2;
  • To evaluate from an end user perspective (Air Traffic Controllers and Pilots) the applicability of the operational procedures designed for tilt-rotor applications.

The task is broken down into four subtasks:

  • Subtask 5.5.1: Evaluation plan development.

Aiming to define the detailed objectives of the evaluation to be carried out in the project.

  • Subtask 5.5.2: ATC/aircraft platform integration.

Aiming to identify the minimum requirements for validation platform(s), to define technical specifications for the integration of the different simulators, and to integrate the simulators/ models.

  • Subtask 5.5.3: Simulation trials definition and execution.
  • Subtask 5.5.4: Result analysis.

Aiming to provide information on the ATM scenarios and procedures for tilt-rotor applications.

Task 5.6 – External Noise Analysis (month 29 - month 45)

The objective of this task is to perform an evaluation of the noise impact due tilt-rotor operations based on new designed ATC procedures and new defined tilt-rotor performances.

The task includes two subtasks:

  • Subtask 5.6.1: Simplified noise model for tilt-rotor operations.

To evaluate the noise emitted by a tilt-rotor during a complete operation, including take off and landing.

  • Subtask 5.6.2: Noise evaluation of the impact tilt rotor operations.