000007702 001__ 7702
000007702 005__ 20241024114709.0
000007702 02470 $$2doi$$a10.24868/issn.2515-818X.2020.061
000007702 035__ $$a4498414
000007702 037__ $$aGENERAL
000007702 245__ $$aEnabling rotary wing maritime aviation for HMS Queen Elizabeth – turning complexity into capability
000007702 269__ $$a2020-10-05
000007702 336__ $$aConference Proceedings
000007702 520__ $$aHMS Queen Elizabeth is the first of two new generation aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.Whilst the primary role of the Queen Elizabeth Class is to provide fixed wing carrier strike capability, it has a secondary role supporting amphibious operations using the full range of front line UK rotary-wing types. In order to derive Ship Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOL) to support this capability, Air Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC) utilised a combination of practical First of Class Flying Trials (FOCFT) and analytical approaches. Whilst a broad overview of the SHOL derivation process is presented, this paper focusses on the conduct of the FOCFT which, due to the size and complexity of the ship and limited time available in the ship’s programme, presented significant challenges requiring novel solutions. The Chinook HC Mk 5 and Merlin HM Mk 2 were selected as the trials aircraft as these were both highly relevant to the amphibious assault role and had previously been used to support analytical clearances to other UK types. Typically during SHOL testing, significant time may be spent in positioning the ship to achieve desirable meteorological conditions for test and manoeuvring to give specific relative winds. Further, the test aircraft may spend more than half its time in the circuit. Whenever possible, concurrent trials flying with one Merlin and one Chinook was undertaken to maximise the output from each atmospheric and relative wind condition, with each aircraft conducting multiple landings from a single circuit and approach. Co-ordinating and sequencing the aircraft and test conditions provided a significant challenge, particularly when reaching limiting conditions. Automated analysis techniques were developed and implemented to allow rapid assessment of landing data for each aircraft and operating spot to inform test planning between flights. In total 987 landing evolutions were conducted in little over 2 weeks, including operations by day and night to the maximum all up mass of both the Merlin and Chinook in conditions up to Sea State 5. Analytical methods were then utilised to provide clearances for Apache, Wildcat and recommendations for Helicopter Operations from Ships other Than Aircraft Carriers (HOSTACS) based on the FOCFT data.
000007702 542__ $$fCC-BY-4.0
000007702 6531_ $$aSHOL
000007702 6531_ $$aSAI
000007702 6531_ $$aHelicopter
000007702 6531_ $$aFlight Trials
000007702 6531_ $$aFlying Trials
000007702 6531_ $$aDeck Landing
000007702 7001_ $$aDyer, AL$$uAir Test and Evaluation Centre, QinetiQ, Boscombe Down
000007702 7001_ $$aWalsh, M$$uAir Test and Evaluation Centre, QinetiQ, Boscombe Down
000007702 7001_ $$aMcQuaid, S$$uAir Test and Evaluation Centre, QinetiQ, Boscombe Down
000007702 773__ $$tConference Proceedings of INEC
000007702 773__ $$jINEC 2020
000007702 789__ $$whttps://zenodo.org/record/4498414$$2URL$$eIsIdenticalTo
000007702 8564_ $$967e4df93-2525-45e0-b85d-f8a42b400434$$s2219566$$uhttps://library.imarest.org/record/7702/files/INEC_2020_Paper_97.pdf