#7 Mitigation of airwake hazards

Mitigation of Airwake Hazards

Host institution

University of Liverpool (UK) – School of Engineering

Supervisors

Mark White

Co-tutoring institution

University of Glasgow (UK)

Start date

Strictly before end of May 2017

Duration

36 months

Gross salary

44.896,00 € per year

Work location

Mainly Liverpool (UK) and Glasgow (UK)

Objective

Helicopters are utilized in a wide range of operational environments especially when flown in support of Search and Rescue (SAR), Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and offshore roles. When flying these types of missions, there are a number of environmental hazards which may be present that may impact the safety of mission, in particular an inadvertent encounter with an airwake. Whilst there has been a significant effort in the fixed wing community e.g. WakeNet3and AVOSS to develop tools and strategies to reduce the threat posed by wake encounters, primarily through the use of ground based measurements, there has not been a significant corresponding activity in the helicopter community to address this problem. In terms of safety guidance from the regulatory authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority document CAP 764, “Policy and Guidelines on Wind Turbines” recognizes that whilst there have been no “Mandatory Occurrence Reports (MOR) or aircraft accident reports related to wind turbines in the UK” there has been “anecdotal reports of aircraft encounters with wind turbine wakes representing a wide variety of views as to the significance of the turbulence”. The document reports the following “Although research on wind turbine wakes has been carried out, the effects of these wakes on aircraft are not yet known”; this project undertake research to identify the effects and hazards.

There has been significant research in the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to produce ship airwake models which have been used to help predict ship-helicopter operation limits. The data from these calculations has to be pre-computed and is not currently available to a pilot to help them make a hazard assessment prior to committing to a landing. This project will develop techniques to enable the real-time visualisation of airwakes to improve pilot’s situational awareness and in-theatre hazard assessment using new display concepts.

In-flight measurements of wakes have been undertaken but have not been integrated into operational aircraft. For example, the DLR have developed in-flight wake measurement capability, focusing primarily on fixed wing operations. This project will examine the requirements for real-time wake measurements for rotorcraft operations and hazard assessments. Flight simulators will play an important role in improving pilot training in hazardous environments and new simulator fidelity requirements are needed to ensure that simulators provide positive training benefit. This project will develop the training requirements for instructors to demonstrate the piloting techniques needed for safe operations in these environments and also highlight the consequences of poor decision making. The research will develop new training and operating paradigms to improve rotorcraft safety in “turbulent” environments. The aim of this this research project is to develop and demonstrate the tools needed to provide a pilot with a real-time wake information capability.

The main activities in the research are as follows:
• Use existing airwake datasets developed to develop new methodologies for characterising the hazard presented by airwakes and assess the fidelity requirements for airwakes for use in piloted simulation activities;
• Through simulation, develop sensor models to inform the hardware design specifications for the real-time detection of wakes;
• Produce a synthetic display to aid the pilot’s ability to manage the risk during operations in turbulent environments;
• Design training scenarios to demonstrate the improved operational capability offered by the new system. This will contribute to increase pilot awareness and reduce pilot workload, two of the major causes of accidents.
• Develop new safety criteria for rotorcraft operations in “turbulent” environments.

Research profile

The researcher will be working at the University of Liverpool together with the University of Glasgow to obtain a double doctorate award. During the research, secondments are planned with Bristow Helicopters, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) to gain an insight into helicopter operational and regulatory challenges. The ESR will also engage with other ESRs as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network – NITROS.

Research field

• Helicopter Operations
• Hazard assessments
• Sensor and display modelling
• Simulation fidelity criteria
• Human factors
• Development of training requirements

Requirements

• First class degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related subject
• Applicants with a high-scoring 2:i (or equivalent) will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Good communication/proficiency in the English Language
• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to self-manage and work independently

Additional desirable requirements:
• Real-time piloted simulation experience
• Flight mechanics modelling
• Human Factors
• Computer programming – C++/Matlab/Simulink
• Very good planning/project management and research skills