WIND DETECTION IN A MICROCOSM - SHIP AIRCRAFT ENVIRONMENT SENSORS/

One of the most demanding aspects of a Navy helicopter pilot's job is landing his aircraft on the flight deck of a pitching, rolling, heavin g and yawing ship. The complex airwake velocity field associated with the ship and aircraft interface directly affects the pilot's ability t o control the aircraft during takeoff, approach, hover, landing, and d eck operations. Dynamic Interface (DI) testing is performed to define safe aircraft operational envelopes; however, not all conditions can b e realized within the limited test period and asset/condition availabi lity. In addition, exact wind conditions that affect the aircraft cann ot be measured with existing wind sensors. These sensors measure wind in the ship's mast area which does not represent the wind flow field e ncountered by the aircraft. A means of non-intrusively measuring the a ppropriate wind data is required. This paper presents an overview of t he unique aspects of the ship/aircraft interface, the overall naval DI environment and the sensor requirements for measuring this complex en vironment.