Flight Validation and Flight Inspection of IFR Helicopter ProceduresInformation and Fact Sheet

A New Approach for Flight Validation and Flight InspectionThe ChallengeThe lack of a smooth process for introducing IFR helicopter procedures hampers helicopter operations in many coun-tries. While in special cases helicopters may use available IFR procedures designed for fixed wing aircraft (such as ILS), dedicated IFR procedures are clearly needed for ope-rations such as EMS, government, oil rig supply and other special mission users. Liability issues inherent to procedure design and publication, as well as high regulator (CAA) in-volvement, make IFR procedure publication a complex and often costly process. The same applies for the assessment of navigation performance and other safety-critical aspects such as database integrity, communication coverage and GPS performance during commissioning Flight Inspection and Flight Validation, which are prerequisites for publication of any IFR procedure according to ICAO requirements.This has been recognized at the European level, and im-plementation programs such as GSA EGNOS and SESAR PROuD have been established to accelerate the introduc-tion of LPV procedures, including those for helicopters, within Europe.

The Project Since the end of 2014, Switzerland has begun introducing a “low flight network” (LFN) in mountainous terrain using Point-in-Space (PinS) procedures and approaches to hospi-tals for a country-wide, all-weather, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). RNP 0.3 (Required Navigation Performance) and PinS procedures are typically Locali-zer/Vertical Performance (LPV), equivalent to APV/SBAS (Approach Procedures with Vertical guidance /Space Based Augmentation). The first RNP-AR procedures are planned to be introduced in the 2016/2017 time frame. A co-operation between the Swiss Air-Rescue Operator, Rega and FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH resulted in a project to specially equip an AgustaWestland AW109SP helicopter with an Automatic Flight Inspection System, the AD-AFIS-220H, which was completed and certified in late 2014. A second AW109SP will be equipped as a backup aircraft and deliver improved operational flexibility in 2016. Additional project stakeholders are the Swiss Air Navigation

Institute (ANI), skyguide, the Swiss Air Force (SAF), and the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA).

The PlatformThe AgustaWestland AW109SP Da Vinci helicopter used for Flight Validation has the following specifications:Helicopter data- MTOW 7,000 lbs - Max. speed: 168kts; max. range 932 km (503NM)- Retractable landing gear- IFR equipped, dual instrumentation including dual primary GNSS receivers and dual Genesys Aerosystems IDU- 450 EFIS/FMS

- RNP 0.3 performance, approach angle up to 9°- Quick Access Recorder with full ARINC 429 / RS-232 FMS data interface Flight inspection system (FIS) interfaces:- Separate VHF/UHF antenna interface- Separate L1/L2 GPS antenna- Quick locking stretcher base for Flight Inspection System installation- 800 W available powerCertification- Certified by Rega‘s engineering department under EASA authorisation.

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Flight Inspection System – the “HeliFIS”With the focus of Flight Inspection being on GNSS and SBAS performance, interference detection and commu-nication coverage assessment with low measurement uncertainty, a certified high end Flight Inspection System complying with both international and national standards is required. The HeliFIS provides essential features such as a highly accurate positioning system, corrections for antenna data and lever arms, and compensation for cable losses. It was decided to use the Aerodata AD-AFIS-220 Flight Inspection System, as installed in FCS’s King Air 350 Flight Inspection aircraft, in a special configurati-on for helicopter operations. The system records all necessary flight pa-rameters including attitude, position and acceleration at 10Hz and achieves a position accuracy of better than 0.2m, with angular uncertainties better than 0.1°, using a differential GPS, INU-supported hybrid truth system which is fully independent from primary avionics. The use of existing software reduces both the certification and training effort. A major challenge was to design a rack certified for both extremely high ‘g’ loads while using a quick-locking mechanical interface with the helicopter’s stretcher base unit for quick installation and removal to revert to the EMS role.

Flight Validation and Flight Inspection ProcessThe process, from initial procedure planning to final Flight Validation and Inspection requires highly effective project management. In addition to Jeppesen coding the new procedures into the pre-production ARINC NAV database and Genesys Aerosystems supplying the binary FMS data-base, the process involves ANI procedure designers, GNSS and communication coverage simulation experts, Rega’s Flight Validation pilots and the FCS Flight Inspection team. Following confirmation that the PinS and LPV procedures provide satisfactory and safe performance, and Flight Vali-dation and Inspection reports are issued, the final formality is publication of the procedure in the national AIP.

Future ApplicationsThe HeliFIS equipped AW109SP lends itself to a wide range of additional applications such as Flight Inspection of Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI), Helicopter Visual Segment Approach Lighting Systems (HALS) and Precision Approach RADAR (PAR) installations with high approach angles such as those found in mountainous terrain. Even the certification of flight guidance systems is within the scope of applications due to the extremely precise and independent position reference system. A further applica-tion is the coverage evaluation of a VHF emergency radio communications network operated by Rega and covering the whole of Switzerland.The combined experience of FCS Flight Inspection and Rega’s HEMS operation define a new standard for Flight In-spection and Flight Validation of helicopter IFR procedures.

Technical Data AD-AFIS-220H Helicopter Flight Inspection System

General • Data acquisition rate: 10Hz for all parameters• Online evaluation (standard); optional post flight evaluation • ASCII data available for all phases of flight.

Positioning Reference (Truth System) INS with carrier phase DGPS

GNSS / SBASThe HeliFIS is equipped with a GNSS/SBAS engineering receiver and a TSO approved aircraft GNSS/SBAS recei-ver. Error calculations are available for all positions.

FIS FMSThe HeliFIS is equipped with an internal, RF-leg capable FMS for error calculation against the reference flight path.

Communications

Parameter MeasurementUncertainty(2 sigma)

Parameter MeasurementUncertainty(2 sigma)

Latitude< ±0.2m three-

dimensional

Pitch angle 0.1˚

Longitude Roll angle 0.1˚

Altitude True heading 0.4˚

Note: Measurement uncertainty INS with Wide-Area DGPS (Omnistar VBS); normally used for en-route inspections is less than ±2.4m horizontal

Parameter Remark

Position Lat, Lon, Alt

Protection level Horizontal and vertical

FOM Horizontal and vertical

No. of visible / tracked Sats

Sat elevation and azimuth

Sat PRN and CNR

Sensor operational mode

DOP H, V, P, G

MT event For 2 SBAS SVs

RAIM faults

SBAS horizontal error

SBAS vertical error

Parameter Remark

TSE Crosstrack

NSE Crosstrack, alongtrack, absolute

Distance to next WP

In WP listTrue course to next WP

Vertical path angle

VHF/UHF Parameters

Measurement Uncertainty

Remarks

Power density / field strength

±3dB VHF and UHF COM bands

Audio Demodulation and recording

5/2016

FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbHHermann-Blenk-Straße 32 A38108 BraunschweigGermanyTel.: + 49 531 23777-0Fax: + 49 531 23777-99

E-Mail: info@flightcalibration.deWeb: www.flightcalibration.de www.fcs.aero A joint venture of DFS, skyguide and Austro Control