PMA209 2012 Core Avionics Master Plan - NAVAIR - U.S. Navy

Core Avionics Master Plan 2012 Appendix A-5Rotary wing aircraft are suffering significant losses in current Overseas ContingencyOperations. On a daily basis (almost on a per-mission basis), helicopters frequentlyencounter Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) conditions (also known as ‘brown-out”).The landing attitude and heavy disk loading of the CH-53 make it particularly prone tocreating DVE conditions. Its delivery mission means it can experience DVE severaltimes per mission. Over some periods in the last decade, more aircraft were damagedor lost due to reduced situational awareness in DVE conditions than were lost to enemyfire. Mishaps occur from CFITs, roll-overs, collisions with obstacles or collisions withother aircraft. Legacy platforms lack adequate attitude and hover drift indications, hovercapableautomatic flight controls, or sensors necessary to enable them to conductroutinely safe, controlled recoveries in DVE conditions. Aircrews currently compensatefor the conditions using pilot experience and minimum hover touchdown techniques.2. Advanced Research and Technology Development.DVE Situational Awareness (SA) Enhancement. (2011-2012) There are severaladvance research activities underway to explore technologies that could supportimproved SA in DVE scenarios. PMA261 (H-53 variants) is currently managing industrydemonstrations and reviews of prototype systems, analyzing them for weight, size,power requirements, versatility, effectiveness and cost. PMA209 is leading a SmallBusiness Innovative Research (SBIR) initiative that is testing the use of Flash LightDetection and Ranging (LIDAR or LADAR) to enable aircrew to see through airborneparticulates or to “see and remember” an environment so that a virtual representation(“synthetic vision”) can then be created for safe maneuvering. The Office of NavalResearch (ONR) is managing the Helicopter Product II effort in support of associatedFuture Naval Capabilities (FNCs) which is exploring fusion of LADAR and Passive Milli-Meter Wave (PMMW) technologies with terrain databases for similar objectives. Thesepursuits can also serve to achieve improvements in obstacle avoidance.3. Funded Enhancements and Potential Pursuits.Improved CFIT Warning (DTED Level II). (2013) Higher fidelity DTED informationis required to adequately protect platforms when they operate closer to the ground.DTED Level I is the basic medium resolution elevation data source for all militaryactivities and systems that require landform, slope, elevation, and/or gross terrainroughness in a digital format. The information content is approximately equivalent to thecontour information represented on a 1:250,000 scale map (100 m post spacing). DTEDLevel II (DTED II) is a higher resolution elevation data source that is equivalent to thecontour information represented on a 1: 50,000 scale map (30 m post spacing).Obstacle Avoidance (TAWS II). (2016) The TAWS CFIT function will be enhancedby implementing an obstacle database to warn pilots of possible impact with manmadeobstacles (i.e. towers). The algorithm will use the National Geospatial-IntelligenceAgency (NGA) data base to predict obstacles in the platforms flight path. When theTAWS II algorithm predicts a potential impact the pilot will receive an audio and visualwarning. TAWS II will use DTED II data; which, as described above, is a uniformgridded matrix of terrain elevation values that provides resolution equivalent to 30 mpost spacing. Modern processors will host the increased memory and processing powerrequired to enable TAWS II. The increased database fidelity is required for low leveloperations and improved obstacle avoidance.A-5 Flight Safety 4