eFlight Journal 02-2020

e Innovation
The schematic drawing explains how the Galaxy system should always ensure optimal rescue at different
release heights and flight conditions.
Cirrus only compensated for a technical deficiency in the
non-standard stable rejection. Even if both statements
cannot be easily dismissed by, it should be noted that
many rescues in which pilots and passengers survived
did not compensate for technical defects, but rather pilot
errors such as entry into IFR conditions or loss of control
by the pilot over the machine. In any case, overall ballistic
rescue systems are now accepted as a safety plus for
general aviation aircraft. It is therefore only logical that
the rotary wing sector, which had long been denied this
option, is now interested in rescue systems.
In addition to the gyrocopters and helicopters, rescue
equipment specialists also focus on manned and unmanned
multicopters and other eVTOLS. Unmanned
drones will be used over inhabited areas in the future.
It must be avoided that these aircraft just fall from the
sky like a stone in the event of technical problems and
not only cause great damage to property, but also injure
people. All vertically ascending aircraft have the so-called
“Dead Men’s Curve”, the area in which forward travel or
altitude is not sufficient to ensure a safe emergency landing
by autorotation or gliding flight, but the altitude is already
too high than passive safety mechanisms such as
air bags or special seats could intercept an impact. As
with the drones, Junkers has been involved in the multicopters
from the start. A ballistic rescue system was already
planned for the Volocopter Prototype VC-200 and
implemented by Junkers. The tests on the ground were
successful - the development is being followed up with
other VTOL manufacturers. The prototype of the AutoflightX
also has a rescuer from Junkers on board.
GALAXY SRO
Galaxy SRO, the company from Liberec in the Czech Republic
that has been active in the area of rescue parachutes
since 1984, can already boast a whole series of
successful rescues in the UL area, like BRS and Junkers.
The team of company founder Milan Babovka have been
working on systems for helicopters and gyroplanes since
2011. With the Galaxy system, the reserve parachute is
fired to the side and the connecting line then slides up to
the rotor. So far, only a few systems have been installed
on gyroplanes or helicopters.
Since 2013, the Czechs have also been active with rescuers
for drones. “We have received a lot of feedback from
successful deployments on small drones and have been
able to continuously improve the systems,” said Galaxy
development engineer Martin Dorotka. Now, based on
the successful mini-multicopter systems, a larger version
has been developed that should safely bring eVTOL aircraft
up to 100 kg back to the ground: The Galaxy GBS
10M for drones with an MTOW of 65-100 kg is already in
frequent use.
However, Galaxy is not satisfied with just this: The modular
10M ROBUR multi-parachute assembly is intended
to achieve a safe opening even for heavier aircraft at
a flight height of 15 meters and for a speed range of 0
to 80 km/h. For this, several units with small parachutes
are deployed. With this multiple parachute system, the
number of parachutes is modularly increased depending
on the flight weight. The shield modules are to be fully
integrated into the wings and fuselage of the aircraft.
At speeds above 80 km/h there is a two-phase opening
42 e Flight Journal
2 / 2020