VLA Experimental Resource for Testing Innovative Configurations and Lightings (VERTICAL)

Stottler Henke is developing VERTICAL (VLA Experimental Resource for Testing Innovative Configurations And Lightings) for the US Navy; a test and design tool that can be used to support vertical takeoff and landing/rotorcraft ship VLA design and testing at the test team members’ work area. This is being accomplished by utilizing MS Flight Simulator, FSUIPC and Java. 12 Visual landing aids (VLAs) provide necessary support to the landing of aircraft on ships. For existing ship classes with fixed lighting systems, the ability to differentially adjust the intensity of drop lights, glide slope indicators, flood lights, and deck status lighting provides focus on different pilot cues during shipboard landing in a wide variety of meteorological conditions. Color is used to provide focus on different approach and landing cues in varying meteorological conditions. The drive is to allow for a wider envelope of operations for aircraft from ships. That is, it is desired to be able to safely operate VTOL aircraft in higher sea states and lower visibility conditions than is allowed today. In order to improve decision-making in this complex domain in an affordable manner, design and testing in simulated situations is critical.