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, heaving and yawing ship. The complex airwake velocity field associated with the ship and aircraft interface directly affects the pilot's ability to control the aircraft during takeoff, approach, hover, landing, and deck operations. Dynamic interface (DI) testing is performed to define safe aircraft operational envelopes: however, not all conditions can be realized within the limited test period and asset/condition availability. In addition, exact wind conditions that affect the aircraft cannot be measured with existing wind sensors. These sensors measure wind in the ship's mast area which does not represent the wind flow field encountered by the aircraft. A means of non-intrusively measuring the appropriate wind data is required. This paper presents an overview of the unique aspects of the ship/aircraft interface, the overall naval DI environment and the sensor requirements for measuring this complex environment.