Low-level plight capability of a future military transport aircraft based on commercial avionics

There is a need for a new military transport aircraft, which can cope with the operational requirements to improve the current airtransport forces of the European countries to satisfy tactical, logistic and future operations, at the beginning of the next century. Significant requirements, which relate to the avionics and mission systems, are for instance: low-level flight capability and board-autonomous approach and landing capability enabling adverse weather operations by day and night. This paper describes a system concept for low-level flight capability based on commercial avionics as used in AIRBUS aircraft. First, the essential functions and features of the flight control and flight guidance system are highlighted. Then, the additional functions and system elements related to controls/displays and operational modes, which are required for low-level night, are discussed. Finally, the first results of a demonstration and pilot evaluation performed in the flight simulator at Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus in Hamburg are presented. The investigations described in this paper have been performed within the context of technology studies, which are partially sponsored by the German Ministry of Defence.