Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) certification of the MH-60S helicopter common cockpit

The US Navy Helicopter Master Plan detailed a type/model/series (T/M/S) reduction of current helicopter inventory from eight to two (ME-60R and MH-60S). The goal of this T/M/S reduction was procurement and operating cost reduction, improved warfighting capability, and reduction in manpower and infrastructure requirements. Cost reductions were facilitated with development and implementation of the common cockpit (CC), a fully integrated, software-driven, glass cockpit, which was installed in both helicopters. The CC employed mission specific software designed to enable efficient operation in all areas of the multi-mission spectrum. The CC was designed for the MH-60R/MH-60S aircraft as the interface for all aircraft mission equipment. Each of the unique mission sets was integrated through a network interface. There were four network tiers: the flight avionics segment (FAS), the mission avionics segment (MAS), the stores/self-defense avionics segment (SAS), and the mission support segment (MSS). Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) competency AIR-4.0P was responsible for the issuance of all Naval aircraft flight clearances. As the NM-60S CC was equipped with a fully integrated, software-driven system, a means of achieving an IFR/IMC clearance was required. A four phased approach to obtaining an instrument flight regulations/instrument meteorological conditions (IFR/IMC) flight clearance was developed. This phased approach used a combination of FAA and Navy processes. The phases included laboratory, ground and flight evaluations of a fixed aircraft software/hardware configuration. All avionics hardware and software were evaluated for functionality, latency and integration. Phases I, II, and III were comprehensive qualification tests that were conducted during Navy Developmental Testing (DT-IIA). Phase IV was specific to the IFR/IMC clearance and is the focus of this paper. Technical challenges including unbalanced aircraft pitot static system, mismatched airspeed and altitude display time constants, and operator system interface (OSI) software problems were identified and corrected during the certification test. Successful completion of the IMC certification has resulted in fleet wide clearance for the MH-60S to operate in IFR/IMC.