Helicopter-Ship Qualification Testing: "SHOL-X" Test Methodology (signed)

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The goal of this book is to present a novel test methodology that can be used for optimizing cost and time efficiency of helicopter-ship qualification testing without reducing safety.  The main advantage of the “SHOL-X” test methodology is that the operator can perform early evaluation of safety limits for helicopters operating on ships in a wide range of in-service conditions.  In this way the qualification process is less dependent on the successful outcome of solely qualitative assessed test points during dedicated sea trials.  As such, the test methodology can be used to allow a well-considered assessment of the gap between the safe flight envelope, as determined by the helicopter manufacturer, and the user-defined operational flight envelope for a particular helicopter-ship combination.  Additionally, it allows initial assessment of the impact of design changes to both helicopter and/or ship after the established operational limitations, with regard to flight performance and control capability, have been released to service.

The innovative test methodology enables the construction of operational limitations by two different options.  The first and most common option is using dedicated sea trials in which the potential boundaries for the various take-off and landing procedures are validated.  The second option, is the construction of the operational limitations for Hot & Heavy conditions by desk-top analysis alone, i.e., above approximately 25 °C outside air temperature (Hot) with maximum weight of the helicopter (Heavy).  The construction of the operational limitations for Hot & Heavy conditions are based on the data gathered during shore-based hover trials and the flight test results for other referred weights (i.e. helicopter weight as a function of air density) on board the same ship type.  The construction of operational limitations by desk-top analysis alone is a novel approach, and can be seen as the most important achievement of this work.

Read the AHS book review in the Jan-Feb 2017 Vertiflite: http://vtol.org/news/revolutionary-new-vertiflite

Author: Alrik Hoencamp
Publisher: Aeromath
Weight: 15.5 ounces
Dimensions: 18 x 26 x 25 cm (7.1 x 10.2 x 9.8 inch)
Binding: Soft cover
ISBN: 978-94-6259-565-1