www.askhelios.com Space Telecoms Air Traffic Management Airports Rail Maritime Flight trials of the SBAS Offshore Approach Procedure ENC 2011 Tower Hill, London
May 22, 2015
www.askhelios.com
Space
Telecoms
Air Traffic Management
Airports
Rail
Maritime
Flight trials of the SBAS Offshore Approach Procedure
ENC 2011Tower Hill, London
Contents
• The SOAP concept
• Trials objectives
• The trials
• Results
• The way forward
• Conclusions
1
The SBAS Offshore Approach Procedure has been developed to improve safety in offshore instrument approaches
30° FAF
IAFMAP
Rig
Horizontal Profile
Vertical Profile
MAP
FAF IAF
4° or 6°
Offset distance, 0.25NM
Final Approach SegmentInitial Approach Segment
Arrival Segment
Level segment0.75NM
MSA, 1500ft50ft
Deck height
MDR, 0.5NM min
MDH, min 200ft, 300ft
during darkness
2 NM
Missed Approach Segment
30° FAF
IAFMAP
Rig
Horizontal Profile
Vertical Profile
MAP
FAF IAF
4° or 6°
Offset distance, 0.25NM
Final Approach SegmentInitial Approach Segment
Arrival Segment
Level segment0.75NM
MSA, 1500ft50ft
Deck height
MDR, 0.5NM min
MDH, min 200ft, 300ft
during darkness
2 NM
Missed Approach Segment
The SOAP concept
2
Previous studies, simulations and trials have all pointed to the benefits and viability of the concept
3
The SOAP concept
The concept has been matured sufficiently for it to be taken to flight trials
• Validate the performance of SOAP as being consistent with simulator results
• Expose the concept to a range of line pilots beyond just company test pilots and elicit feedback
• Trial a range of guidance modes for manual flight and ascertain which are most appropriate
• Test the performance of SOAP when integrated with new helideck lighting systems
• Validate the performance of SOAP as being consistent with simulator results
• Expose the concept to a range of line pilots beyond just company test pilots and elicit feedback
• Trial a range of guidance modes for manual flight and ascertain which are most appropriate
• Test the performance of SOAP when integrated with new helideck lighting systems
4
Trials objectives
Trial Objectives
January flight trials
November flight trials
2012 flight trials
Two (of three) sets of flight trials from Aberdeen have been completed
• Just over 14 hours of flying
• Approx. 20 approaches flown
• Approaches to Beatrice B platform in Moray Firth
• Guidance modes included:• Raw Guidance• Flight director• “Tunnels in the sky”
• Display of AIS contacts tested overflying Aberdeen Harbour
Flight trials
5
6
7
8
9
10
The initial results are promising with a number of areas for further investigation being identified
• Peaks in vertical FTE indicated need for pre-emption• Now addressed
• Accuracy of track keeping improved with each approach
• Some issues related to how the approach is flown
Results
11
Trial 1 - Vertical FTE
12
Results
13
Results
14
Results
15
Results
The flight crew have provided a range of feedback for further development of the concept
• AIS (ship) information was considered to be particularly useful
• Strong view that the solution should be flown autopilot coupled
• Some concerns about workload when flown manually• Use of aircraft upper modes• ILS-like tolerance possibly too constraining
• ‘Tunnels in the sky’ display considered intuitive, with a few areas for improvement identified
16
Results
The work to advance the SOAP concept is on-going…
• Additional flying already planned to trial SOAP approaches to helidecks equipped with CAAs new lighting standard
• Further refine the concept for edge cases:• Approaches to moving helidecks• Curved missed approaches with obstacle clearance
• Development of new RNAV based concept for intra-field shuttling in poor visibility
• Simulator development planned to interface directly to REAP box• Rapid prototyping and flying of new concepts
The way forward
17
In conclusion…
• The viability of the SOAP concept has been demonstrated through flight trials with a range of pilots
• The concept is performing as anticipated and feedback has been positive
• There are some issues wrapped up with how the flight crew train for, and fly the aircraft when autopilot coupling is not available
• Further activities are already planned to finalise and then extend the concept
18
Conclusions
www.askhelios.com
Space
Telecoms
Air Traffic Management
Airports
Rail
Maritime
Any questions?
Steve [email protected]