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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

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Any questions?

Steve Leightonsteve.leighton@askhelios.com