Wind detection in a microcosm: Ship/aircraft environment sensors

One of the most demanding aspects of a Navy helicopter pilot´s job is landing his aircraft on the flight deck of a pitching, rolling, heaving and yawing ship. The complex airwake velocity field associated with the ship and aircraft interface directly affects the pilot´s ability to control the aircraft during takeoff, approach, hover, landing, and deck operations. Dynamic Interface (DI) testing is performed to define safe aircraft operational envelopes; however, not all conditions can be realized within the limited test period and asset/condition availability. In addition, exact wind conditions that affect the aircraft cannot be measured with existing wind sensors. These sensors measure wind in the ship´s mast area which does not represent the wind flow field encountered by the aircraft. A means of non-intrusively measuring the appropriate wind data is required. This paper presents an overview of the unique aspects of the ship/aircraft interface, the overall naval DI environment and the sensor requirements for measuring this complex environment