SH-60B HUMS experience using a satellite data link

Helicopter Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) have achieved greater acceptance in the user community over the past decade as an effective tool to enhance maintainability, reduce costs, and improve flight safety. As more HUMS are fielded on operational Army and Navy aircraft, operators and maintainers are becoming familiar with the flexibility and efficiencies this technology offers. This paper presents the uses and field experiences of a new HUMS capability termed the HUMS In-Flight Reporting System (HIRS). The HIRS provides interactive two-way communications directly with the HUMS for transmitting and querying maintenance and safety data while the aircraft is airborne. The system consists of commercial-off-the-chelf (COTS) satellite communications equipment and associated ground-based software. The HIRS has been installed and is flying onboard a Navy SH-60B helicopter for evaluation as part of the Joint Advanced Health and Usage Monitoring System (JAHUMS) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) Program. The concepts of operation (CONOPS) and as-flown operational scenarios illustrate this powerful real-time HUMS satellite data communications tool. Actual SH-60B flight data and operations are presented along with the ground station interface. The ground station includes realtime graphing of HUMS parameters, remote control of HUMS transmission mode, and automatic takeoff, landing, and exceedance notification via email. Another aspect is COTS product insertion into an open architecture HUMS process