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At least 1,351 records · Page 75

Development of advanced avionics systems applicable to terminal-configured vehicles

A technique to add the time constraint to the automatic descent feature of the existing L-1011 aircraft Flight Management System (FMS) was developed. Software modifications were incorporated in the FMS computer program and the results checked by lab simulation and on a series of eleven test flights. An arrival time dispersion (2 sigma) of 19 seconds was achieved. The 4 D descent technique can be integrated with the time-based metering method of air traffic control. Substantial reductions in delays at today's busy airports should result.

Heimbold, R. L.↗

NASA aviation safety reporting system

Knowledge of limitations of the Air Traffic Control system in conflict avoidance capabilities is discussed. Assumptions and expectations held by by airmen regarding the capabilities of the system are presented. Limitations related to communication are described and problems associated with visual approaches, airspace configurations, and airport layouts are discussed. A number of pilot and controller reports illustrative of three typical problem types: occurrences involving pilots who have limited experience; reports describing inflight calls for assistance; and flights in which pilots have declined to use available radar services are presented. Examples of Alert Bulletins and the FAA responses to them are included.

Source record↗

Cargo Logistics Airlift Systems Study (CLASS). Volume 5: Summary

Findings and conclusions derived during the study of freighter aircraft requirements to the year 2008 are summarized. These results represent the stepping off point for the much needed coordinated planning efforts by government agencies, the airlines, the users, and the aircraft manufacturers. The methodology utilized in the investigations is shown. The analysis of the current system encompassed evaluations of the past and current cargo markets and on sight surveys of airport and cargo terminals. The findings that resulted provided the basis for formulating the case study procedures, developing the future scenario, and developing the future cargo market demand.

Burby, R. J.↗

Carbon/graphite fiber risk analysis and assessment study: Assessment of risk to the Lockheed Model L-1011 commercial transport aircraft

The risk associated with the accidental release of carbon/graphite fibers (CF) from fires on commercial transport aircraft incorporating composite materials was assessed. Data are developed to evaluate the potential for CF damage to electrical and electronic equipment, assess the cost risk, and evaluate the hazard to continued operation. The subjects covered include identification of susceptible equipments, determination of infiltration transfer functions, analysis of airport operations, calculation of probabilities of equipment failures, assessment of the cost risk, and evaluation of the hazard to continued operation. The results show the risks associated with CF contamination are negligible through 1993.

Daniledes, J.↗

Effects of magnification and visual accommodation on aimpoint estimation in simulated landings with real and virtual image displays

Twenty professional pilots observed a computer-generated airport scene during simulated autopilot-coupled night landing approaches and at two points (20 sec and 10 sec before touchdown) judged whether the airplane would undershoot or overshoot the aimpoint. Visual accommodation was continuously measured using an automatic infrared optometer. Experimental variables included approach slope angle, display magnification, visual focus demand (using ophthalmic lenses), and presentation of the display as either a real (direct view) or a virtual (collimated) image. Aimpoint judgments shifted predictably with actual approach slope and display magnification. Both pilot judgments and measured accommodation interacted with focus demand with real-image displays but not with virtual-image displays. With either type of display, measured accommodation lagged far behind focus demand and was reliably less responsive to the virtual images. Pilot judgments shifted dramatically from an overwhelming perceived-overshoot bias 20 sec before touchdown to a reliable undershoot bias 10 sec later.

Randle, R. J.↗

Multirole cargo aircraft options and configurations

The paper discusses multirole cargo aircraft options and configurations. It was shown that derivatives of current wide-body aircraft would be economically attractive through 2008, but new dedicated airfreighters incorporating 1990 technology would offer little or no economic incentive. Option studies indicate that Mach 0.7 propfans would be economically attractive in trip cost, aircraft price, and airline ROI; spanloaders would be lower priced with higher ROI, but would have a relatively higher trip cost because of aerodynamic inefficiencies. Finally, air cushion landing gear configurations are identified as an option for avoiding runway constraints on airport accommodation of very large airfreighters.

Conner, D. W.↗

Prediction of unsuppressed jet engine exhaust noise in flight from static data

In order to assess the impact of aircraft noise on the environment in the vicinity of an airport, it is essential that a methodology be developed for predicting in-flight exhaust noise from static data. Such a methodology is presented in this paper and is compared with experimental data for several unsuppressed turbojet engines. For each engine, static data over a range of jet velocities are compared with the predicted jet mixing noise and shock-cell noise. The static engine noise over and above the jet and shock noises is identified as 'excess' noise. The excess noise data are then empirically correlated to smooth the spectral and directivity relations and account for variations in test conditions. This excess noise is then projected to flight based on the assumption that the only effects of flight are a Doppler frequency shift and a level change. The effects of flight on jet mixing noise and shock noise are computed by published NASA methods.

Stone, J. R.↗

Flight-Management Algorithm for Fuel-Conservative Descents

Federal Aviation Administration has developed an automated time-based metering form of air traffic control for arrivals into terminal area called local flow management/profile descent (LFM/PD). LFM/PD saves fuel by matching airplane arrival flow to airport acceptance rate through time-control computations and by allowing pilot to descend at his discretion from cruise altitude to metering fix in an idle-thrust, clean configuration (landing gear up, flaps zero, speed brakes retracted).

Knox, C. E.↗

NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System

A comprehensive study of near midair collisions in terminal airspace, derived from the ASRS database is presented. A selection of controller and pilot reports on airport perimeter security, unauthorized takeoffs and landings, and on winter operations is presented. A sampling of typical Alert Bulletins and their responses is presented.

Source record↗

Measuring weather for aviation safety in the 1980's

Requirements for an improved aviation weather system are defined and specifically include the need for (1) weather observations at all airports with instrument approaches, (2) more accurate and timely radar detection of weather elements hazardous to aviation, and (3) better methods of timely distribution of both pilot reports and ground weather data. The development of the discrete address beacon system data link, Doppler weather radar network, and various information processing techniques are described.

Wedan, R. W.↗

Some wake-related operational limitations of rotorcraft

Wind tunnel measurements show that the wake of a rotor, except at near hovering speeds, is not like that of a propeller. The wake is more like that of a wing except that, because of the slow speeds, the wake velocities may be much greater. The helicopter can produce a wake hazard to following light aircraft that is disproportionately great compared to an equivalent fixed wing aircraft. This hazard should be recognized by both pilots and airport controllers when operating in congested areas. Ground effect is generally counted as a blessing since it allows overloaded takeoffs; however, it also introduces additional operation problems. These problems include premature blade stall in hover, settling in forward transition, shuddering in approach to touchdown and complicatons with yaw control. Some of these problems were treated analytically in an approximate manner and reasonable experiment agreement was obtained. An awareness of these effects can prepare the user for their appearance and their consequences.

Heyson, H. H.↗

Transport jet aircraft noise abatement in foreign countries: Growth, structure, impact. Volume 1: Europe, July 1980

The development and implementation of aircraft noise control regulations in various European states are described. The countries include the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Federal Republic of Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Topics discussed include noise monitoring, airport curfews, land use planning, and the government structure for noise regulation.

Spencer, F. A.↗

Transport jet aircraft noise abatement in foreign countries: Growth, structure, impact. Volume 2: Pacific basin, August 1980

Noise control measures at the international airports of Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore were studied. Factors in noise control, such as government structure are examined. The increasing power of environmental agencies vis-a-vis aviation departments is noted. The following methods of dealing with aircraft noise are examined by type of control: noise at the source control; noise emmission controls, zoning, building codes, subsidies for relocation, insulation, loss in property values, and for TV, radio and telephone interference; and noise-related landing charges.

Spencer, F. A.↗

Operational considerations in utilization of microwave landing system approach and landing guidance

The characteristics of microwave landing system (MLS) equipment are reviewed and the flight performance of the terminal configured vehicle B-737 airplane during nearly five years of flight experience with MLS is summarized. Most of these flights involved curved, descending flight paths with automatic landings and final approaches as short as 0.44 n. mi. Possible uses to solve noise abatement problems with MLS equipment of varying degrees of complexity are discussed. It is concluded that altitude derived from MLS is superior to other sources near the airport traffic pattern.

White, W. F.↗

Antenna design and development for the microwave subsystem experiments for the terminal configured vehicle project

The feasibility of classifying an airport terminal area for multipath effects, i.e., fadeout potentials or limits of video resolution, is examined. Established transmission links in terminal areas were modeled for landing approaches and overflight patterns. A computer program to obtain signal strength based on a described flight path was written. The application of this model to evaluate the signal transmission obtained in an actual flight equipped with additional signal strength monitoring equipment is described. The actual and computed received signal are compared, and the feasibility of the computer simulation for predicting signal amplitude fluctuation is evaluated.

Becher, J.↗

The relationship between noise and annoyance around Orly

The extent to which annoyance estimated by an isopsophic index is a good forecaster for annoyance perceived near airport approaches was investigated. An index of sensed annoyance is constructed, and the relationship between the annoyance index and the isopsophic index is studied.

Francois, J.↗

Development and evaluation of a prototype in-flight instrument flight rules (IFR) procedures trainer

An in-flight instrument flight rules (IFR) procedures trainer capable of providing simulated indications of instrument flight in a typical general aviation aircraft independent of ground based navigation aids was developed. The IFR navaid related instruments and circuits from an ATC 610J table top simulator were installed in a Cessna 172 aircraft and connected to its electrical power and pitot static systems. The benefits expected from this hybridization concept include increased safety by reducing the number of general aviation aircraft conducting IFR training flights in congested terminal areas, and reduced fuel use and instruction costs by lessening the need to fly to and from navaid equipped airports and by increased efficiency of the required in-flight training. Technical feasibility was demonstrated and the operational feasibility of the concept was evaluated. Results indicated that the in-flight simulator is an effective training device for teaching IFR procedural skills.

Aaron, J. B., Jr.↗

Charged particle concepts for fog dispersion

Charged particle techniques hold promise for dispersing warm fog in the terminal area of commercial airports. This report focuses on features of the charged particle technique which require further study. The basic physical principles of the technique and the major verification experiments carried out in the past are described. The fundamentals of the nozzle operation are given. The nozzle characteristics and the theory of particle charging in the nozzle are discussed, including information from extensive literature on electrostatic precipitation relative to environmental pollution control and a description of some preliminary reported analyses on the jet characteristics and interaction with neighboring jets. The equation governing the transfer of water substances and of electrical charge is given together with a brief description of several semi-empirical, mathematical expressions necessary for the governing equations. The necessary ingredients of a field experiment to verify the system once a prototype is built are described.

Frost, W.↗