WELCOME
Our team of analysts, engineers, and industry experts assess new approaches, concepts, and technologies to increase the capacity and safety of vertical lift while focusing on reducing the helicopter fatal accident rate.
WHAT WE DO
Our team advances the safety of rotorcraft by performing flight tests, simulations, modelling, cognitive assessments, market research, data analysis, software development, and engineering integration efforts for the following research programs:
- Helicopter Flight Data Monitoring (HFDM) for Aviation Safety Information Analysis & Sharing (ASIAS)
- Enhanced Helicopter Vision Systems (EHVS)
- Improved Helicopter Simulation Models
- Helicopter Acoustic Noise Modeling
- Night Vision Goggle-Lighting Compatibility
- Other related R&D efforts
OUR IMPACT
- Helicopter Metrics – Flight data can provide meaningful inputs to facilitate sound decision-making for operators. Metrics under initial consideration include those related to instances of loss of control (unstabilized approach, vortex ring state, loss of tail rotor effectiveness), controlled flight into terrain, proximity to obstacles/weather, and noise
- Safety Analysis – This research brings together Helicopter Subject Matter Experts (through the Helicopter Issue Analysis Team and industry working groups) to provide context on research and development efforts
- Advanced Techniques – The research supports the design and testing of new safety analysis tools via performance modeling and utilizing cockpit information to enhance current artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques
- Industry Outreach – Researchers conduct outreach events with the helicopter community to disseminate results and to promote the utilization of flight data monitoring
OUR CAPABILITIES
At the FAA’s WJHTC, we have a host of capabilities dedicated to research, development, and testing of technologies to advance helicopter safety. Our main laboratory capabilities consist of an S76 Helicopter (both as a former flight test platform and currently as a simulator), and a high-performance computing resource to run artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, and big data analysis tools to process rotorcraft safety data.
FAA S76 Helicopter (N38) {Former Flight Test Platform}
- ADS-B In/Out Equipped (1090ES)
- HFDM Devices – Appareo Vision 1000, L3 Light Data Recorder, Honeywell Skyconnect Tracker 3, Skytrac ISAT-200A, Stratus, Foreflight, EIT FODR, PWC EDC, HADRAS, Outerlink IRIS, Latitude iONode, HEIM Data Recorder, etc.
- Recording Cameras – 12 POE cameras, GoPros Hero 7 Blacks, Garmin VIRB’s
- Attitude & Heading Reference System/Inertial Navigation Unit – AHRS/IRU: LCR-100N, iLevil
- Enhanced Helicopter Vision System Devices
- Displays: Thales Topmax, Elbit SkyLens/SkyVis, SA-62/S OLED HGU-56, Saab AviGuide (Planned), Macroblue MB037W, Universal MFD-640, etc.
- EVS Sensors: MaxVis 1500/2300, Elbit HeliEVS, Hensoldt SferiSense 500 LIDAR, CMC 2700/2900, etc.
FAA S76-D Simulator
- Integrated with FAA’s WJHTC Simulation Labs
- Tailorable for various Weather Conditions
- Configurable Displays and integrated Electronic Flight Bags (i.e. Foreflight, LZControl, etc.)
- Features Eye-trackers/cameras
- HWD/HMD, SVS, EVS/CVS, NVG ready
