Interim MTE And Level 1 HQ Criteria Report

Abstract

The present report is the fifth deliverable of work package 1 of the ACT-TILT project. As an interim report in which the status and gaps identified while reviewing the relevant specifications for a Civil Tilt-rotor (CTR) are summarised, it is a first step towards a guideline for a CTR Level 1 Handling Qualities (HQ) Specification. Consequently, proposals are made for the quantitative and qualitative requirements to be taken into account. Special focus was set on reconsidering the extensive work conducted in the EU project RHILP with respect to Handling Qualities for Civil Tilt-rotors. Handling Qualities are considered critical in terms of passenger and crew safety and will therefore have a strong influence on the design process of a future Civil Tilt-rotor. The need for carefully tailored control laws to confer excellence in Handling Qualities is now well understood. Aircraft are more likely to possess good Handling Qualities if they are designed using comprehensive requirements criteria and standards than if they are not. Comprehensive in this context means criteria that are complete and appropriate in their coverage, substantiated by data and verifiable in flight test. Furthermore, such an aircraft will be certified according to civil aviation airworthiness regulations for which safety standards play a major role. Other important reasons for an early assessment of Handling Qualities are to help quantify the mission effectiveness and develop the requirements for the stability and control augmentation system.