DISPLAYING PROTOTYPE AIRCRAFT

DISPLAYING PROTOTYPE AIRCRAFTOslo, 8 FEB 2013

Dr. Dieter Reisinger

5th European Flight Test Safety Workshop in Salzburg, Austria, November 2011

Theme: “Displaying Prototype Aircraft – Risks and Preparation”

Dedicated speakers and audience

Background Information

Workshop 2011

Summarize Salzburg Workshop Results

Share LESSONS LEARNED

Motivate to take next steps (“Safety Initiatives”)

Goal of today´s presentation

GOAL

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/displayflying_norway





That certain issues in product demo flying are NOT limited to one organisation or the individual pilot

Rather, these issues are similar across our industry!

Early in our discussions an online survey ways launched and it became evident

Introduction

Challenges to Flight Test Demonstration Flying

Marketing/Sales Pressures interventions

Prototype development programme

Test pilot ego vs ‘Critical’ Peer Pressure vs Test Pilot ‘Image’.

Limited preparation time

Lack of continuation training

“Edge of Envelope–Operation”

Grob SPn

Prototype Grob SPn

SPn Accident

Gérard Guillaumaud (1964-2006)

Accident Statistics

„Airshow Accident Statistics – Some Cruel Facts“

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20110

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Airshow Accidents/Incidents 2002 to 2011

10 Year Average = 27 per annum!

Sample Size = 266 (Source: Des Barker)

(Source: Des Barker)

Airshow Organiser: Fatalities (1908 to 2010)1000 vs 1421 = 2421

Sample Size = 2421

0100200300400500600700800

FITLO

C MAC FIO

Whe

elsup

Grd Coll

Wea

ther

Pilot E

rror

Parach

utist

Pilot In

cap

Inadv

ert E

jec

Wing

walker

Perf In

j

Pax In

terfer

e

Pyro D

amMec

hStru

ct

Birdstr

ike FOD

Wak

e Vort

ex

Airfield

Wind

shea

r

Shot D

own S

AMUnk

n0

50

100

150

200

250228

165

117

15 11 11 8 5 3 2 2 1 1 1 1

132

54

146 4 1 3 1

24Acc

iden

ts a

nd In

cide

nts

Airshow Accident Categories: 1908 to 2011

71% Human Factors Related

Sample Size = 810

27% Non-Human Factors Related


Lesson #1

„DISPLAY AND DISPLAY ARE NOT ONE AND THE SAME!“

Foto: Werner HorvathIs this a product demonstration?

Source: Ricardo Traven

Lesson 1

Is this a product demonstration?

Source: Internet

Lesson 1




Lesson 1

Fligh#9/#10: Fly-by of Solar Impulse on 22.09.2010, Swiss Government in Bern

Barnstormers entertain and excite us with their daring flying skills (“inverted ribbon cut at night”)

Military teams are intended to motivate and recruit the public through disciplined flying

Domestic airshows (Flying Displays) are primarily for the aircraft to be enjoyed and viewed by the public

Product demonstrations are intended to show the unique capabilities of the aircraft to educated observers and potential customers


Lesson #1

Display and Display are not the same

Source: Dieter Thomas

Therefore, when planning your display – ask what will be the philosophy or the spirit of your display?

Lesson #1

Aerobatic Competition

• Demonstration of pilot’s skill• Pilots competition with aircraft of approx.

equal performanceMilitary Demonstration

• Armed Forces promotion• Demo to tax payer• Precision flying, team work• Mission effectiveness/flexibility

Aerospace Exhibition

• Aircraft Promotion• Performance• Manoeuvrability• New Technology (low noise level, etc.)

Accident Analysis shows:

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN WHEN PILOTS CROSS THE LINE!

STAY IN YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE UNLESS YOU ARE FULLY PREPARED!

Lesson #1

20

12 JUNE 1989MIKOYAN MiG-29PARIS, FRANCE

Lesson #2

„PRODUCT DEMO –

USE A FLIGHT TEST APPROACH!“

It is Team work:

Design office

Flight Test Engineer

Mechanics

Test Pilot

It is a step by step process

Computation/ Simulation

Analyse

FT Program: objectives vs. Time

Plan

A/C Tech check / Control

Fly

Monitor & Record

Debrief – Analyse- Document - Train

Lesson #2

IncreasingWeight

200 300 400 500 600

240120

360

480

600

50004000300020001000

20 40 60 80 10000

Airspeed(KCAS)

0 2 41 3 5

320280

240

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1

2

3

4

Altitude(FT)

Down Range Distance (FT)

Airspeed At Pull(KCAS)

2000 3000 4000 5000 60000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

270300 350

400

AirspeedAt

Altitude(KCAS)

Initial Airspeed (KCAS)

3k ft

5k ft

Altitude

4k ft

500

400

300

200

100

100 200 300 400 5000

0

Lesson #2


FT Approach to Demo Flying

Minimum but “stalled“

Optimum at 4g corner speed

(Dieter Thomas)

Profile DevelopmentAustralian International 2003 High Show

1 2

3 4

5

7 8

Square loop

Knife edge pass

180 Heading Reversal

(Pirouette)

Mini Pirouette

Wind Down Turn

High G Turn

Abrupt pull/push

Flat ObliqueReversal

Flat Oblique

Reversal Rudder roll

High AOA pass

6

Loaded roll

Half Cuban 8

Dirty roll


Solar Impulse: Paris Air Show 2011

No wind Display RWY 03

Lesson #3

THE DEMO PILOT – SELECT THE RIGHT STUFF

PublicPopulated areas

Error

GROUND

Commercial pressure

Technical problem

Time

WeatherConditions

Airshow box

AC /Engine/ Systems

Limitations

Impr

ovisa

tion

Stress

Fatigue

Pride

Thrill

Supervision

Discipline

Practice

Training

Mat

urity

Flight Test Experience

Skill

ObstaclesAltitude /Temp

Error

Source: Patrick Experton

Lesson #3

(„Experton´s Safety Bubble“)


Lesson #3

SkillExperience

PracticeTraining

Physical Fitness

SAFETY BALANCE

Unique capabilityPerformanceAgility

LimitationsTechnical defectsTechnical failure

ImprovisationClumsinessErrorEnvironmental pressure

ReliabilityRules-Limits AircraftPilot

Integrity

Mature

Discipline

Self confident

Humble

Interested for right reasons (”no place for undernourished egos!”)

Lesson #3

Source: Fredrik Müchler

Did I miss pilot skills? Of course youneed pilot skills but the above mentioned are a big part of that!

Five mistakes of (an honest) demo pilot:

I had allowed myself to fly a display I had not practised.

I was angry and not properly concentrated on what I was doing.

I brought myself into a competitive situation.

I had forced too many difficult manoeuvres into a far too tight schedule.

I flew an extra manoeuvre, not planned, in a rush and inaccurately.

Lesson #3

Lesson #4

„REPEATABILITY IS SAFETY!“

Your sequence must be repeatable over and over again, if not - practice more or lower your ambitions.

Everyone can make a strike in bowling but only the professional will make it over and over again –

Make sure you are a professional!

Lesson #4

Lesson #5

„DIFFICULT IS NOT NECESSARILY IMPRESSIVE!“

Difficult is not necessarily impressive!

HELICOPTER DEMOS: Don´t copy fixed-wing: they do wing-overs, helicopters do torque-turns

Lesson #5

What is special about this aircraft and how can I show off its qualities?

How will the manoeuvres will be seen from the crowd line?

Avoid maneuvers with complex entry parameter combinations - they lead to large quality (and safety margin) scatter

• Backflip variables: Height, aft stick input• ½ rev cuban 8 variables: Height, attitude, collective, pause

after roll, cyclic.. etc. etc.

If the constraints are too restrictive then don’t show the manoeuvre (Panther Loop: 135 to140kt, BO105 Loop: -30kt to +140kt)

Lesson #5

• Loop– Easy– Repeatable– Low structural loads– Air-air relevance

(escape)

• Barrel Roll– Often falsely chosen as first

aerobatic manoeuvre– Clumsy compared to fixed-

wing• “Like an old lady falling down

stairs”– Most scatter of results– High structural loads

• Rotor head change !!

Lesson #5

• Back Flip– Easy– Spectacular– Repeatable– Low structural loads

• Wing Over and Rev Half Cuban 8– Seems simple

• “Everyone can do one”– Energy absolutely critical– Many accidents e.g. Lynx

Poland

Lesson #5

Summary – Lessons Learned

Lesson #1 „Display and Display are not one and the same! –

NEVER CROSS THE LINE!“

Lesson #2 „Product Demo – Use A Flight Test Approach!“

Lesson #3 „You need the right stuff“

Lesson #4 „Repeatability is safety!“

Lesson #5 „Difficult is not necessarily impressive“

PROPOSE THREE SAFETY INITIATIVES

Next Steps - Safety Initiatives

1 „Create an Air Display Flying Handbook for Product Demonstration Flying“

Safety Initiative #1

Share and conserve knowledge for future generations – test pilots by definition not literate display pilots!

Draft version presently reviewed by task force

Approval required


What guidelines should the demonstration pilot consider in best exhibiting the air vehicle to a prospective customer?

What attributes are required to be a successful flight test demonstration pilot?

What are the requirements for the selection of demonstration pilots?

What are the demonstration pilot´s responsibilities toward the company?

What are the roles and responsibilities of management?


2 „Create an Accident and Incident Database“



Would you be willing to share demonstration incidents?

NO

YES

1. Where should such a database be hosted?

2. Who should be analyzing accidents and incidents?

3. Which taxonomy should be used?

4. What should be the goal of doing that work?



3 „Keep an eye on this topic in future workshops!“

Summary

Safety Initiative #1: Create an Air Display Flying Handbook for Product Demo Flying!

Safety Initiative #2: Launch an Incident Data Base!

Safety Initiative #3 Keep an eye on this topic in future workshops!


• Train/Rehearse/Practice• Fly the demo as a test flight• Repeatability is safety• Don’t ignore the basic tricks• Understand the aircraft and limits• Know your limits• Stay fit for the task

Summary

Thank you to...

Wayne RobertsChristoph SchlettingDieter ThomasRicardo TravenAndrew WarnerChris Worning

...and to all workshop participants, and

... the Salzburg Speakers:Des BarkerDave CarbaughPatrick ExpertonTerry LutzFredrik MüchlerTore Reimers

...the ladies in the SETP Office!

Thank you to all the Salzburg Speakers

Des BarkerDave CarbaughPatrick ExpertonTerry LutzTore ReimersWayne RobertsChristoph SchlettingDieter ThomasRicardo TravenAndrew WarnerChris Worning ...and to all workshop participants

Thank you to all the Salzburg Speakers

Des BarkerDave CarbaughPatrick ExpertonTerry LutzTore ReimersWayne RobertsChristoph SchlettingDieter ThomasRicardo TravenAndrew WarnerChris Worning ...and to all workshop participants

BACKUP SLIDES

Dr. Dieter Reisinger

After graduation from University of the Armed Forces, Dr. Reisinger received Test Pilot training at NTPS. Worked in the Cockpit Development Taskforce on the FD728 program

Currently an airline pilot on Boeing 767

More than 9000 hours in 70 different types of aircraft and helicopters

Chairman of IATA Accident Classification Task Force

Chairman of STAR Alliance Safety Group

Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) Vice President for Austria

Lecturer at University Graz, Belgrade and Beijing

Accidents by Country

SETP European Safety Workshop November 2011

UK USA

France

German

y

South Afric

a

Romania

UAE

Belgium

Russia

Argentina

Canad

aIndia

Irelan

dIta

lyKorea

Sweden

Serbia

05

10152025

USA UK

South Afric

a

Canad

aFra

nce

Australi

a

New Zea..

.

German

y

Belgium

IndiaIta

ly

Slova

kia

Argentina

Russia

Netherl...China

Romania

Korea

Irelan

d0

50100150200250300350

Test Pilots

Display Pilots

Source: Des Barker

Lesson 6

Accident Statistics – Test Pilots

1. Test pilots more susceptible to Flight Into Terrain:

43% vs 28%.

2. Test pilots less susceptible to Loss of Control:

10% vs 20%.

3. Test pilots less susceptible to Midair collisions:

2% vs 14%.

4. Mechanical failure essentially equal:

15% vs 16%.

5. Test pilots suffered more structural failures:

16% vs vs 7%.(Source: Des Barker)

Accident Statistics - Test Pilots?

Accidents by Manoeuver Category – data indicates that test pilots are more successful in flying precise manouevers

Test Pilots Display Pilots

Vertical 26% 39%

Rolling 15% 29%

Turning 4% 9%

Flybys 12% 12%


Challenges to Flight Test Demonstration Flying

1. Disrespecting the ‘energy gate’. (LOC + FIT)2. Sloppy attitude control. (FIT)3. Impromptu, ‘gap filling’ unpracticed sequences/displays.4. Loss of visual during formation flying.5. Ignoring the insidious effects of DENSITY ALTITUDE.6. Disregarding weather ie cloudbase, wind, turbulence effects.7. Disregarding the structural limitations of the aircraft.8. Disregarding the placarded flight restrictions of the aircraft.9. Disregarding waiver height limitations.10. Disregarding minimum spectator enclosure distance.11. Disregarding positive critique from peer group.

Flight Test Demo Considerations

• What are the demonstration pilot’s responsibilities to the prospective buyer’s team and pilots, briefings, and reporting?

• What are typically the focus areas for aircraft manufacturers when developing their marketing strategies through product demonstrations?

• Test pilots involved in product demonstration flights need to regularly revisit the safety elements governing the objectives, sequence design and risk management involved.

• What are the threats to test pilot demonstration flights?

Online Survey

„Lets Do a Demo-Flying Online Survey“

• One group was tasked with the developement of questionnaire for an online-survey

1. What guidelines should the demonstration pilot consider in best exhibiting the air vehicle to a prospective customer?

2. What are the requirements for the selection of demonstration pilots?

3. What are the guidelines regarding the target audience?

4. What are the demonstration pilot’s responsibilities toward the company?

5. What are the roles and responsibilities of management?

Online Survey

What type of company/organisation are you working for?

Military

Airline

Airshow Circus

Other (specify)

Other

Aerobatic Comp.

Manufacturer GA

Manufacturer, Military

Online Survey

Safety-Initiative: QuestionnaireOnline Survey

Online Survey

YES

NO

Do you perform sensitivity studies on individual manoeuvers to determine entry/exit gates, taking into account the specific environmental conditions at the display airfields?

Online Survey

DISPLAYING PROTOTYPE AIRCRAFT

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