ADS-33 Software Application Package (ASAP) for Naval Rotorcraft Handling Qualities Specification Requirements

The U.S. Army Aeronautical Design Standard for rotorcraft handling qualities (ADS-33E-PRF) and its methodologies to define handling qualities criteria have been accepted around the world both as a specification and as design guidance for rotorcraft handling qualities. There are gaps in the coverage of helicopter missions and criteria. These gaps consist of criteria and mission-task-elements related to maritime missions, very large cargo helicopters, handling with external loads, and handling qualities of unmanned aerial vehicles. The original authors of ADS-33E-PRF propose to develop criteria and MTEs to resolve these shortcomings. This work will also result in an ADS-33 Software Applications Package (ASAP). This software will provide a rapid comparison of a helicopter with the new ADS-33 criteria. The helicopter and flight control system may be defined with models in Simulink or Flightlab, or by using transfer function or state space representations. ASAP will show specification compliance graphically, define the response-type, and highlight any unusual aircraft characteristics that should be considered when deriving handling qualities criteria (such as rotor modes at low frequency). The version of ASAP resulting from this work will emphasize maritime missions, and will be upgradeable to include all missions.