LASER RADAR FOR INSTANTANEOUS FLIGHT CONTROL CORRECTION DURING CARRIER LANDINGS

PSR will develop the preliminary design for an eye safe laser radar system to assist with carrier landings. This laser radar system will measure local wind conditions, detect wind sheers along the glide slope, and measure deck positions, aspect and motion. This information will be processed and integrated into the existing automatic Carrier Landing System (ACLS) to provide instantaneous flight control correction during carrier landing. Through the existing ACLS interface, the laser radar data could be sued for improved "hands off" landing operation or to modify existing pilot landing cues (meedles). PSR's approach is to use an existing aircraft optical aperture for the laser radar's transceiver and off-the-shelp processign and laser technology, with the potential of using fiber optics so that the laser radar transmitter, receiver and/or processor can be remotely located within the aircraft. This also offers the crucial advantage of accessing existing laser assets (transmitters, processors, etc.) for landing support functions. This technological approach is compatible with installation of a wide variety of aircraft and should significantly enhance safety of carrier deck operations.