EUROCAE ED-295 PDF

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This document presents a way to collect evidence to complement the Modified Handling Qualities Rating Method (MHQRM) presented in MOC VTOL.2135 in the EASA Means of Compliance with Special Condition VTOL [1]. The intention of the application of the MHQRM is to demonstrate compliance to the stability, manoeuvrability, controllability, hence Handling Qualities (HQs) requirements presented in the Special Condition Vertical Take-Off and Landing (SC VTOL) [2]. This approach is based on presenting a list of Flight Test Manoeuvres (FTM), complemented by Specific Flights (SpFI), to cover a wide variety of possible different Flight Conditions (FltC) of MHQRM and collect evidence to confirm acceptable levels of HQs.

It is foreseen that most of this evidence will be based on flight test activity. To supplement this activity, it is foreseen that simulation could in turn be used to collect further evidence for FltCs that present flight test safety challenge (e.g., failure condition that have a high severity (Catastrophic, Hazardous) or during HQ evaluation where it must be demonstrated that the aircraft is controllable) or that can't be practically replicated in flight (e.g., some failure cases where realistic fault injection is too complex and costly).

These tests would be performed using pilot-in-the-loop simulation. Standards for the qualification of simulation devices for this purpose are beyond the scope of this document. Such standards are currently being developed in WG-112 SG4 DP008.

VTOL aircraft considered in this document are aircraft which are intended to be operated in an urban environment close to obstacles and over populated areas including transport of passengers. The VTOL-capable aircraft considered in this document correspond to the “Category Enhanced” as defined in EASA “Special Condition for small-category VTOL aircraft” [2] .

For the assessment of HQs, it is assumed that there is a pilot in the loop, onboard the aircraft, with the relevant training enabling them to achieve the required level of precision to complete defined tasks. The evaluation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) is beyond the scope of this document. Additionally, requirements for vehicle control response types or flight control systems are also beyond the scope of this document.