Rotorcraft
German group to test adaptive landing system
Researchers at the German aerospace research institute (DLR) plan to flight-test a system next year intended to aid landing in confined areas.

Researchers at the German aerospace research institute (DLR) plan to flight-test a system next year intended to aid landing in confined areas. The system relies on sensor fusion and adapts to each pilot’s typical approach strategy. It should help improve the safety record for rescue operations at unprepared sites in poor visibility, research engineer Thorsten Strohmaier said during a presentation at the European Rotorcraft Forum.

According to German statistics, 70 percent of all requests for rescue helicopters come in bad weather conditions. Some 14 percent of accidents and incidents, in turn, can be attributed to bad weather. To combat poor visibility, the DLR system uses a TV camera, an infrared camera, a laser radar and a 3.5-GHz radar. The system fuses information from air data and GPS and integrates known obstacles and noise-restrictive areas.

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