Improving Rotorcraft Flight Tests Safety and Efficiency with Real-Time Wind Mapping

Helicopter testing plays a critical role in ensuring their operational readiness, safety, and performance optimization. At Airbus Helicopters Flight Test Center in Donauwörth, procedures are conducted to validate helicopter performance and systems, involving maneuvers such as power reduction, recovery, and low altitude landing procedures. Traditionally, weather data for these tests was obtained from ground and tower measurements. However, this approach falls short in providing precise wind data within the helicopter’s vicinity. This paper presents efforts aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency, and performance evaluation by providing real time wind data at various altitudes proximate to helicopters during testing operations. To achieve this, the study explores different approaches, with particular focus on a commercially available ground wind LIDAR system. The system demonstrated promising results in providing wind speed data comparable to traditional cup anemometers, although limitations in wind measurement were noted. The findings underscore the potential of wind LIDAR to enhance the understanding of test conditions, mitigate risks associated with maneuvers, and facilitate post-test analysis for rotorcraft testing. Nevertheless, optimization of the LIDAR is necessary to improve reliability and further integration tests are needed to validate the system’s compatibility for real time use with current Flight Test Instrumentation.