Synopsis
Operational Aircraft Performance and Flight Test Practices is intended to serve as a single source reference, from the basic theory to practical cases, for certification flight testing and operational performance monitoring. It provides more real-life examples than are offered in traditional textbooks. To this end, the first part of every subject begins with the development of the basic performance equations based on a given set of assumptions. Following this, we deconstruct the maneuver being analyzed to validate its components (create small flight test packages to validate models and expected airplane behavior). Then, flight test considerations are discussed including required instrumentation, flight test risk and risk mitigation, data scatter, data reduction and presentation of the performance information to the flight crew. Several examples of flight test results help the reader better understand what they may be faced with when collecting data to create performance models.
There is a major focus on FAA 14 CFR Part 25 certification requirements as a basis for discussion since the format of this set of regulations is publicly available and clearly shows the basic items that go into demonstrating that an airplane is safe to operate. The general approach is also valid for certification under Part 23 or military specifications and, from time to time, the reader will encounter these additional requirements to show variance into airplane certified performance. Throughout the book, readers will find review of accidents and incidents that have occurred on various airplanes. It is not the purpose of this book to assign blame or liability, but rather to share experiences and lessons-learned to hopefully aid in the prevention of future accidents and incidents as well as changes in regulations to continue improving aviation safety.
CONTENTS
1 Atmosphere
2 Measuring Altitude
3 Measuring Airspeed
4 Altimetry Error
5 Weight and Balance
6 Lift and Stall
7 Stall Testing
8 Thrust and Drag Modeling
9 Flight Envelope
10 Cruise Performance and Flight Endurance
11 Cruise and Drag Performance Testing
12 Climb Performance
13 Climb Capability OEI
14 Turn Performance and Maneuver Margin
15 Takeoff Performance
16 Takeoff Performance Testing
17 Rejected Takeoff Performance
18 Rejected Takeoff Performance Testing and AFM Takeoff Field Length
19 Landing Performance
20 Landing Performance Testing and AFM
About the Author
Mario Asselin is currently Chairman of Asselin, Inc. and a FAA Flight Analyst DER (Design Engineering Representative) for Part 23 Small Airplanes and Part 25 Transport Category Airplanes. Mr. Asselin also holds concurrently the position of Engineering Fellow at Bombardier Aviation, a Transport Canada DAD (Design Approval Designee), Learjet ODA (Organization Designation Authorization) Unit Member (UM), and Chairman of the Safety Review Board at the Bombardier Flight Test Center. He is a member of the Manufacturers Flight Test Council (MFTC), of GAMA EPIC (Electric Propulsion and Innovation Committee), of the Manufacturers Icing Certification Group (MICG), and of the Electric Flight Test Committee. Prior to this, he was Director, Engineering, Operations, and Quality at the Bombardier Flight Test Center (BFTC) in Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Asselin also held a position of Senior Manager for Flight Sciences and Flight Test Engineering & Operations at Honda Aircraft Corporation and was Vice President Engineering at Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation, now known as Syberjet Aircraft. Mr. Asselin’s early career included 14 years in the Canadian Air Force and a short stay at CAE’s military division. Mr. Asselin has taught courses in aircraft performance, stability and control, and aerodynamics for the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. He has also taught at McGill University, École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS), Concordia University of Montreal, and Kansas University. He holds a Baccalaureate of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master of Applied Science (M.Sc.A.) in aerothermodynamics (aircraft icing) from École Polytechnique of Montreal.
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