SitAwS is a 3D-Laser scanning (LiDAR) System to support landing and take-off also under adverse weather compliant with VFR during day and edge times conditions. SitAwS warns the pilot/crew if one or more obstacles, like wires, poles, trees, etc. come closer to the H/C than a predefined distance.
SitAwS - Situational Awareness System
Poorly visible and thus overlooked obstacles in the final phase of a helicopter's landing approach pose a major safety risk that repeatedly causes accidents with material damage and personal injury, especially in degraded visibility (e.g., snow or fog). Take-off and landing in non-cooperative environments and in confined areas (e.g., in rescue operations) require active recognition of the environment. Especially SAR/HEMS, police and offshore operations are critical.
SitAwS is a 3D sensor-based Situational Awareness System to support landing and take-off also under adverse weather, compliant with VFR during day and edge times conditions. Furthermore, the sensor-based Situational Awareness System uses real-time sensor information as well as navigation data inputs to generate adequate and reliable information to the flight crew to provide a situational awareness view.
SitAwS warns the pilot/crew if one or more obstacles come closer to the H/C than a predefined distance. When decided by the pilot, a SitAwS supports in hover and vertical take-off and landing phases in addition to its defined flight procedures. A short aural alert indicates that an obstacle intrudes a predefined observation area around the helicopter. A separate SitAwS display, or a cockpit monitor, visualizes the obstacles for the pilot and H/C crew via a corresponding HMI. SitAwS does not increase the flight envelope (given e.g., by VFR limitations) but supports the H/C crew in detecting obstacles and potential threats especially in unknown or confined areas.
SitAwS is a product developed by LFT which:
- Increases the safety of helicopter operations
- Increases the awareness in adverse weather flights (e.g. rain, fog, etc.)
- Provides timely and accurately awareness of the situation around and ahead of the helicopter
SitAwS copes with the following main operational challenges:
- Degraded visual environments, such as zero-light conditions
- Obstacles in the flight path, such as power cables, telephone cable, poles, trees, and guy wires
- Unknown surface condition and obstacles in the landing zone
- Landing and take-off approach in a confined environment
