NLR can help optimise the aerodynamics of a ship’s superstructure to reduce exhaust gas nuisance above the flight deck, ensuring a safer and more efficient operating environment. We can also support the integration of air operations early in the ship design phase, ensuring optimal operational capabilities on small vessels or frigates, while prioritising flight safety. Additionally, our expertise enables us to determine Ship-Helicopter Operational Limits (SHOL), providing valuable insights to maximise safety and performance.
NLR can support you with:
- Assessing the impact of ship superstructure design and ship dynamics on rotorcraft performance and pilot workload, leveraging over 40 years of experience.
- Defining ship-helicopter operational limitations (SHOLs) safely and accurately, with an approach that has been incorporated into the Netherlands military aviation regulations.
- Predicting SHOLs through ship wind tunnel testing, detailed shore-based low-speed flight trials with helicopters, and simulations.
- Validating SHOL predictions with sea-based flight trials using NLR instrumented helicopters and ships.
- Utilising piloted simulations to efficiently prepare flight test programs and analyse flight test results.
- Providing tools for ship designers to gain insight into air wake conditions and smoke dispersion at an early stage of preliminary design.
- Offering expertise in experimental tasks, including flight testing and simulation, to support the development of SHOLs for major military customers.
