Air Data Calibration Flight Test Campaign Optimization using CFD (SAE Paper 2022-01-0025)

Typical derivative aircraft share nose geometry and air data sensors installations and Static Source Error Correction (SSEC). So, those derivative designs are expected to present similar air data calibration residual errors. Although such results are somehow expected, the certification process requires evidence from flight tests and analyses. During the certification of a derivative model of a regional jet, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses have been conducted in order to evaluate the suitability of such tool for this problem. Both the basic and derivative models are assumed to share: (i) nose geometry; (ii) air data sensors positions and installation and (iii) Static Source Error Correction (SSEC). CFD simulations have been performed for different configurations and flight conditions.

Results showed similarity of air data calibration residuals between basic and derivative models for several configurations, demonstrating the suitability of a CFD tool for certification purposes.