Automatic Category A Takeoff for H145 – Development and Flight Testing

Most multi-engine helicopters are certified to operate in Category A. This means that in the event of an engine failure during takeoff or landing, the helicopter can either land safely on the helipad or continue the takeoff and establish level flight. As part of an Airbus effort to improve flight safety, the Category A takeoff from helipads was automated and first certified on the H160 helicopter. Automatization warrants correct maintenance of the flight path during takeoff and ensures a timely initial response to engine failure. On the H145 helicopter, development of the automatic Category A takeoff included elevated helipads and was adapted to the already certified H145 Category A takeoff procedures. Several hundred automatic takeoffs were performed on the H145 to develop, fine-tune, and certify the automatic takeoff mode including failure and abuse cases. Flight tests confirmed excellent mode performance, reduction in pilot workload and gain in flight safety.