Development of Powered-Lift Airworthiness Standards as Applied to the AW609 Tiltrotor Certification Basis

The primary purpose of the paper is to describe the safety considerations used to define the airworthiness requirements incorporated into the AW609 certification basis and how this forms the basis for airworthiness standards for a new powered-lift category of aircraft. The paper will provide a general history of and the process used to determine the certification basis, and provide specific examples of how the regulations reflect safety requirements. Examples of how the AW609 plans to meet the requirements are described. Specific examples given in this paper include, but are not limited to, definition and compliance to specific safety requirements (TR.1309), considerations for the unique flight control system including a nacelle conversion control device, pilot training requirements, ditching, fuel reserves, Transport Category Performance (ability to safely take off and land after an engine failure), All-Engines-Inoperative (AEI) operations, including autorotation. Each of these items will be expanded and described.