Ride Quality Systems for Commuter Aircraft

The airline deregulation in 1978 and the resultant increase of commuter airline passengers, generated a great deal of effort toward making the commuter aircraft as efficient and comfortable as the larger major airliners. One area where the commuter lags far behind is in ride smoothness. This paper examines the state-of-the-art in active ride augmentation, specifically in terras of the feasibility of its application to commuter aircraft. A literature survey was done, and the principal results are presented here through discussion of three different RQAS designs and the advances in related technologies. Recommended follow-on research areas are discussed, and a selected commuter RQAS design configuration is presented.