Three Basics Of Design For Civil Certification

Control, stability, and flight envelope are three essential elements of civil helicopter certification. Flight control design dictates success or failure in each of these elements. Control, stability or flight envelope should not be considered individually as one cannot be changed without the likelihood of affecting the other two. Future designs will require modified regulatory standards. New designs should foster greater control, stability, and flight envelope through increased pilotdesigner interplay. Helicopter control system design has made great strides in its first 50 years, from initial balancing techniques and mechanical advantage to hydraulic actuators and cross axis control interconnects. These design features have increased control capabilities, reliability, and safety. The real payoff, however, has been in the cockpit. The major benefactor has been the pilot. They have given him something within his dynamic limits, within his sensitivity limits, and within his strength limits. They have given him control.