Frazer-Nash has completed a six-month study into current
practice for determining safe conditions for ship air integration
(SAI) for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), on
behalf of Navy Command Headquarters.
A systems engineering approach was applied to the scientific and
engineering challenges associated with SAI, from concept to
delivery to identify where increased use of science and technology
could provide better safety assurance and improve capability,
affordability and data robustness.
The study comprised a number of elements including: a full academic
review of current best practice; the identification of risks and
issues relevant to determining safe conditions for SAI and the
provision of recommendations for prioritising and implementing
identified best practice. These recommendations should ultimately
improve understanding of the application of Science and Technology
(S&T) to the ship air interface, enhance operating limit
estimates, and increase the operational envelope across the
Fleet.
Historically, the majority of evidence driving the safe operating
limits for SAI has come from real world trials; Frazer-Nash's study
has the potential to improve the efficient use of modelling as it
identifies specific areas of focus. The areas include: assessing
the benefits of higher fidelity modelling and simulation methods;
standardising the use of existing modelling techniques; and fully
developing S&T to support a SAI Framework. However, where real
world trials are undertaken, this new approach will increase the
amount of relevant information gathered and provide crucial
underpinning data for further modelling.
John Holmes, Business Manager at Frazer-Nash said, "We drew upon
our comprehensive air integration domain knowledge, expertise in
systems engineering, modelling and human factors experience and our
strong working relationship with Dstl to deliver this project. We
are delighted to be a part of a project that will ultimately help
increase the operational envelope of the UK 's maritime aviation
capability."