REALIZING a UCA TEST FLIGHT from WEEZE AIRPORT to TWENTE AIRPORT Graduation Thesis
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Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies REALIZING A UCA TEST FLIGHT FROM WEEZE AIRPORT TO TWENTE AIRPORT Graduation thesis Graduation thesis Erik Waller 500668724 Supervisor: R.J. de Boer Second supervisor: J.M.G. Heerkens 2016/2017 Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 1 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies Title: Realizing a UCA test flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport Education: Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies Place: Amsterdam, the Netherlands Date: 06-01-2017 Supervisor: Dr.ir. R.J. de Boer Second supervisor: Dr. J.M.G. Heerkens Author: Erik Waller 500668724 Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 2 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies Summary As requested by HvA, the University of Twente and PUCA, graduate student Erik Waller cre- ated this paper to discover the feasibility of a UCA test flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport. The clients, all heavily involved in the development of UCA with as goal the imple- mentation of UCA side by side with existing manned aviation, identified the lack of knowledge on the legal and operational aspects of RPAS. By preparing, and eventually con- ducting a UCA test flight the clients hope to gain the necessary information to advance the realization of the inevitable commercial implementation of UCA. The clients suggested that the test flight be performed from Weeze airport to Twente airport with a UCA constructed by modifying an existing conventional aircraft. The aircraft would need to be modified to receive inputs from a ground station. The clients want to perform this test flight within 48 months after the completion of this paper and, during the creation of this paper, did not have any funding available for the test flight. Erik Waller advised that the clients adapt their original idea of performing just one single test flight but rather divide the test flight into three separate test flights. Furthermore, the idea of only using a UCA consisting of a modified convectional aircraft was adjusted and the use of an existing RPAS was suggested alongside the use of the original proposed modified con- ventional aircraft. The reason for these adjustments was that the original proposed plan was too complex and gave too little time for carrying out the proposed plan. The addition of smaller more man- ageable test flights were required to gain experience and trust from the responsible authori- ties and give the project additional time to find sponsors. With the newly suggested plan the following flights would take place: Weeze (EDLV) – De Peel (EHDP) Eelde (EHGG) – Twente (EHTW) Weeze (EDLV) – Twente (EHTW). The first two routes would be performed with a RPAS known as the Schiebel Camcopter S- 100. This RPAS is a finished fully certified product that has a fully certified operational team. By using the Schiebel built RPAS and their team a lot of valuable time would be saved that would otherwise be needed in certification, design and modification. This option is also cheaper than designing and modifying an existing aircraft. Therefore, the clients with their limited budget would be able to realize this UCA test flight within the requested 48 months. The first two routes have been picked because they form as good practice runs leading up to the final route, which is identical to the original proposed route. Furthermore, these routes will be crucial in showing the responsible authorities that such an operation can be per- formed safely and efficiently which will aid in the approval of the last and most complex route. Given the fact that more time will need to be made available for the last route, the original proposed modified conventional aircraft will be left unaltered. This additional time will be necessary for the clients to gather the required funding and design and modify the aircraft. This paper only focuses on the execution of the first test flight due to the available time. Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 3 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies To be able to perform the first test flight serious inquiries will need to be made with the Schiebel Company about hiring their services. Once the services of Schiebel have been hired previous disclosed information will be made available to the clients with regards to technical workings and safety procedures. Furthermore, a separate paper should be created focused solely on acquiring sponsors to fund the test flight. Lastly, the clients should make a formal request to ILT, LVNL, DFS and Nordrhein-Westfalen stating their intentions. Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 4 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies Preface This graduation thesis forms the basis for the completion of Aviation Studies, thus being awarded with the Bachelor of Engineering degree by the University of Applied Sciences of Amsterdam. I would like to thank all the people that have helped me throughout this project. Many inter- views were conducted with numerous organizations and individuals all of which I am ex- tremely thankful for. Special thanks to Antoinette Schurink from the ILT, Rob Ruigrok and René Eveleens from the NLR, Ron Slootbeek from the LVNL, Michiel Kaptein of KLM’s OCC, Major J.H. Hazes from the MLA and Adjutant Hingstman from the AMC. I am grateful to Dr.ir. R.J. de Boer from the University of Applied Sciences, who has guided me during the entire process and provided feedback and useful hints and tips. I would also like to thank Dr. J.M.G. Heerkens (PUCA chairman and professor at the University of Twente) for inviting me to numerous PUCA meetings and for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with me on a regular basis to discuss my progress and provide feedback. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. R.W. Huizing for bringing me in touch with Dr.ir. R.J. de Boer. Throughout the thesis abbreviations will be used. The first time, the full name and abbrevia- tion will be written in italic type, indicating that the abbreviation can be found in the abbre- viation list. Appendices will also be referred to throughout the thesis and can be found in a separate booklet. I hope you find this thesis informative and thought provoking. Erik Waller Amstelveen, The Netherlands Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 5 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies Table of contents 1 Introduction 13 1.1 Prior knowledge 15 1.1.1 Findings and assumptions of the previous report 15 1.1.2 Amendments 15 1.2 Objective 16 1.3 Motivation 17 1.4 Thesis structure 17 2 Approach 19 2.1 Outlining the problem 19 2.2 Research questions 20 2.3 Project Strategy 20 2.3.1 Literature review 20 2.3.2 Conducting interviews 21 3 Legislation 23 3.1 Operational scenario 23 3.1.1 PUCA scenario 23 3.1.2 Conventional aircraft scenario 24 3.1.3 Schiebel Camcopter S-100 scenario 25 3.1.4 NLR scenario 25 3.1.5 Singeler Flyox I 25 3.2 Feasibility analysis 25 3.3 Conclusion 26 3.4 Legislative hurdles 27 3.5 Problem resolution and responsible agencies 28 3.5.1 Ground controller 28 3.5.2 Fall back pilots 31 3.5.3 Airworthiness certification 31 3.5.4 Aircraft registration 31 3.5.5 Insurance 31 3.5.6 ROC holding agency’s 32 3.5.7 RPAS > 150 kg 32 3.5.8 BVLOS operation 32 3.5.9 Modification Company 33 3.5.10 LVNL and DFS 33 4 Aircraft 35 4.1 Aircraft choice 35 4.1.1 Cessna Citation Business Jet 35 4.1.2 Schiebel Camcopter S-100 36 4.1.3 Singeler Aircraft Flyox I 38 Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 6 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies 4.1.4 Conclusion 38 4.2 Modifications 39 5 Safety 40 6 Ground Station 41 7 Route and Airspace 42 7.1 Plan of action 42 7.1.1 Weeze (EDLV) – De Peel (EHDP) 42 7.1.2 Eelde (EHGG) – Twente (EHTW) 43 7.1.3 Weeze (EDLV) – Twente (EHTW) 44 7.2 VFR or IFR 45 7.3 Departure and Destination aerodromes 45 7.4 Route and airspace 46 7.4.1 Alterations 46 7.4.2 Route and airspace 46 7.4.3 Alternates 47 8 Tunnel in the sky 49 8.1 Adjusting the arrival time 49 8.2 Drifting off course 49 9 Personnel 51 9.1 Tasks 51 9.1.1 Creating and filing of the flight plan 51 9.1.2 Creating the M&B 51 9.1.3 Fueling the aircraft and de-icing if necessary 51 9.1.4 Creating and sending the briefing sheet to the PIC 52 9.2 Personnel 52 10 Script 53 11 Cost analysis 54 11.1 Medical Transport Cost analysis VU-Erasmus 55 11.1.1 Emergency transport by ambulance 55 11.1.2 Emergency transport with the Schiebel Camcopter S-100 55 11.1.3 Conclusion 56 12 Research plan 57 12.1 Tunnel in the sky 57 12.2 Publicity 57 12.3 Transition from autonomous to manual 57 12.4 Data link reliability 58 13 Recommendation 59 13.1 Recommendation original plan 59 13.2 Recommendation new plan 59 13.3 Plan of Action 60 Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 7 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies 14 Discussion 61 15 Bibliography 64 Realizing a UCA flight from Weeze airport to Twente airport- Graduation Thesis - Erik Waller 8 Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Aviation Studies Abbreviation list Abbreviation Word Definition §RADO Research Aircraft Design A branch within NLR specialized Organization in designing modifications for NLRs research aircraft.