Feature 4 | HELICOPTER HANDLING
Chapman, and there is a growing trend
towards co-operative/collaborative
operations. “The main growth has been
in combined navy/coastguard operations
for border patrol, policing and counter-
terrorism activity,” he explains. “These
operations require the host vessels to
be more flexible in the range of support
they can provide to embarked aircraft,
since the range, size and capabilities of
the embarked aircraft have increased.”
The era of one aircraft per ship, with a
dedicated traversing system, also seems to
have passed, and to be effective, naval and
coastguard vessels now have to support
more than one aircraft type.
In Chapman’s view, versatile
helicopter handling systems, such as Commissioned in 2008, the US Navy’s LCS Freedom will use TRIGON for traversing
TRIGON, provide a solution to this MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters and FireScout UAVs.
rapidly growing market. He notes that
the installation of TRIGON on the US
Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is and US Marine Corps aircraft that may with 25 navies/coastguards, working
proving very successful, offering not only be embarked on the LCS. with 15 different aircraft types.
traversing of the specified MH-60R/S “TRIGON has been tested and Recently, the Spanish Navy, a long-time
Seahawk and FireScout Unmanned operated in Sea States 6 and above,” says operator of another well known helo
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) but also offering a Chapman, also noting that more than handling system, selected TRIGON for
capability to traverse all other US Navy 230 systems are in service or on order its Buque De Acción Marítima (BAM)
Patrol Vessel, on which it is specified
to traverse AB212, S-70B Seahawk and
Douglas SPD wins NAVAIR prototype contract
NH90 aircraft. WT
The Special Products Division (SPD) of Douglas Equipment Limited has been
awarded a contract for five prototype ‘Mantis’ aircraft manoeuvring systems
by the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
NAVAIR provides unique engineering, development, testing, evaluation, in-
service support and programme management capabilities to deliver airborne
weapons systems that are technologically superior and readily available.
The order with Douglas SPD will enable NAVAIR to assess the Mantis as a
replacement system for existing deck handling equipment. A key feature will
be the unit’s ability to increase the mass parking capability when ‘spotting’
aircraft onboard ships or in hangars. Helicopter handling systems now have
Mantis offers fast, precise control from a chest pack operator module and to handle numerous different types
fits within the aircraft footprint to permit high precision, side-by-side parking of aircraft.
density and make the best use of onboard or hangar parking space. It has
a very low under fuselage capability and handles all current and proposed
helicopters and fighter aircraft in both land-based and marine operations. This
even includes aircraft with deflated tyres or collapsed legs.
Mantis offers 3.5 hours continuous movement of an 18,000kg aircraft from a
single charge and its heavy duty batteries – which are computer managed –
can be recharged rapidly via an HF transformer to minimise downtime.
The Mantis units will be assembled in the USA at the Douglas Equipment
manufacturing plant near Atlanta in Georgia. Douglas personnel based at
the plant will also provide full technical and service support for the NAVAIR TRIGON will be used to traverse the
prototype equipment worldwide. Seahawk helicopter and FireScout UAV
landing on the aft deck of the LCS.
28 Warship Technology March 2009
WT_Mar09_p26+
28.indd 2 3/4/09 9:39:43 PM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36