First night mission of the helicopter obstacle warning system hellas
A close-up look at Hellas at AERO 2001
Friedrichshafen, 23 April 2001
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The new obstacle warning system "Hellas" for helicopters, developed by Dornier GmbH, a corporate unit of EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, was successfully tested for night-flight capability in a test campaign. The testing of Hellas (Helicopter Laser Radar) under aggravated conditions was conducted by the EADS Airborne Systems unit in co-operation with Eurocopter Germany and the Bundeswehr Technical Centre (WTD 61) in Manching. These qualification tests are needed for the installation of Hellas into the new EC 135 helicopters for the flying unit of the Federal Border Guard (BGS). In January 1999, Dornier GmbH, an EADS group company, had won the contract for the delivery of 25 Hellas systems for the new BGS helicopters. This was reported by Dornier GmbH on Monday in Friedrichshafen.
Johann Heitzmann, Deputy Member of the Board of Management of Dornier GmbH and Vice-President of Airborne Systems: "The successful flight tests are qualifying Hellas for an aeronautical equipment certification. Furthermore, it is now possible to take up series delivery of the 25 systems for the Federal Border Guard."
According to Mr. Heitzmann, the Hellas system delivered by the Airborne Systems unit is a major contribution to the safety of helicopter crews on their often dangerous missions. At present, Hellas is the only available Helicopter Laser Radar offered on the global market.
The test flights in Manching were conducted under different weather conditions. During low-level flight under VFR (Visible Flight Regulation) conditions, the Hellas system was tested for various obstacles in day and night missions. In addition to the laser radar test on board the helicopter, the equipment also had to pass various environmental and qualification tests specified by the Federal Office of Civil Aeronautics (LBA). Among other things, these tests are also required for aeronautical equipment certification by LBA.
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Instead of usual radar beams, the Helicopter Laser Radar scans its environment by means of an eye-safe laser beam. Hellas is an active warning system based on optical fibre/laser technology in the near-infrared (1.5 mm) spectrum. This technology ensures high-performance light pulse generation. A specifically developed scanning device is used to scan the area in front of the helicopter for obstacles by means of the laser. The system allows high-precision detection even of thin wires with a diameter of five millimetres over large distances. Optical and acoustic signals inform the pilot of en-route obstacles. In the future, helicopter pilots will have the possibility of viewing the obstacles on a cockpit-mounted display. The devices are already equipped with interfaces. These digital map devices, also a Dornier development, show the obstacle information on a colour map.
At this year's AERO exhibition in Friedrichshafen (April 26 to 28, 2001) Dornier GmbH for the first time exhibits (Hall 10, Stand 1043) the Hellas system of the Airborne Systems unit and the DKG3 map system. As part of the AERO exhibition, a helicopter symposium called "Rotor & Rescue" will also take place (April 27, "Graf-Zeppelin-Haus" congress centre). In addition to presentations (including also Hellas), flight demonstrations and water rescue exercises, the operational principle - laser range finding - will be presented in the special exhibition and demonstrated during the helicopter flights.
Dornier GmbH is a group company of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). With annual revenues amounting to EUR 24.2 billion (2000), EADS is the world's third largest aviation, space and defence technology company.
For further information:
Business Unit Defence Electronics
Michael Hartwig, Tel. ++49 (0) 7545-8-9124, Fax -8-5888
E-Mail: hartwig.michael@dornier.dasa.de
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