Page 11 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AviATion TEchnology

The term ‘Stick’ actually covers a ramps, gates, and soft stops’. This allows The tests confirmed that the SSU
variety of pilot controls on aircraft and information on engagement of particular complemented flight safety and crew
helicopters, including side sticks, center modes or ‘impending flight envelope training requirements. The SSU features a
sticks, throttles, cyclics, and collectives. limits’ to be conveyed to the pilot. In a number of proprietary Sagem innovations
According to BAE Systems, “In an active passive system, the stick cannot provide and its robust design enables it to tackle
inceptor system, two inceptors can be this information decreasing situational all manner of contingencies. Its optimized
electronically coupled as if they were awareness and increasing the cockpit architecture supports the real-time
mechanically linked. Dual-pilot aircraft workload. Active sticks are available adjustment of force feel laws and its stick
can thus benefit from the additional feel as line-replaceable, unit-based, self- shaker / stick pusher function and the
and cueing capabilities without the weight contained systems and have advanced synchronization between all side stick
and throughlife cost penalties of actual to being able to provide the pilot with units makes it an invaluable pilot aid
mechanical linkages.” In fly-by-wire ‘variable feel, damping, inertia, friction during stressful situations in the cockpit.
(FBW) aircraft, the pilot uses the control control, and shaker functionality, allowing Sagem has provided flight controls for
stick to transmit his inputs to the Flight for tactile cues and soft stops.’ aircraft like Embraer’s KC-390 and
Control Computer (FCC), which interprets Sagem (Safran) introduced its new Dassault Aviation Falcon 5X, and Airbus
it before providing the required responses prototype active side stick unit (SSU) helicopters Nh90.
via the aircraft’s control surfaces. In for civil airplanes and helicopters at the
an aircraft without FBW, the stick was 2014 NBAA business aviation trade show
connected mechanically to the control and exhibition in Orlando, Florida. The
surfaces and power controls. active SSU is targeted at business jets
Active pilot controls are already in and helicopters and production units In 2009, the German Aerospace
military use where they have replaced could be available within the next couple Center (Deutsche Zentrum für
Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) flew a
traditional, passive flight controls. An of years. Prior to being unveiled at the modified Eurocopter EC 135, where
important aspect with regards to active show, the SSU had been in extensive the conventional control system
sticks is that they can provide ‘tactile tests with participation from airline was replaced with two active side
feedback’ to the pilot ‘such as variable pilots and test pilots belonging to major sticks for the first time, a side stick
gradients, force breakouts, detents, airplane and helicopter manufacturers. looks similar to a joystick
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