Course Duration

Two weeks

Course Description

The Advanced Flight Control Systems (AFCS) Short Course is designed to provide a focused refresher for test pilots and flight test engineers with prior education or experience in flying qualities or flight control systems. The aim of the course is to revisit key concepts and testing methodologies related to both hover/low speed and forward flight control systems, with particular emphasis on modern Fly-By-Wire design approaches, certification standards (FARs, ACs, and guidance documents), and ground and in-flight flight test techniques (FTT’s).

Practical elements of modern FCS’s are reviewed along with typical basic structures and system elements for modern fly-by-wire FCS’s. Classic linear control tools (Root Locus, Bode Plots, Block Diagram Algebra) and their application are discussed. Modern software analysis tools are introduced and demonstrated during the course. Handling qualities criteria and special issues related to modern complex FCS’s such as Pilot Induced Oscillations (PIO’s) are reviewed. The need for systematic closed-loop handling qualities evaluations is emphasized. Different control strategies are presented (pre-filters, response feedback, and explicit model following). The effects of common control system feedback implementations are presented using industry software and the dedicated MBB Bo-105 full motion Variable Stability Ground Simulators (VSGS) and Variable Stability Instructors. Course learning objectives are reinforced when students go through a hands-on guided demonstration on the VSGS. The objective of the course is to provide a high level of understanding of the Principles, Issues, and Test Methods related to modern FCSs to enable the student to conduct a professional engineering evaluation. 

Course Options

The course is offered in two versions: 

• Sim Only (Test Pilot): Lectures and Four 1.5-hour simulator sessions
• Sim Only (Flight Test Engineer): Lectures and One 1.5-hour summary simulator sessions. FTEs are also encouraged to participate in each TP session.

All participants will reinforce and apply course concepts through a combination of lectures, hands-on laboratory exercises using representative SIMULINK models, practical group projects, and immersive simulator sessions. Preparatory study materials will be provided to help students reengage with key foundational topics and maximize the course’s value, regardless of time away from formal study.

Subjects Covered

• Dynamics Review
• S-Plane and Bode Plots
• Block Diagrams
• FCS Overview
• FCS Strategies and Design Criteria
• Pre-Filters
• Response Feedback
• Command Systems
• Explicit Model Following
• Augmentation Effect of Various Feedback Parameters
• Bode Plots Stability Analysis
• Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing Performance Specifications
• FCS Issues and Testing

Ground Simulator:

Test Pilots

• One 1.5-hour session on VSS Simulator – Hover Control Laws
• One 1.5-hour session on VSS Simulator – Hover/Low Speed Augmentation Levels
• One 1.5-hour session on VSS Simulator – Forward Flight Control Laws
• One 1.5-hour session on VSS Simulator – Forward Flight Augmentation Levels

Flight Test Engineers

• One 1.5-hour summary session on the VSS Simulator

In this course NTPS uses a full motion variable stability platform based on an MBB B0-105 helicopter.

NTPS BO-105 helicopters

This combines a high-fidelity motion system with seating for a test pilot and flight test engineer, a flight identified dynamics model of the actual helicopter, and a variety of VSS features custom programmed by Flight Level Engineering. The demonstration catalog is inspired by decades of experience, ADS-33, and variable stability pilot in-flight training in legacy VSS helicopters.

Key educational features for the Variable Stability BO-105 Ground Simulator

• Every demo available to the aircraft can be rehearsed in this variable stability ground simulator.
• The ground simulator includes additional demonstrations beyond those included in the aircraft due to the inherent flexibility of VSS ground simulators.
• A high-fidelity visual system and a variety of VSS features including hover and forward flight HUD visuals.
• Real-time reconfigurable heads down displays.
• Five programmable and active inceptors:
  • Collective, pedals, and cyclic
  • Side stick and heave/yaw
• A large variable stability demonstration catalog.
• All sorties are tightly integrated into the flying qualities, handling qualities, and modern flight controls curriculum at NTPS. This allows us to modify what the FTE and TP see, touch, and feel in real-time.