In-flight calibration: a unique operation in the air
Every member state of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) is obliged to inspect and calibrate periodically their navigational aids and instrument landing systems to guarantee aviation safety under any weather conditions. These complex missions require qualified pilots trained to conduct many manoeuvres at low altitude within air traffic, and an aircraft equipped with a FIS system to ensure precise measurements and analyses by flight inspectors.
Embarked into the DA62, CARNAC XS, the smallest FIS system of Safran’s CARNAC family, enables to calibrate all types of beacons (VOR, ILS, VDF, Marker, DME, NDB, TACAN, etc.), to validate PBN/RNAV procedures and approaches as well as to measure coverage of V/UHF radios, secondary radars (A/C and S modes) and the ADS-B system.
About the Mission Setup
The extra compact FIS module is located in the mission equipment compartment of the DA62, right behind the operator seat, and is wired up to the mission power panel and the dedicated antenna connection panel. This modular design and the pre-installed antennas enable an easy configuration change from e.g. ISR to FIS in less than a day. The operator laptop, directly connected to the CARNAC XS, allows real time analyses of the measurements taken by the calibration bench and the pilot tablet allows a live monitoring of the flight relevant data. With additional radios and audio panels, the operator has all the capabilities to ensure safe communication on board and, at the same time, direct connection to the ground crew.
The expected delivery will be in the upcoming weeks to long term Diamond Aircraft Distributor and Special Mission Aircraft operator Asian Aerospace Services in Bangkok, Thailand. Once operational, the aircraft will be available for demonstration to future Diamond Aircraft MPP operators in South East Asia.
About the DA62 MPP
The DA62 MPP is the latest variant of Diamond Aircraft’s successful Special Mission Aircraft portfolio. The all-carbon-fibre, twin-engine aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art glass cockpit and a fully integrated autopilot. It is powered by two turbo charged jet-fuel engines which enable the aircraft to stay airborne for up to eight hours due to their superb fuel efficiency. The carbon fibre material provides for unlimited airframe life and is not subject to corrosion, even when operated in saline and humid environments. Together, fuel efficiency and the unlimited airframe life combine for extremely low direct operating costs, making the DA62 MPP the most cost-efficient Special Mission Aircraft in its class. To learn more about the DA62 MPP capabilities, please visit: www.diamondaircraft.com/en/special-mission/aircraft/da62-mpp/overview.
About Diamond Aircraft’s Special Mission Concept
Like no other special mission aircraft supplier, Diamond Aircraft has taken its special mission concept into a 360° turnkey solution: one single point of contact. The special mission turnkey solutions comprise a cost-efficient fixed wing remote sensing Diamond Aircraft platform, airborne sensors, data-links, ground stations, global support, spare parts, tooling, transport as well as the corresponding pilot, operator and maintenance training. To find out more, please visit: www.diamondaircraft.com/en/special-mission/special-mission-concept.
About Carnac FIS solutions
Safran Electronics & Defense calls on more than 30 years of experience in automatic flight inspection. Designed in collaboration with flight inspectors, the CARNAC family enables to fit any aircraft size, to ensure all-weather highly accurate measurements and to save up to 1 hour of flight inspection time. CARNAC solutions are operated in 40+ countries worldwide. To find out more, please visit: www.safran-group.com/products-services/carnac-automatic-flight-inspection-systems.