Developing Means of Compliance for eVTOL Vehicles: Phase II Final Report

Abstract

692M15-18-C-00010Development of new air vehicles types (e.g., personal air vehicles, urban taxis, etc.) have led to a proliferation of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) vehicle concepts including electric vehicles, many of which are well funded and are in various stages of prototype development and testing. These vehicles almost exclusively feature fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control systems with advanced flight control system response-types. The processes and requirements needed to certify these disparate vehicles for operation within the National Airspace System are still emerging. To aid in the requirements and certification process, a mission-oriented approach is being applied to define Mission Task Elements (MTEs), often referred to as Flight Test Maneuvers (FTMs), that will serve as a means of compliance with Part 21.17(b) of certification regulations. This report summarizes the Phase II effort of this program wherein an industry representative lift plus cruise electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) configuration was used to develop and exercise via analysis and fixed-base simulation candidate Handling Qualities Task Elements (HQTEs), a subset of MTEs/FTMs, that address control law transitions, envelope protections, and automation. MTEs/FTMs are repeatable tests based on the vehicle Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and tailored to evaluate aircraft characteristics that assure safe operations within the flight envelope and the ability to perform the intended mission(s) with acceptable pilot workload/compensation