Mission Summary

Flight Rules	MAV Operations	UGV Operations	Obstacles/Mines
Covered Positions	Red Team Behavior	Hostage Building	Perch Sites
	Commandos	Logistics	Static Displays

Flight Rules

Overview:  

The MAV flight rules provide guidance on safe operations of the MAV systems under demonstration at MAV 08.  The limitations and restrictions in this section must be fully understood and agreed to by teams before flight begins.

No Fly Limitations: 

The perimeter of the flight demonstration area within 1km x 1km demonstration zone (DZ) is bounded by red flags on 4 ft poles.  No MAV should fly beyond the no fly boundary.  If a MAV flies across the boundary a safety officer will direct the GCS operator or safety pilot to terminate flight.  The only exception to this rule is during approach and landing by VTOL MAV on the perch sites near the bank building where the safety officer will issue one warning to reverse course if the boundary is crossed and if no action is taken in 3 seconds, will issue a command to terminate. MAVs flying above 20 knots ground speed (GS) should plan flight routes to maintain a 50 m separation from the no fly boundary.  Safety officers observing a MAV flying faster than 20 knots GS within 50 meters of the boundary will issue a turn away or reverse course command. 

Altitude Limitations:

500 ft Above Ground Level (AGL).  Systems without a means to accurately measure altitude above ground level must limit operations to an apparent 200 feet AGL limit.  Safety officers will direct pilots to reduce altitude if the MAV climbs above the apparent 200 ft AGL limit.

Airspeed Limitations:

MAVs flying faster than 20 kt GS must maintain a 100 - 500 ft above ground level altitude within a 100 meter radius of the hostage building.  MAVs flying slower than 20 knots GS may be flown down to ground level within the boundary of the no-fly limitations. 

Wind limitations:

Teams determine their systems’ wind limitations for launch, operations, landing before arriving at the demonstration.  The organizers will not allow teams to launch into predominate observed winds greater than their agreed on limitations or greater than 20 knots. 

MAV Performance & Stability: 

If controlled flight of a MAV is in question (based on safety officer’s observation of the MAV flight performance/stability) at any time during the demonstration due to changes in weather conditions, flight profile, energy state, or other causes, the safety officers will “waive off” the MAV from its current maneuver.  Based on an assessment of the cause of the problem the MAV may be restricted from flight within 100 m of the hostage building below 100 feet AGL and/or advised to land.  If the team elects to continue the mission in an alternate flight profile and controlled flight is in question a second time, the team will be directed to land the MAV immediately until the condition can be resolved. 

Waive-off: 

When a waive-off command is given the MAV must abort its current maneuver and change the flight profile to place the aircraft in a more stable mode of controlled flight or land.  The safety officers will assist the pilot in gaining separation from barriers, people and obstacles using the voice radio link to the safety pilot or ground control station.

Personnel: 

Due to the operational aspects of the scenario and presence of judges and test personnel on the DZ, the MAV operators must select altitudes and airspeeds that reduce the chance of injury to ground personnel.  When tasks such as takeoff/landing/hover/slow flight occur in close proximity to personnel, safety officers will issue specific commands to pilots and the ground station to aid in maintaining separation from the ground personnel.  Teams must make maximum effort to comply with safety officer commands within the flight limitations of the air vehicle.  If the safety officer perceives that the air vehicle is not taking corrective action and personal injury is likely to result, a flight termination command will be given.
    
Loss of aircraft control:

  When an air vehicle stops responding to its autopilot, GPS signal or command from the ground station and the safety pilot intervenes to take command of the air vehicle the team should announce to their judge “Emergency Safety Pilot”.  During this emergency the only people on the communication net should be safety officers, ground station and safety pilots.  The objective is to safely land the air vehicle.  All other operations in the DZ will stop until the MAV is safely landed.  If other MAVs are flying they should be put into a stable fight profile or landed.  The demonstration timer will stop until the emergency is resolved.    In the event that the safety pilot is unable to take control of the MAV a flight termination command will be given.  In the event that uncontrolled flight continues, the designated tracking vehicle and spotter will follow the air vehicle until the MAV’s range is exceed, the engine stops producing thrust and/or the air vehicle descends and flight terminates.

Takeoff/Landing: 

The minimum number of personnel should be present at the lunch/landing site to reduce the risk to personnel.  Routes for departure and approach to landing should be selected to minimize risk to ground personnel in the event of engine failure or loss of MAV control.

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Contact LTC Stierna at eric.stierna@us.army.mil