DTIC ADA501555: Aircraft Survivability. Spring 2009

2.9 MB·English

by  Defense Technical Information Center

Published by the Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office
SPRING 2009
Reducing Aircraft

COMBAT
10
THE JASPO CASUALTY
ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE
Casualties
14
FULL SPECTRUM
CRASHWORTHINESS CRITERIA
23
ASSESSING TRI-SERVICE
PERSONNEL CASUALTIES
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Reducing Aircraft Combat Casualties
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Table of Contents
Aircraft Survivability is published
three times a year by the Joint
Aircraft Survivability Program
Office (JASPO) chartered by the
U.S. Army Aviation & Missile
Command, U.S. Air Force
Aeronautical Systems Center and
U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems
Command. 44News Notes
by Dennis Lindell
60 JCAT Corner
by CAPT Ken Branham, USN
70 Reducing Aircraft Combat Casualties
by Dr. Joel Williamsen
Historically, aircraft combat survivability design metrics and evaluations have focused on what
happens to the aircraft, with only limited consideration given to casualties generated during
combat-induced aircraft damage or loss. Recognizing this, on 6 May the National Defense
Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Combat Survivability Division held its annual Aircraft
Survivability Workshop at IDA on “Reducing Aircraft Combat Casualties,” developing the topic
JAS Program Office in concert with the Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation (DOT&E) as an outgrowth
200 12th Street South from last year’s NDIA workshop on aircraft vulnerability reduction.
Crystal Gateway #4, Suite 1103
Arlington, VA 22202
10 The JASPO Casualty Assessment Initiative
Views and comments are welcome
by Dr. Torger J. Anderson, Dr. Joel Williamsen, Peggy Wagner, Philip Radlowski,
and may be addressed to the:
Patrick Gillich, John Manion, and Barry Vincent
Editor
At the request of Mr. Richard Sayre, Director of Live Fire Test and Evaluation, the Joint
Dennis Lindell
Aircraft Survivability Program Office (JASPO) has begun a project to incorporate crew and
passenger casualty assessments into aircraft survivability evaluations. The initiative is being
Assistant Editor
executed through JASP project M-08-09 Aircraft Combat Occupant Casualty project from
Dale B. Atkinson
FY08–FY11, and its ultimate goal is to include aircraft occupant casualty reduction as a
vulnerability design consideration in the acquisition process.
To order back issues of the
ASnewsletter, please visit
http://www.bahdayton.com/
14 Full Spectrum Crashworthiness Criteria
surviac/inquiry.aspx.
by David Friedmann and John Crocco
On the cover: A US Army (USA)
AH-64 Apache helicopter that Within its scope of responsibility for DoD rotorcraft platform technology development, the
crashed during landing at Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) is investigating modern
Tactical Assembly Area SHELL crashworthiness standards. Historical standards and mishaps are being reviewed, along with
in Central Iraq. Photograph by future requirements enabling technologies and analytical tools.
SGT Igor Paustovski, USA.
16 Crashworthiness—An Army Science and Technology Perspective
9 by Bob Hood and Bryan Pilati
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n Aircraft combat survivability, as defined by Professor Robert Ball, is “the capability of an aircraft
Spri to avoid or withstand a man-made hostile environment.” This concept can be broken down into
y • Susceptibility, “the inability of an aircraft to avoid the guns, approaching missiles, exploding
bilit warheads, radars, and all of the other elements of an enemy’s air defense that make up the
a
viv man-made hostile mission environment” (mathematically described as the probability of being hit,
ur P ), and Vulnerability, “inability of an aircraft to withstand the man-made hostile environment”
Aircraft S (hmeHnacthe emmaatthiceamllayt idceaslclyr idbeefidn aesd t hase PpSr o=b 1a b–i lPitHy • o Pf Kb/He.ing killed given a hit, PK/H). Survivability (PS) is
2
Mailing list additions, deletions,
changes, and calendar items may be
directed to:
18 DESCENT’s Contribution to Rotorcraft Vulnerability Analysis SURVIAC Satellite Office
by Andrew Drysdale and Dr. Matt Floros
13200 Woodland Park Road
Suite 6047
The vulnerability analysis (VA) of rotorcraft combat systems, which is a mission of the US
Herndon, VA 20171
Army Research Laboratory’s Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate (ARL/SLAD), is a
relatively complicated portion of the overall survivability analysis process. The execution of a
Promotional Director
VA requires engineer-supplied, case-specific model inputs to inform and modify the VA
Christina P. McNemar
typified by a run through the MUVES/Advanced Joint Effectiveness Model analysis process.
And because the inputs are critical for capturing the diverse vulnerability aspects of the target,
Creative Director
their values must be determined accurately and systematically.
Christina P. McNemar
Art Director
21 Excellence in Survivability—Charles E. Frankenberger III
Donald Rowe
by Dale B. Atkinson
Technical Editors
The Joint Aircraft Survivability Program (JASP) is pleased to recognize Mr. Charles E. Lindsay Marti
Frankenberger III for Excellence in Survivability. Chuck is a project engineer in the Christina P. McNemar
Vulnerability Branch at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA and is the lead for Louise Price
Vulnerability and LFT&E on the F 35 for NAVAIR and the F-35 Program Office. Chuck
graduated from the University of Arizona in 1983 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering and has Newsletter Design
worked in the Systems Vulnerability Branch at China Lake since 1994 as the lead for turbine Tammy Black
engine vulnerability.
Illustrations, Cover Design, Layout
Tammy Black
23 Methodology for Assessing Tri-Service Personnel Casualties Michelle DePrenger
Donald Rowe
by Patrick Gillich and Lisa Roach
Distribution Statement A:
Military system design features are sought that maximize the survivability of personnel
Approved for public release; distribution
without significantly compromising system effectiveness or lethality. Understanding personnel
unlimited, as submitted under NAVAIR
vulnerability is an important aspect of the design and evaluation of military platforms. For
Public Release Authorization 09-216.
example, even if a vehicle’s mechanical functionality is not impaired following a ballistic or
blast event, its military value can be considered zero if the crew is unable to perform its
assigned mission. Since 2004, ground platforms and weapon systems have been consistently
evaluated based on crew survivability and/or lethality.
26 Surviving an Aircraft Crash with Airbag Restraints
by Thomas Barth
Inflatable restraint solutions have improved the survivability of commercial transport and civil
General Aviation (GA) aircraft by mitigating impact injury and keeping the occupants
conscious and able to evacuate quickly. The AmSafe® Aviation Airbag makes advanced
occupant crash protection systems feasible for retrofit into existing and space-constrained
cabins/cockpits. 9
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29 Pioneer in Survivability—Walter S. Thompson III y S•
by Eric Edwards bilit
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On 15 April 2005, the survivability community quietly lost one of its national assets with the urvi
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be the world’s most knowledgeable expert in turbine engine vulnerability. Air
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News Notes
by Dennis Lindell
Instrumentation Round Table costly, and heavy due to the weight of ➤ Mission and campaign survivability
Dr. Torger Anderson organized and led running wiring to all the protected analysis
the fourth annual Instrumentation areas on the aircraft. The combination ➤ Iraq & Afghanistan Threat
Round Table on 15 September 2008. of these problems often caused aircraft Intel brief
The continuing objective of this meeting designers to remove the fire detection ➤ Threats and threat effects
is to bring together Service range test and suppression equipment. The Air ➤ IR, Radar, and EW fundamentals
representatives in order to identify Force’s 780th Test Squadron at Wright- ➤ Current Susceptibility Reduction
ballistic range instrumentation Patterson AFB is in the process of technology
capabilities, needs, and issues and to remedying this matter. Phase I Small ➤ Current Vulnerability Reduction
discuss potential avenues for range Business Innovative Research contracts technology
instrumentation improvement. This were issued to several independent ➤ Overview of modeling and simulations
year, particular emphasis was placed teams for development of a wireless, for survivability
on crew casualty test and evaluation. rapid, low-cost, lightweight fire ➤ Methodologies for conducting a
detection system. Intended for survivability analysis
The discussions centered on casualty application as a combat kit, the future ➤ Joint Live Fire and Live Fire
evaluation expertise provided by fire detector must be reliable and easy Test programs
Mr. Pat Gillich and Ms. Nikki to install. Those teams demonstrating ➤ Personnel casualties and safety
Brockhoff of US Army Research Lab, the most promising approach will be ➤ Current initiatives in the survivability
Survivability/Lethality Analysis invited to participate in a Phase II community
Directorate (ARL/SLAD) and award for advanced development
established some priorities and test of the fire detection/reporting hardware Sections of this course will be classified,
methods for Live Fire Tests that could to help maintain aircraft safety and prospective students must be US
evaluate casualty mechanisms. Their and survivability. citizens possessing a SECRET clearance.
presentation described the capability and Students will receive a copy of Dr. Ball’s
application of the Army’s Operational JASPO 2009 ACS Short Course textbook at the beginning of the course,
Requirement-based Casualty Assessment The Joint Aircraft Survivability and it is recommended that students
(ORCA) model, and its various analysis Program Office will host its 2009 bring a calculator capable of performing
modules, to estimate several damage annual Aircraft Combat Survivability exponential calculations as the
effects on the crew and passengers, short course at the Naval Postgraduate instructors lead the students through
including blast overpressure, fragments, School (NPS) 28 April–1 May 2009. some practice problems designed to
toxic gases, and thermal effects. Although The lead instructors will be Professor enhance understanding of the material.
test requirements are far from established, Christopher Adams, Associate Dean To foster closer working relationships,
this discussion formed a starting point for for the School of Engineering at NPS there will be a social and dinner held at
the Casualty Assessment Workshop that and Dr. Mark Couch from the Institute the Taste of Monterey on Cannery Row
was held in January 2009 at Aberdeen. for Defense Analyses. Several as part of the course on Wednesday,
invited subject matter experts from 29 April. Guests of attendees are also
The 47 attendees (from all three government and industry will provide invited to attend the dinner for an
Services) seemed very positive about additional instruction. additional fee of $50/person.
this meeting, stating that it provided
opportunities to discuss their This 4-day course is intended for Registration information is available at
measurement issues and make useful engineers and program managers who http://www.bahdayton.com/jasp2009
connections. They encouraged planning have less than five years working in or contact Mr. Paul Jeng at SURVIAC.
similar discussions at future JASPO the survivability discipline. The course For further information about the
meetings to review and evaluate other will be similar to last year’s in format course, contact lead instructor is Prof
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0 instrumentation areas. following the methodology outlined in Chris Adams, or Dr. Couch, Cost is
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g the 2nd Edition of Dr. Ball’s textbook, $750 for US government/military and
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pri Wireless Fire Detection and The Fundamentals of Aircraft Combat $1,000 for industry.
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bilit The effectiveness of fire extinguishing published by the American Institute A block of rooms has been reserved at
a systems relies on its ability to rapidly for Aeronautics and Astronautics. The the Hyatt Regency Monterey,
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urvi and reliably detect fires, particularly in course will cover a broad spectrum of conveniently located by the 10th Street
craft S athreea psr wesheenrcee tohfe ac rfierwe ecmanenrgoetn ccoyn. firm ➤to pIinctsr iondculucdtiionng —to aircraft survivability Gora 8te3 1to/3 N72P-S1,2 (3h4tt)p l:o//cmatoendt aetr e1y .Ohylda tGt.oclofm
Air Previous on-board fire detector systems ➤ Historical and current survivability Course Road, Monterey. Additionally, a
were prone to giving false alarms, combat loss data block of rooms is available to Gov/
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Industry for $133/nt at the Hilton Aircraft Survivability Program (JASP)
Garden Inn (www.monterey.stayhgi.com and was developed by Distinguished
or 831/373-6141) located at 1000 Professor Emeritus Robert E. Ball.
Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA. Attendees Nearly all of the material in the
are responsible for making their own program has been taken from the
room reservations. Prologue and Chapter 1 of the textbook
“The Fundamentals of Aircraft Combat
New NDIA CSD Chairman Survivability Analysis and Design,
The National Defense Industrial Second Edition,” written by Dr. Ball
Association’s (NDIA) Combat and published by the American Institute
Survivability Division (CSD) has a new of Aeronautics and Astronautics
chairman. BG Stephen D. Mundt, USA (AIAA) in late 2003.
(ret) was selected as the Chairman by
the CSD Executive Board on 27 August The purpose of the program is to
2008 and directed the activities of the provide a quick, easy, and effective way
CSD and the NDIA Aircraft for users to learn about the
Survivability Symposium in Monterey, fundamentals of the aircraft combat
CA on 4–7 November 2008. General BG Stephen D. Mundt survivability discipline. The program
Mundt has a long and impressive career currently consists of the module,
in the Aviation side of the Army with “Introduction to the Aircraft
his last assignment as the Director of Joe Manchor Survivability Discipline” but additional
Army Aviation in Headquarters, With the planned retirement of Al modules may be added in the future.
Department of the Army. In that Wearner next year, Joe Manchor has The sections available under this
position he was responsible for the replaced Al as the Navy Co-Chair of the module are “Overview of the
coordination of Army Aviation Joint Aircraft Survivability Program’s Fundamentals,” “Historical Perspective
Transformation, Modernization, and (JASP) Vulnerability Reduction of Survivability,” “US Military
support to ongoing Combat Operations. Subgroup and the Navy Joint Live Fire Survivability Policy, Instructions,
He previously had been the Assistant Deputy Test Director. Joe is a long time Programs and Organizations,”
Division Commander of the 1st member of the JASP, having served as “Designing for Survivability,”
Infantry Division Combat Team the Chairman of the Fuel Systems “Survivability Modeling and
deployed to North Central Iraq Committee for a number of years. Joe Simulation,” “Testing for Survivability,”
conducting simultaneous combat and has also been the lead on a number of “Conclusions and Points to Remember.”
stability operations in support of important Navy programs such as the
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 2. V-22 LFT&E Program. Joe’s military Program Features
General Mundt is very knowledgeable experience includes serving as a P-3 An opening video plays when the
about combat survivability and was a Naval Flight Officer making him even program is first launched. After the
staunch advocate for upgrading more knowledgeable about survivability video, the introduction splash card
Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) than most people. Welcome to your new appears. From this card you can access
on Army aircraft—an area that had responsibilities, Joe. the instructions on how to use the
been neglected for years. Gen Mundt’s program and the credits for the
efforts contributed significantly to program, begin your personalized study,
gaining approval for and finally continue your study, and replay the
implementing a $3.5B program that video. Some of the program features are
provided state-of-the-art ASE systems the ability to highlight text, watch
for Army aircrews operating in OEF/ videos, save your study data, add your
OIF. These efforts have saved valuable own notes, solve survivability problems,
aircraft assets and the lives of numerous monitor your progress through a report
aircrew members. He knows current card, and email questions to Dr. Ball.
ASE systems firsthand and strongly The user can save, quit, and return to
supports aircraft survivability as a total the program at any time, starting where
system incorporating electronic they previously stopped. All user notes,
countermeasures, suppression, highlighted text, finished subsections,
vulnerability reduction, and pilot and the report card are saved when the
situational awareness. The JASP user saves the program. Additional
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welcomes General Mundt to the CSD information on the SSSP and how to 0
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and looks forward to working with him Joe Manchor use it can be found on Prof. Ball’s g 2
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and NDIA to protect and enhance the Aircraft Combat Survivability pri
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effectiveness of our soldiers, sailors, The Aircraft Combat Survivability Education website, http://www. y •
airmen and marines. Self Study Program (SSSP) aircraft-survivability.com/Pages/ bilit
Education_Frame.html. a
SURVIAC is pleased to announce the viv
availability of the Aircraft Combat ur
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Survivability Self Study Program (SSSP). aft
The SSSP has been funded by the Joint cr
Air
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Obtaining the PROGRAM version directly from the website, and US Government civilian and military
The SSSP can be obtained from you may also request a CD containing employees can obtain a copy free of
SURVIAC at http://www.bahdayton. all of the versions. charge from SURVIAC.
com/surviac/survivabilityeducation.
htm. Versions of the program are Although the textbook is not required
available for both Windows and Apple when using this program, you may find
computers, and both versions require it helpful to have a copy available.
QuickTime. You can download any A copy of the textbook can be obtained
from AIAA at http://www.aiaa.org/
content.cfm?pageid=360&id=1008.
JCAT Corner
by CAPT Kenneth Branham, USN
2009 Threat Weapons and Effects demonstrations scheduled include Stinger stellar performance he demonstrated
Training Seminar missiles. ASDAT is also working with the while in Iraq. CDR Black is scheduled to
The Army component of the Joint Air Force Special Operations Command redeploy back to CONUS during the first
Combat Assessment Team (JCAT) is the DIT team to provide a small arms and quarter of calendar year 2009.
Army Shoot Down Assessment Team, anti-terrorist demonstration.
more commonly known as ASDAT. They CDR Cliff Burnette, USN, arrived in
will be hosting this year’s Threat Experienced instructors will provide Baghdad July 2008, serving as the JCAT
Weapons and Effects (TWE) Training current, relevant information briefs on LNO and assumed Surface-to-Air-FIRE
Seminar at Hurlburt Field/Eglin AFB, FL threat system upgrades, proliferation and Manager (SAFIRE) duties in October.
21–23 April 2009. The seminar’s title is lethality for countries of interest. They His duties as the SAFIRE Manager,
ASIA RISING and will focus on the are typically very informative with which includes the collection, organizing
United States Pacific Command detailed analysis supported by the and reporting of SAFIRE information
(PACOM) area of responsibility. The Missile and Space Intelligence Center throughout the entire theater, is critical
seminar is held annually and is a (MISC) and National Ground to combatant commanders and analysis
collaborative effort between the JCAT Intelligence Center (NGIC) of the personnel alike. He provides Multi-
[sponsored by the Joint Aircraft Defense Intelligence Agency. Other briefs National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) and
Survivability Program Office (JASP), usually include JASP & JLF-Air battlefield commanders key tools to
Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC), overviews, JCAT summary and incident conduct aircraft battle damage
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), briefs, and ASDAT summary briefs, as assessments/investigations, forensic
and the Army Research Laboratory], well as specific country Intel briefs.
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) (with Continued on page 31
support from the Missile and Space The seminar is classified secret/NOFORN
Intelligence Center), and other agencies. and is open to operations, intelligence,
Last year’s TWE was a huge success and tactics, logistics, as well as engineering
standing room only for a few unfortunate and analysis personnel. Be watching for
guests—there were 249 registered additional announcements for an
conference attendees for an auditorium outstanding opportunity for some in
seating 200 personnel. depth threat weapons training and
professional development.
The goal of the seminar is to provide not
only intellectual stimulus but also JCAT News…From the Front
LTJG Kiefer and CW03 Mesa Assessing Damage to
practical, hands-on training on the The Joint Combat Assessment Team
a CH-53 at Al Asad Air Base
lethality of threat air defense systems and (JCAT) forward continues to support the
the damage they can inflict on friendly warfighter in both theaters of the war.
aircraft. Information is drawn from threat CDR Craig Black, USN, arrived in Al
exploitation, live fire testing, and combat Asad in June 2008 and served as the OIC
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0 experience to provide a complete picture until November 2008 when he redeployed
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bilit damaged aircraft hardware, and videos conducting assessments and training
a from various test activities and actual Army and Marine Corps aviation units.
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Air Systems (MANPADS) education trailer from Craig since heading for the high LTJG Kiefer as He Arrives in Theater Aboard
a USAF C-17
for more hands on exposure. Live fire mountains, but know he is continuing the
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Reducing Aircraft Combat Casualties
by Dr. Joel Williamsen
Historically, aircraft combat survivability design metrics and evaluations have focused on what
happens to the aircraft, with only limited consideration given to casualties generated during
combat-induced aircraft damage or loss. Recognizing this, on 6 May the National Defense
Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Combat Survivability Division held its annual Aircraft
Survivability Workshop at IDA on “Reducing Aircraft Combat Casualties,” developing the topic in
concert with the Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation (DOT&E) as an outgrowth from
last year’s NDIA workshop on aircraft vulnerability reduction, as well as from studies of recent
air combat casualty data from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The objectives of this workshop were to (MANPADS) missiles are sometimes damage-induced crashes have differing
identify critical needs (technologies, survivable. Aircraft having design and more debilitating on-board
policies, analysis methods, and/or features such as fire protection, energy conditions prior to the crash than in
procedures) for understanding and absorbing seats, and the ability to non-combat related mishaps. These
reducing aircrew/passenger casualties maintain sufficient internal space for conditions might include an increased
during combat, and to explore the crew/passengers after a crash from incident of fire, explosions/reactions of
advantages of better integrating combat being injured by collapsing massive combustible materials and toxic fumes
survivability and safety communities to overhead components (e.g., rotors and onboard the aircraft, more severe loss of
achieve this. Eighty-two participants gearboxes) can make a significant control and power, and the presence of
from 28 government and industry difference in crash survival rates. structural damage that reduces the
organizations—including warfighters, ➤ Passengers make up a majority of aircraft’s inherent crashworthiness. By
aircraft designers and fabricators, aircraft occupant losses in Operation closely analyzing the data retrieved from
program managers, and survivability and Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation the combat-related crashes and
safety specialists—came together to study Enduring Freedom (OEF). establishing design requirements based on
combat data, share information, and ➤ Combat-related shoot-down assess- these data, some damage attenuating
brainstorm ideas for ongoing or ments do not contain the same type technologies such as fire extinguishers
upcoming programs that could benefit of information normally developed and more damage tolerant (soft) landing
aircraft crew and passenger combat during aircraft mishap/accident design features might more readily “buy
survivability. The findings and investigations. Data regarding the their way” onto an aircraft.
recommendations from the workshop nature of the casualties (type of
will be presented this summer to Mr. injury, condition of the aircraft at Though all Services are committed to
John Young, Under Secretary of Defense the time of crash, etc.) and those improving aircraft occupant survivability
for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, who are uninjured (numbers, through (combat-related) vulnerability
with copies to other Pentagon leaders. locations, protective equipment, etc.) reduction and (peacetime) crash safety/
Copies of the report may be obtained are not currently being gathered in egress technologies, communication
from Mereidieth Geary at NDIA. theater, and are not available for between these two related technical
dissemination to designers. communities varies greatly from Service
to Service. The Army rotary wing
Summary of Findings Injury data related to mishaps can be community has achieved the closest
used to inform designers, but are not communication between the crash safety
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Combat and Mishap Casualty Data always readily available for use, or in a and combat-related vulnerability 0
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Recent combat data indicate that— form that could guide the development of reduction personnel, since these g
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➤ Most of the occupant injuries and requirements. A study summarizing organizations are co-located in the same pri
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fatalities appear to have occurred as injuries related to DoD helicopter organization at the branch level. In y •
a subsequent, indirect result of the mishaps from 1985 to 2005 has recently general, more communication between bilit
crash—not as a result of direct threat been presented by Col Peter Mapes from the safety and vulnerability reduction a
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Even helicopter shoot-downs by does not include combat-related crash Air
man-portable air-defense systems casualty data. It is possible that combat
7
Needed: Design Focus on Casualties casualties are not typically reported as elements of aircraft survivability.
Rotary wing aircraft have significantly outputs. The models do not address Consequently, an increase in resources
increased their gross weight since the casualties from indirect effects such as will likely be required in order to
original airframes were tested for crashes. Moreover, post-test damage support this expanded scope and reduce
crashworthiness, and even then, some of assessments do not report any inferences air combat casualties.
the aircraft did not pass the existing regarding personnel casualties.
standards. New standards are being Enhancements to vulnerability models Recommendations
developed that will include the effects of will be required to address occupant The general recommendation from the
varying the type of terrain at impact (i.e., casualties from indirect effects, workshop is for DoD to support the
grass, sand, and water); however, these accounting for safe escape from a aircraft survivability and safety
standards are being developed without damaged aircraft in flight, crash survival, communities in gathering, sharing, and
the benefit of combat-related crash and and safe escape from a downed aircraft. distributing data on combat-related
casualty data, as it is not available. Post-test damage assessments would need aircraft crew and passenger casualties;
to include inferences as to what might extend current aircraft survivability
Aircraft survivability evaluations and have happened to the occupants, in order evaluations to include explicit estimates
vulnerability testing have historically to make comparisons with model of occupant combat casualties; require
focused on the loss of the aircraft or its predicted outcomes to validate the that post-test damage assessments take
mission, and not on occupant casualties. models or analysis methods. into account any inferences that can be
Although many of the steps taken to save drawn regarding personnel casualties;
the aircraft can also save the occupants, The new Joint Cargo Aircraft program and encourage the use of casualty-based
attention also should be paid to saving will include a crew and passenger metrics as a basis for the development of
the occupants even when the aircraft is casualty (CAP-C) evaluation that aircraft Force Protection requirements.
lost. Likewise, design features that are considers a mix of inputs from
optimized to reduce aircraft losses probabilistic vulnerability models, threat Five specific recommendations emerged
(within constraints on cost, weight, and vignettes, landing scenarios, and egress from the workshop. DoD should—
effectiveness) might not be optimal for exercises to produce an evaluation of 1. Encourage design engineers and
reducing occupant casualties. For crew casualties from the point of threat evaluators to consider crashworthi-
example, H-60 accident investigations encounter all the way to a safe landing. ness, egress, and other casualty
showed that loss of power was the most Such a mixed quantitative/qualitative reducing features during acquisition
frequent mechanical cause of Class A evaluation strategy appears to be a viable of new systems, and improve
incidents (in which the resulting total alternative until more sophisticated occupant survivability from combat-
cost of property damage is $1,000,000 models are developed. related crashes.
or more; an aircraft is destroyed, 2. Develop a process to acquire and
missing, or abandoned; or an injury and/ Focus on Casualties in Requirements integrate combat-related casualty
or occupational illness results in a Development and Evaluation data with mishap casualty data,
fatality or permanent total disability), As indicated earlier, DOT&E has already and enable release of these data to
but that loss of control caused the signaled an increased emphasis on the aircraft design communities
greatest total number of casualties, casualty evaluation and reduction in a to improve crew and passenger
because the crashes were worse. letter to the Joint Aircraft Survivability survivability. Questions to be
Program (JASP) stating that “assessment answered include—
New design improvements needed for of aircraft crew and passenger casualties • Were casualties induced by direct
reducing casualties will require the to the point of safe return or egress is an fire, combustibles’ reactions
extension of current analysis methods or important element of the Congressionally or crashes?
models and test procedures to explicitly mandated Live Fire Test and Evaluation, • What system failures caused
address occupant casualties. In response including evaluation of personnel each crash?
to this need, in November 2007 DOT&E casualties due to combat-related in-flight • Do combat threat-induced crashes
issued a directive to expand survivability escape and crash events. This necessitates produce more post-crash fatalities/
assessments to include evaluation of acquisition decision makers, system injuries than non-combat causes
casualties due to both direct and indirect designers and requirements writers to for crashes?
damage effects (indirect effects including make quantifiable casualty predictions to • What safety features (seats, egress,
instances where the occupant is not evaluate applicable technologies and fire suppression) need to be
directly injured by the threat but suffers procedures that reduce crew and improved, especially considering
subsequent injuries from bail out/ passenger casualty risk after initial threat effects?
ejections, secondary damage effects, aircraft hits.” The resulting methodology • What aircraft features contributed
9
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bilit To fully address casualties, both analysis as in design trade studies. features prevented casualties
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Air capable of estimating crew casualties aircraft, and have not considered egress, passenger casualty levels for aircraft;
from direct ballistic impacts, but ditching, and crashworthiness as pursue the establishment of casualty-
8
related aircraft Force Protection • Models should— 5. Support the expanded role of the Joint
requirements using these metrics; and – Support the requirements Aircraft Survivability Program as the
evaluate legacy aircraft performance definition process Tri-Service coordinator for above
using these metrics to reduce casual- – Support the design and trade recommendations. n
ties. Specific actions should include— study processes
• Include crew casualty evaluation – Maintain relevance to the
in the system Test and Evaluation acquisition decision process.
Master Plan (TEMP), incorporat- 4. Establish routine opportunities for
ing safe landing and egress exchange and/or joint development of
considerations. technology, design tools and evalua-
• In Live Fire test plans, include tion methodologies within the aircraft
explicit requirements and test combat survivability and the aircraft
issues for assessment of crew and non-combat operational safety
passenger survivability (including communities. Areas of emphasis
effects on safe landing or egress) should include—
as part of the post-test damage • Simulated combat damage and
assessment. secondary effects (smoke, impedi-
• Once a verifiable casualty-related ments, etc.) in aircraft egress
methodology is developed, pursue safety evaluations.
the development of Force Protection • Coordination with other organiza-
KPPs that relate directly to crew tions that might have an interest in
and passenger casualties this area, such as FAA, NASA, and
• Develop computer models that the auto industry.
determine fixed and rotary wing – Survey available crash test
crash conditions given damage, facilities, manikins, technolo-
considering that there may different gies, etc.
approaches between these aircraft. – Survey injury categories from
peacetime mishaps and DoD
ground vehicles in formulating
casualty metrics.
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