For those who prefer a free-deck landing system, Indal ASIST offers the benefits of Curtiss-Wright’s advanced handling technology in a lightweight, fully integrated ‘wireless’ system.
Using ASIST, helicopter landings are made solely by the pilot, during a quiescent period in ship motion. During descent, ASIST’s precision Helicopter Position Sensing Equipment (HPSE) system continuously tracks and monitors the exact position of the aircraft, relative to the designated landing area and displays it to the pilot through a series of visual landing cues.
Guidance data is simultaneously relayed to a computer-controlled Rapid Securing Device (RSD), which automatically moves fore and aft along the flight deck track to maintain its position directly beneath a probe on the underside of the helicopter. Immediately upon touchdown, the probe is secured by the RSD, and the aircraft is ready to be aligned and traversed into the hangar.
On deck, manoeuvring is easily conducted with a single operator with no need to connect any ancillary equipment or guide cables to the helicopter. The unique design of the Indal ASIST RSD enables a single operator to rotate a 30,000lb helicopter through 360° within the confines of the flight deck – all while maintaining complete security in extreme sea states. To date, approximately 30 systems are installed or on order for five navies, on seven ship types, operating with five different helicopters.