Feature 4 | HELICOPTER HANDLING
company having sold more than 230
examples of Trigon, which is handling or
‘traversing’ as many as 14 different aircraft RAM handler for Royal
types. New features continue to be added to
Trigon on an ongoing basis, he explained, New Zealand Navy
noting that all of the systems sold nowadays
are electronically driven and have built-
in fault diagnostics to help operators and Following extensive trials, the Royal New Zealand Navy has chosen the Douglas
maintainers. RAM as the helicopter deck handling system for its new MRV vessel HMNZS
‘Another important requirement arises Canterbury.
from the fact that smaller ships have greater As sales director – special products Ron Hopkins explained, Douglas worked for
motions than their large counterparts,’ some time in conjunction with the New Zealand Navy during the period the vessel
said Mr Bevan. ‘This means that the helo was being built in Rotterdam and during its sea trials.
handling system needs to be very flexible ‘RAM is designed to fit inside an aircraft’s “footprint” to ensure tightest possible
and easy to operate. Navies also need a aircraft parking density, and includes a number of optional deck wire guidance
system that can handle different aircraft systems which automate the aircraft parking position process and eliminate
types – many say they don’t want to be tied- possible aircraft damage when operating in tight clearance and adverse
in to a system which will limit the aircraft conditions such as marine embarked helicopters using small flight deck with
types that can be recovered onto their vessels hangar doors in high sea states,’ Mr Hopkins explained.
in future.’ Rail-based systems tend to limit The system handles all current and proposed helicopters, and is specifically
aircraft types more than non-rail-based designed to work even with aircraft with deflated tyres and collapsed legs.
types of equipment, claims Mr Bevan. The RAM handler has a number of features, including digital control with an
Speaking to Warship Technology in umbilical to a ‘chest pack’ operator module, fully mapped traction management,
early February, Curtiss-Wright Controls full regenerative braking, and a computer-controlled and monitored battery
spokespersons Jay Doyle and Andrew Brand management system.
noted that whereas in the past helo handling In Mr Hopkins’ view, using a RAM handler makes other types of well-known helo
systems used to be specified for ships of handling systems ‘redundant’, and has the added advantage that the system is not
4000tonnes and upwards, nowadays ships of ‘ship dedicated’ – it can be moved from ship to ship, as required.
circa 1500tonnes-1800tonnes displacement Mr Hopkins also highlighted what he said is a growing trend away from
are being specified with helo handling. embedded systems. ‘The UK’s Type 45 will not have an embedded system,’ he
For designers and manufacturers of explained, ‘which will save millions.’
helo handling systems this brings certain
challenges, not least that in a given sea
Douglas Equipment’s RAM handler has all of the advantages of a non-embedded
state a smaller platform will experience
system, and was most recently selected by the Royal New Zealand Navy.
greater motions and accelerations, so the
performance level expected of the system
increases significantly. As Mr Brand pointed
out, smaller ships tend to have ‘less real
estate’ to accommodate a helo handling
system, and the loads on the vessel tend to
be greater too.
‘Automation is also an increasing trend,’
Mr Doyle explained, noting that all of
the new frigate and OPV programmes
stipulate reduced manning levels. ‘Reduced
maintenance is also an issue, and the “new
helo navies” need to be assured that there is
very little risk of their aircraft being damaged
by the handling system.’
‘Providing a helo handling system for
a new vessel also demands an in-depth
understanding of ship motions,’ said Mr
Doyle, ‘and flexibility is tremendously
important. In the old days, a system might
have to handle a single aircraft, but a helo
handling system needs to be able to handle
20 Warship Technology March 2008
WT Mar - p18+20+21.indd 20 03/03/2008 14:01:03
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