A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement

A modern day airborne law enforcement helicopter is an exercise in compromise. Applying a Systems Engineering approach to selecting and outfitting a helicopter for airborne law enforcement can bring order to the process. The Suffolk County Police Aviation Section of New York was used as an example a...

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Main Author: Lombardi, Francesco J.
Published: Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/464
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spelling ndltd-UTENN-oai-trace.tennessee.edu-utk_gradthes-15002011-12-13T16:12:03Z A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement Lombardi, Francesco J. A modern day airborne law enforcement helicopter is an exercise in compromise. Applying a Systems Engineering approach to selecting and outfitting a helicopter for airborne law enforcement can bring order to the process. The Suffolk County Police Aviation Section of New York was used as an example agency profile in analyzing mission requirements, establishing constraints, and analyzing alternatives. A benchmark survey was established for use in comparison. Benchmark trends indicated power margin and useful load as the primary performance requirements of an airborne platform with a primary mission of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and a secondary mission of patrol. EMS requirements indicated the optimal airframe was a twin engine, while optimal for the patrol mission was single engine. Lack of mission systems integration with the airframe was the largest deficiency cited with reference to equipment. Thorough analysis of interfaces identified areas of systems integration that required special consideration. Current fleet deficiencies in power margin and useful load may be the result of over-laden aircraft, as opposed to underpowered airframes. Distinctions were made between goals and requirements. Analysis of subsystems resulted in suggestions of reduced mission profile weights for performance gains. Alternatives were examined by developing a grid analysis tool. A need was established for professional training of locallevel airborne law enforcement personnel in systems test and evaluation. 2008-12-01 text http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/464 Masters Theses Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Engineering
collection NDLTD
sources NDLTD
topic Engineering
spellingShingle Engineering
Lombardi, Francesco J.
A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement
description A modern day airborne law enforcement helicopter is an exercise in compromise. Applying a Systems Engineering approach to selecting and outfitting a helicopter for airborne law enforcement can bring order to the process. The Suffolk County Police Aviation Section of New York was used as an example agency profile in analyzing mission requirements, establishing constraints, and analyzing alternatives. A benchmark survey was established for use in comparison. Benchmark trends indicated power margin and useful load as the primary performance requirements of an airborne platform with a primary mission of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and a secondary mission of patrol. EMS requirements indicated the optimal airframe was a twin engine, while optimal for the patrol mission was single engine. Lack of mission systems integration with the airframe was the largest deficiency cited with reference to equipment. Thorough analysis of interfaces identified areas of systems integration that required special consideration. Current fleet deficiencies in power margin and useful load may be the result of over-laden aircraft, as opposed to underpowered airframes. Distinctions were made between goals and requirements. Analysis of subsystems resulted in suggestions of reduced mission profile weights for performance gains. Alternatives were examined by developing a grid analysis tool. A need was established for professional training of locallevel airborne law enforcement personnel in systems test and evaluation.
author Lombardi, Francesco J.
author_facet Lombardi, Francesco J.
author_sort Lombardi, Francesco J.
title A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement
title_short A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement
title_full A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement
title_fullStr A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement
title_full_unstemmed A Systems Approach to Selecting and Outfitting a Helicopter for Airborne Law Enforcement
title_sort systems approach to selecting and outfitting a helicopter for airborne law enforcement
publisher Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange
publishDate 2008
url http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/464
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