A Persistent Monitoring System to Reduce Navy Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck Mishaps

This research analyzes the use of modern GN&C concepts, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), with the potential for improvements in the safety of aircraft, equipment, and personnel onboard a United States Navy (USN) aircraft carrier. The results of a detailed analysis of USN safety records since 1980 show that mishaps which could potentially be prevented by a persistent monitoring system have resulted in the deaths of 13 sailors and account for over $90 million in damages, or 5% of the total cost of all flight deck and hangar bay related mishaps. Research efforts included a study of the movements of USN personnel and an FA-18C aircraft being towed at NAS Oceana, VA. Pseudospectral motion planning techniques are explored to provide route prediction for aircraft, support equipment, and personnel. A system to continually monitor flight deck operations is proposed, with four successive levels of increasing capability.

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