CSIO develops day-night chopper operation system for ships

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 8

An Integrated Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System (HVLAS), that provides optical references and signals for safe operations of a chopper from the deck of a ship at sea, has been developed for the Navy and the Coast Guard by the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) here.

The technology for the commercial production of the system was transferred to Elcome Integrated Systems Private Limited, a Mumbai-based firm, today.

This is a state-of-the-art technology to ensure day, night and low visibility operations with ease and precision. There are a number of ships in service as well as future acquisitions on which this system will be installed.

“The HVLAS provides deck illumination and visual signaling, including compatibility with night vision goggles for low light operations. The system also provides safety indications to helicopter pilots whether landing is possible or not, as well as the recommended moment for the touchdown,” said Dr Raj Kumar Pal, the project leader, and Dr Vinod Karar, chief scientist.

“The HVLAS has been designed for coordinated operation of various lights and optical references to indicate safe approach path to the approaching helicopter. The system also caters to provide warning to abort landing in case the ambient conditions are not conducive,” they added.

“The main components of the system are the stabilised horizontal reference system, the stabilised glide slope indicator, the LED deck lights, landing officer panel and the landing support software, including the landing period designator and the centralised control unit,” they said.

“The deck lights are of various types and colour such as stop/go lights, waive-off light, flush mounted deck edge lights, line-up lights, extended line-up lights and the hangar reference lights, in addition to flood light,” they added.

“Another critical part of the HVLAS is the homing beacon that has its internal flashing module switched on during the helicopter approach and allows the pilot to locate the ship from a distance in poor visibility conditions or at night,” they said.

About technology 

This is a state-of-the-art technology to ensure day, night and low visibility operations with ease and precision. There are a number of ships in service as well as future acquisitions on which this system will be installed.