Qualification of Military Aircraft
NLR assists the Ministry of Defense on a regular basis with the qualification of modifica-
tions on the existing fixed-wing and rotary wing fleet and with the qualification of newly
procured aircraft.
Qualification addresses the whole platform, also called weapon system, from its systems
and design characteristics up to its operational use. This requires knowledge of a variety
of engineering disciplines such as flight performances and handling qualities, structu-
res, avionics and mission systems, software, human factors, safety, test installations and
instrumentation. The NLR organization, characterized by its multi-disciplinary expertise
and diverse facilities, is in the unique position to provide support for all these aspects.
First RNLN NH90 helicopter at Den Helder in the Netherlands (Courtesy RNLN)
Besides technical expertise, NLR has also extensive knowledge of applicable civil as
well as military regulations, guidelines and the processes followed to qualify a system, a
modification or a complete aircraft.
NLR Qualification of Military Aircraft — October 2007
Purpose of Qualification
The qualification of an aircraft (or part of an aircraft) constitutes the process of verifying
that a specific aircraft configuration complies with a specified set of requirements, taking
into account its intended operational use. Often distinction is made between:
•� Airworthiness qualification: verifying compliance with applicable
airworthiness requirements, and
•� Performance qualification: verifying compliance with contractual
performance and functional requirements.
RNLAF Cougar helicopter flight tests for the qualification of a helmet mounted display system
In accordance with national law, the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the registrati-
on and airworthiness of the (military) aircraft in their inventory. Each operational aircraft
is legally required to have a valid Certificate of Airworthiness. This certificate is issued by
the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) on basis of conformity with the type design.
The airworthiness qualification aims at demonstrating “fitness for flight” of the (modified)
type design and is formally acknowledged by a Military Type Certificate, issued by the
MAA and kept under the responsibility of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).
For contractual acceptance of an aircraft modification or newly procured aircraft, the
performance qualification serves to confirm the required aircraft system capabilities and
to demonstrate “fitness for purpose”.
In case of an aircraft modification, both the modified systems and the impact on the vali-
dity of the already existing qualification evidence must be taken into account.
NLR Qualification of Military Aircraft — October 2007
The Qualification Process
Each qualification process is basicly conducted in accordance with the following steps:
• Qualification Basis definition: the (modified) configuration, its
qualification status and the applicable requirements are defined in a
Qualification Plan.
• Means of Compliance (MoC) definition: the verification methods that
will be used and the activities that will be performed to demonstrate
compliance with each requirement are defined in a Compliance Plan.
• Compliance Demonstration: the experimental and analytical verification
activities are performed and documented in Test Reports and Verification
Reports.
•� Compliance Check: A final check is performed to verify that for each
requirement all verification activities have successfully been
performed and/or adequate follow-up actions have been defined. This
check, together with a summary of the overall process and a
recommendation for type certification, is documented in the Qualification
Substantiation Report.
NLR Qualification of Military Aircraft — October 2007
Supporting the Armed Forces
NLR provides the following types of support in the area of military qualification:
• Definition and/or management of qualification projects for the introduction of
modifications on existing aircraft, in support of the DMO;
• Execution of verification activities within a qualification project, such as
analyses, laboratory tests or flight tests;
• Monitoring qualification activities performed by other parties, assessment of
related substantiation documents and providing recommendations, in support of
Project Offices for the procurement of new aircraft;
• Assessment of substantiation documents provided by other parties and
providing recommendations, in support of the MAA;
• Advising on applicability and tailoring of regulations and procedures, in
support of the DMO or the MAA.
Examples of qualification projects with NLR involvement
� • Qualification of the NH90 helicopter:
- Supporting the Project Office: Participation in the international Qualification Group,
monitoring of national qualification activities performed by Dutch industrial parties.
- Supporting national Industry: Execution of structure laboratory and rig tests, safety
analyses, flight test data analyses, qualification process management.
�
• Definition and management of qualification projects, including execution of
several verification activities, for the qualification of:
- several modifications for the F-16 aircraft fleet: integration of new
mission systems with associated external pods or stores;
- a usage monitoring system implementing maintenance credits for the
Lynx helicopters;
- a helmet mounted display system for the Cougar helicopters.
�
• Cockpit Upgrade Programs for the KDC-10 and C-130 Hercules aircraft and
the CH-47 Chinook helicopter: Supporting the DMO in monitoring
qualification activities performed by the aircraft manufacturers and suppliers.
In addition, NLR participates in programs and performs studies on the development of
suitable regulations for the certification of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s).
For more information:
NLR Aerospace Vehicles Division; NLR Amsterdam NLR Noordoostpolder
Business Manager Anthony Fokkerweg 2, 1059 CM Amsterdam Voorsterweg 31, 8316 PR Marknesse
B.J. Freriks P.O. Box 90502, 1006 BM Amsterdam P.O. Box 153, 8300 AD Emmeloord
E-mail freriks@nlr.nl Telephone +31 20 511 31 13 Telephone +31 527 24 84 44
F 284-01
Telephone +31 20 511 33 15 Fax +31 20 511 32 10 Fax +31 527 24 82 10
Web site http://www.nlr.nl The Netherlands The Netherlands