Optimization of Balanced Field Length Performance of Multi-Engine Helicopters. AnApplication of Non-Linear Programming and Collocation

摘要

The main objective of this study is to develop a tool that computes completetrajectories, addressing the rejected (TRO) and continued (CTO) flight simultaneously and including the all-engines-operating phase, so that complete balanced field lengths (BFL) are directly optimized. For this purpose, a direct optimization method, based on discretization using collocation is applied. This method is capable of handling discontinuities in a trajectory and inequality boundary and path constraints are easily introduced; moreover, it provides great flexibility in changing or extending problems to consider different operations or conditions.