Helping the Royal Canadian Navy buy the right helicopters.

The Royal Canadian Navy wanted to acquire new helicopters for the nation’s existing fleet. Before making an investment decision, it was critical to evaluate the strength of the flight deck structures when subjected to the operational loads of potential new helicopters. Our applied technology experts were commissioned to carry out the relevant analysis.

We worked closely with our client on this project. This collaborative approach brought together our combined understanding of the design methodologies of different standards for the design of naval flight decks, and their application to the Halifax Class flight deck in particular. 

Our support included: 

• assessing the landing and parking loads of four different types of helicopter
• performing structural analyses of a flight deck’s landing and parking areas using finite element methods
• analysing deck plating, longitudinal stiffeners and transverse beams in detail by applying the landing and parking loads according to design standard NES 154 and DMEM 10.

We also developed a safe operating envelope for the Halifax Class flight deck, again using the design standard NES 154 and DMEM 10.

Our support provided the Royal Canadian Navy with the confidence needed to make the right helicopter investment decision, and establish a safe operating envelope.