The River-class offshore patrol vessel, HMS Trent, has tested a brand-new system designed to guide pilots in rough seas or during night operations ahead of a deployment to the Caribbean.
Royal Navy press release
HMS Trent carried three days of concentrated flying operations with a Wildcat attack helicopter to test a new lighting setup known as a Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System (HVLAS) which provides a guide for pilots to land onto the ship’s flight deck in adverse conditions or at night.
“This is a major milestone in Trent’s regeneration and brings us one step closer to returning to the Caribbean later this year,” said Lieutenant Harry Jukes, HMS Trent’s Weapon Engineer Officer.
“The last few days have seen a significant effort from the crew as we conducted flying trials – both by day and night – to validate our aviation systems and procedures, ensuring we’re ready to support missions including counter-narcotics and humanitarian aid.”
The HVLAS is made up of a stabilised horizon light bar and glide path indicator which feeds valuable information to pilots during approach and landing, particularly in adverse conditions or during night operations. There are additional lights on the flight deck itself that highlight the edges so pilots know where to land, and laser eye-lines so they can land in precisely the right spot.
The lighting system is also fully compatible with night-vision devices and includes variable intensity controls for improved visibility.
Although Trent does not carry a helicopter, she will work regularly with those from the US Coast Guard when conducting drug-busting patrols of the Caribbean, and regional military/emergency services when carrying out disaster relief operations in the wake of a hurricane.
Lt Jukes added: “The lighting system is a brand-new type to the Royal Navy and the offshore patrol vessels. For a start we have a new stabilised, horizon bar, which is showing the pilots where the horizon is regardless of how much the ship rolls or pitches.
“The brand-new stabilised glide path indicator provides information to the pilot on what angle to come into the ship at. The new flight deck lights are particularly good, as we are able to change their intensity such that when the pilot is coming in on approach, they are not hindered by the brightness, particularly when using night vision compatible devices.”
As part of intensive Operational Training and Assessment, which passes the ship ready for front-line duties, Trent carried out three days of intensive flying training with the Wildcat – the first time a helicopter has worked with the ship in three years.
Experts from Plymouth-based Fleet Operational Standards and Training, including aircrew, aircrew, engineers, and flight deck safety personnel came aboard to put officers and sailors through their paces until Trent was assessed to be fully ready to operate aviation.
The new deck lighting and fuel delivery systems were tested under live conditions, culminating in day-into-night flight operations – replicating real-world scenarios and emergency procedures.
With the most intensive phase out the way, Trent is now in Portsmouth ahead of putting the final touches in place ahead of deploying to the Caribbean for counter-narcotics patrols and supporting British Overseas Territories during hurricane season.
Trent has spent the last half a decade patrolling the Mediterranean, West Africa and Caribbean waters, but has been back in UK waters for the past month to test major upgrade work completed in Malta.
The ship calls His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth home – despite her fleeting presence there, but is back for a short visit.
– End –
