Initial Design Requirements

Written By Karl Kurniawan

Basic Design Requirements

These requirements are the basic requirements based on the project overview document found in cuLearn. 

  1. Originality

    1. Aircraft must be a “clean sheet” fixed-wing with VTOL concept rather than a derivative of an existing aircraft.

    2. Designs that are derivatives of existing aircraft are not acceptable and will be penalized.

  2. Certification

    1. All designs must meet the appropriate requirements described in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) – specifically AWM-523 Normal, Utility, Aerobatic, and Commuter Category Aeroplanes. You may also refer to US FARs, EASA CARs and ASTM standards to support your design process.

    2. As the term progresses, relevant sections of the CARs and FARs will be highlighted by the instructor and TAs.

  3. Passenger and Payload

    1. The aircraft must carry 4 passengers (90 kg + 20 kg baggage each which totals 440kg)

    2. Crew: one pilot (90 kg + 20 kg baggage which brings the total payload to 550kg)

  4. Structural Design and Loads

    1. Required gust and maneuvering loads are specified in AWM 523 section 523.335, 337, and 341.

  5. Basic Aircraft Stability

    1. Determine an appropriate location for center-of-gravity to ensure positive longitudinal stability during cruise, take-off, and landing.

    2. Estimate fore and aft center-of-gravity limits

    3. Determine the size and location of the vertical and horizontal control surfaces

  6. Avionics and Systems

    1. Review minimum equipment list (MEL) for Transport Category Aeroplanes (AWM 523/FAR 23) and provide a recommended list of avionics and systems to operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) [1].

    2. Identify requirements for an emergency Autoland capability to autonomously land the aircraft in the event the pilot is incapacitated. Passengers must be able to trigger the system

  7. Cabin design

    1. Your final design must include details of the passenger seating, regular and emergency exit locations, and cabin layout for 5th percentile female to 95th percentile male passengers. You should also consider accommodations for passengers with limited mobility.

    2. Your cabin design must include provisions for luggage stowage and safe entry and exit in accordance with the AWM 523/FAR 23 requirements. The location of the luggage stowage area must be shown on your submitted drawings.

    3. Since this aircraft is to be operated throughout Canada under all weather conditions, you must also consider passenger comfort and safety in cold weather conditions. For example, passengers may wear bulky cold-weather clothing and the aircraft must be able to safely escape from limited icing conditions

Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (Can-AAM) aircraft design requirements

These basic mission requirements outline were provided from the project outline [2].

Criteria Requirement
Baseline consumable fuel
mission sizing		 • 4 passengers plus 1 crew and baggage
• Cruise speed of 100-200 kts
• 300 km (162 nmi)
• Divert range of 30 km
• Assume only consumable fuel without batteries and find the maximum take-off weight.
• Assume 5% of fuel weight is needed for vertical take-off and landing.
Fully Electric Version Analysis

• Assume full passenger, crew, and baggage weights
• Maximum take-off weight as determined for the long-range sizing mission

• Determine the maximum all-electric range for your aircraft at the same MTOW as above.
• Assume latest-generation lithium battery performance.
Service ceiling

• 3,000 m (9,842 ft) ASL
Engine(s)

• 1-3 piston or small gas turbine engines (consumable fuel version)
• Engines to be replaced with electric motors for a fully electric version.
Stall speed

• 61 kts (AWM 523.49)
Vertical take-off and landing

• Aircraft must be able to take off and land within a 20 m X 20 m square clearing.
Additional requirements

• Aircraft must be equipped with an ADS-B transponder meeting new FAA and proposed Transport Canada requirements.
• The final drawing must include a cabin cross-section showing aisle and seat arrangements and an inboard profile (side cross-section) showing the internal layout of the cabin, major systems, and cockpit.

Additional Requirements

Passenger and Crew Comfort

  1. Passengers should have enough space similar to a business class airline seating at the very least.

  2. The layout of the equipment should be comfortable and straightforward to identify with comfortable space for the operator.

  3. Crew and passengers should have clear visibility to the environment outside of the aircraft.

  4. The passenger compartment should be spacious and modular for easy layout conversions or even conversion to cargo aircraft if needed.

  1. Propulsion

    1. Should utilize reliable engines that can be serviced easily and have large parts support.

    2. Or, utilize new technology such as electric motor or industry breaking technology.

    3. Have a reasonable fuel consumption similar to twin-engined aircraft at similar size and capacity.

    4. There should be enough space for the possibility of adding an auxiliary fuel tank.

  2. Safety

    1. Aircraft should have a redundant propulsion system that should enable them to fly and land safely even with partial propulsion failure.

    2. Aircraft should be able to land in various conditions relatively safely in case of emergency.

    3. An automatic fire suppression system should be built in when possible.

  3. Size and Weight

    1. Aircraft MTOW should be no more than 4000kg or 9,000 lbs.

    2. Aircraft should be reasonably sized to fit in a 20m x 20m landing area.

  4. IFR Requirement

    1. Aircraft must carry sufficient fuel for aircraft to execute an approach, arrive and land at alternate destination aerodrome, and fly for 45 minutes[1],

References:

[1] Transport Canada, AWM 523.337 Limit Manoeuvring Load Factors.

[2] AERO 3002, “PA and Project Overview,”

[3] Canadian Aviation Regulation, Section. 602.88. 2019

Karl Kurniawan
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