Sandblaster and LVL ‘clear the air’ | Aviation International News

Sandblaster and LVL ‘clear the air’

Extended rotary-wing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought the problems of “brown-out” sharply into focus.

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

June 9, 2009

Extended rotary-wing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought the problems of “brown-out” sharply into focus. There have been numerous accidents as helicopters attempt to land when visibility has been severely impaired by billowing dust and sand. Recognizing the problem, both U.S. and UK defense officials have launched programs to find solutions.

In the U.S. the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is running a program called Sandblaster. The first phase was to conduct a series of trials to characterize the nature of “brown-out” clouds. A variety of current U.S. helicopter types were used to create dust clouds, which were then measured for cloud geometry, particle density and particle size. Data from these trials allowed cloud characteristics to be emulated in laboratories for tests of sensors such as LADAR, infrared and millimeter-wave radar.

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