(Halifax) A year after software flaws were confirmed to be the cause of a military helicopter crash that killed six personnel, the Department of National Defense says it has found a fix, but is still working on a timetable for completing the changes in all its devices.
Posted at 10:05 p.m.
A flight safety investigation review released in June 2021 found that the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter’s autopilot controls plunged the plane into the Ionian Sea, part of the Mediterranean Sea, while the pilot was attempting to make a sharp turn back to HMCS Fredericton, April 29, 2020.
The pilot was unable to regain manual control of the aircraft before the helicopter hit the ocean, killing Matthew Cousins, Abbigail Cowbrough, Kevin Hagen, Brenden MacDonald, Maxime Miron-Morin and Matthew Pyke.
Following the report’s release, Duke University’s Humans and Autonomy Lab director Mary Cummings told The Canadian Press in an interview that the pilot’s inability to regain control from automated software was “a very serious problem” that needed to be resolved “immediately”.
Last week, the Department of National Defense declined interview requests and instead provided an email response to questions from The Canadian Press about the Canadian Air Force’s progress in resolving the software problem.
Ministry spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande assured that Sikorsky, the aircraft manufacturer, its contractors and the ministry have considered the proposed changes to the flight control software, and added that Sikorsky and the The Royal Canadian Air Force had carried out follow-up tests.
“As a result, a technical solution that meets the recommendations of the flight safety investigation report has been found,” explained Mr.me Lamiranda.
The software change ‘will provide greater latitude to maneuver the aircraft safely’ if a pilot needs to regain manual control of the aircraft in an emergency, as happened in the 2020 crash .
The new version provides an “automatic disconnect function” of the automated flight system “in the event of an unsafe condition”, she wrote.
The updated software will also include visual improvements to the warning systems, including color changes, modified texts and flashing lights.
“Now that the technical requirements have been approved by all parties, Sikorsky and its contractors are working to determine the cost and timeline for fleet modifications,” said Ms.me Lamirande, adding that a “full implementation proposal is expected by the end of summer 2022”.