Aeronautical Design Standard (ADS) Handbook- Rotorcraft and Aircraft Qualification (RAQ) Handbook

1-2 SCOPE

This handbook addresses the airworthiness qualification of air vehicles and related systems. The air vehicle and systems to which an airworthiness qualification program is applicable might be completely new or might be the result of major modification of a previously qualified system. This handbook is for guidance only. It cannot be cited as a requirement. If it is, the contractor does not have to comply. It is not intended to provide mandatory or regulatory requirements that must be achieved during the course of a program. Such requirements will be included in the specific contractual requirements for the program. Excluded from the discussions of this handbook are tests normally conducted after completion of airworthiness qualification testing, such as force development test and experimentation (FDTE) tests that are intended to provide insight into the type of force structure best suited to the operation of the air vehicle.

1-3 DEFINITIONS OF ROTORCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT*

• 1-3.1 ROTORCRAFT
A rotorcraft is defined as a heavierthan- air air vehicle that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or more rotors and may include static lifting surfaces contributing less than half the required lift. An airworthy rotorcraft is a rotorcraft whose capability to function satisfactorily when used within prescribed limits has been demonstrated.
• 1-3.2 AIRCRAFT
An aircraft is defined as a powered (heavier-than-air) air vehicle whose principal lifting surfaces are statically positioned, i.e., fixed-wing airplane. Similarly, an airworthy aircraft is one whose capability to function satisfactorily within prescribed limits has been demonstrated.

1-4 INTENDED AUDIENCE

This handbook is intended for both Government and contractor audiences. For Government design team personnel this handbook provides an overview of the philosophy of airworthiness qualification and a source of detailed references upon which to base contractual airworthiness qualification program requirements. For contractor design team personnel this handbook provides a guide to responding to requests for proposals (RFPs) and to implementing and executing
airworthiness qualification programs.