Application of Power Spectral Methods to Aircraft Gust Clearance: A review of the use of power spectral gust design procedures for the computation of design limit loads on civil aircraft

POWER spectral methods for computing loads on aircraft due to atmospheric turbulence have been developed over the past dozen years or so. Such calculations are carried out on all new aircraft, and to date the results have been used to amplify fatigue and environmental data. The United States Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) is proposing the introduction of power spectral gust design procedures for and computing design limit loads on commercial aircraft. A parallel programme for the development of taxi load criteria is also being considered. The FAA have sponsored/research on the development of such power spectral gust methods and currently two approaches are being examined by industry. These are a design envelope approach and a mission analysis approach. A similar British investigation is now under way to establish the validity of the American proposals.