Helicopters and Ship Integration: Certification and Design Aspects The development of an accurate certification basis for helicopter operations on naval platforms.

Alessandro Buffelli

Helicopters and Ship Integration: Certification and Design Aspects The development of an accurate certification basis for helicopter operations on naval platforms.

Rel. Manuela Battipede. Politecnico di Torino, Master of science program in Aerospace Engineering, 2026

Abstract

This Master’s thesis has been developed in the AW139 Chief Project Engineering Office, under the supervision of the company tutor Eng. Vincenzo Barraco at the Leonardo Helicopters Division site of Cascina Costa. The experience and the knowledge of Eng. Vincenzo Barraco, Eng. Enrico Bellussi , Referent for Naval Operations ITA and of Chief Projects of the AW139 have been fundamental to the realisation of this project. During this stage at Leonardo Helicopters Division, critical aspects related to Certification and Qualification Process for naval operations, introduced in a previous Master’s Degree Work, have been detailed. The scope was to create a guideline that could standardize this Homologation Process, make it applicable to all Leonardo Helicopter lines.

Until now, rarely an Homologation Process for naval operations has been completed , as these operations are not mentioned in the Civil Regulations