Tecnam MMA
Encyclopedia
The TECNAM MMA (Multi Mission Aircraft) is a cost and fuel efficient twin-engine aircraft for surveillance
, law enforcement and remote sensing
missions developed by Airborne Technologies in Austria
. The MMA is based on Tecnam
’s high-wing P2006T
aircraft and adapted to carry various sensor equipment for aerial works.
fuel, an endurance of more than 8 hours and the enormous cabin space. The general trend in the commercial world to miniaturize electronic components and consequently the sensors itself made the deployment of a small and light aircraft for a sensor carrier platform possible. In the past, observation and sensing missions have been limited to bigger FAR
Part 23 and Part 25 aircraft due to the dimensions and weights of the electronic sensor equipment. But nowadays by using state of the art technology small aircraft like this one are an affordable alternative for limited budgets of private organizations, governments and intra-governments.
In October 2009 was the roll out of the first MMA.
supporting the mission equipment separately and independently from the electrical bus of the aircraft with 28 volts and 60 amps. The separate mission bus is backed up with an extra battery and external power unit for ground support. This enables the sensor operator to set up the sensor equipment even on ground without starting the aircraft systems.
The sensitive technical equipment is housed within the sensor bay in the body of the aircraft. Therefore a hatch with dimensions of 430mm width and 660mm length and electronically hatch flaps are installed in the fuselage. The construction of the aircraft and the crashworthiness
is not influenced because of the metal airframe
where load paths are keeping via ribs and stringers and the shell of the aircraft only acts supporting. Covert ISR mission can be carried out very discreetly because the sensors and gimbals are not visible externally when transiting to/from the operational areas. On entering an operation the flaps of the hatch are opened and the sensors are lowered down by a sensor lift. After mission completion the sensors are brought back into the interior by the lift and flaps are closed again.
The sensors are operated directly from the second row of seats where a sensor operator station is integrated. It consists of a console for up to three screens, a keyboard, a joystick and recording devices. Hard drives and technical equipment (for the flight management system, data recording/processing and data down linking) are stored in the systems compartment, where an airborne server room is integrated. Additional antennas for mission GPS data, data down linking to ground stations or up linking to satellites are installed.
In opposite to civil aircraft where it’s often an advantage when flying fast, the majority of surveillance and sensing missions require low mission speeds (e.g. from 80 to 100 KIAS
). The minimum mission speed of the MMA is 64 KIAS. Thus enables the aircraft to operate also in areas which have been reserved for helicopters so far (e.g. power line monitoring).
The aircraft is powered by two ROTAX 912 engines of each 100 hp (75 kW) with overhaul times
of 2000 hours. The water-cooled cylinder heads and the gearbox of the ROTAX engines make the aircraft to emit very low noise. Refueling with standard automotive gasoline (95-octane) and/or aviation gasoline (AVGAS 100 LL) in any blend enables keeping direct operating cost very low and to operate even in areas where AVGAS is not available or prohibitively expensive. The fuel consumption during sensing/surveying missions is 15 liters per hour per engine. This moderate fuel consumption and the low infrared emissions of the engines effect that infrared search heads cannot find the aircraft in typical operating altitudes. In conjunction with a non reflecting camouflage painting the basic conditions to be undetected for passive surveillance systems are fulfilled when operating for hours over same targets.
These modifications and integrations of sensors up to 115 kg are certified on STC
-base.
Worldwide distribution, maintenance and service are ensured by Tecnam’s dealer network, maintenance facilities and service centers.
Source for typical surveillance mission configuration
Source: Aircraft Spec Sheet
Further applications are easy to accomplish due to the size and the flexibility of the aircraft cabin.
Surveillance aircraft
A surveillance aircraft is an aircraft used for surveillance — collecting information over time. They are operated by military forces and other government agencies in roles such as intelligence gathering, battlefield surveillance, airspace surveillance, observation , border patrol and fishery...
, law enforcement and remote sensing
Remote sensing
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
missions developed by Airborne Technologies in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. The MMA is based on Tecnam
Tecnam
Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam is an aeronautics manufacturer founded in 1948, based near Naples in Italy. The company has two primary activities: it makes aircraft parts for other manufacturers, and makes its own range of light aircraft.-History:...
’s high-wing P2006T
Tecnam P2006T
-External links:***...
aircraft and adapted to carry various sensor equipment for aerial works.
History
After Tecnam’s launch of the P2006T serial production in the year 2009, Airborne Technologies started developing the P2006T to obtain a smart and efficient special mission aircraft. The light aluminum P2006T was chosen because it’s characterized by the independency of AvgasAvgas
Avgas is an aviation fuel used to power piston-engine aircraft. Avgas is distinguished from mogas , which is the everyday gasoline used in cars and some non-commercial light aircraft...
fuel, an endurance of more than 8 hours and the enormous cabin space. The general trend in the commercial world to miniaturize electronic components and consequently the sensors itself made the deployment of a small and light aircraft for a sensor carrier platform possible. In the past, observation and sensing missions have been limited to bigger FAR
Federal Aviation Regulations
The Federal Aviation Regulations, or FARs, are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration governing all aviation activities in the United States. The FARs are part of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations...
Part 23 and Part 25 aircraft due to the dimensions and weights of the electronic sensor equipment. But nowadays by using state of the art technology small aircraft like this one are an affordable alternative for limited budgets of private organizations, governments and intra-governments.
In October 2009 was the roll out of the first MMA.
Design and Development
The MMA is equipped with an autonomous alternatorAlternator
An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...
supporting the mission equipment separately and independently from the electrical bus of the aircraft with 28 volts and 60 amps. The separate mission bus is backed up with an extra battery and external power unit for ground support. This enables the sensor operator to set up the sensor equipment even on ground without starting the aircraft systems.
The sensitive technical equipment is housed within the sensor bay in the body of the aircraft. Therefore a hatch with dimensions of 430mm width and 660mm length and electronically hatch flaps are installed in the fuselage. The construction of the aircraft and the crashworthiness
Crashworthiness
Crashworthiness is the ability of a structure to protect its occupants during an impact. This is commonly tested when investigating the safety of aircraft and vehicles. Depending on the nature of the impact and the vehicle involved, different criteria are used to determine the crashworthiness of...
is not influenced because of the metal airframe
Airframe
The airframe of an aircraft is its mechanical structure. It is typically considered to include fuselage, wings and undercarriage and exclude the propulsion system...
where load paths are keeping via ribs and stringers and the shell of the aircraft only acts supporting. Covert ISR mission can be carried out very discreetly because the sensors and gimbals are not visible externally when transiting to/from the operational areas. On entering an operation the flaps of the hatch are opened and the sensors are lowered down by a sensor lift. After mission completion the sensors are brought back into the interior by the lift and flaps are closed again.
The sensors are operated directly from the second row of seats where a sensor operator station is integrated. It consists of a console for up to three screens, a keyboard, a joystick and recording devices. Hard drives and technical equipment (for the flight management system, data recording/processing and data down linking) are stored in the systems compartment, where an airborne server room is integrated. Additional antennas for mission GPS data, data down linking to ground stations or up linking to satellites are installed.
In opposite to civil aircraft where it’s often an advantage when flying fast, the majority of surveillance and sensing missions require low mission speeds (e.g. from 80 to 100 KIAS
Indicated airspeed
Indicated airspeed is the airspeed read directly from the airspeed indicator on an aircraft, driven by the pitot-static system. IAS is directly related to calibrated airspeed , which is the IAS corrected for instrument and installation errors....
). The minimum mission speed of the MMA is 64 KIAS. Thus enables the aircraft to operate also in areas which have been reserved for helicopters so far (e.g. power line monitoring).
The aircraft is powered by two ROTAX 912 engines of each 100 hp (75 kW) with overhaul times
Time between overhaul
One important measure of an aircraft engine's overall economics is how often it has to be overhauled, the so-called time between overhaul, typically seen as TBO or TBOH....
of 2000 hours. The water-cooled cylinder heads and the gearbox of the ROTAX engines make the aircraft to emit very low noise. Refueling with standard automotive gasoline (95-octane) and/or aviation gasoline (AVGAS 100 LL) in any blend enables keeping direct operating cost very low and to operate even in areas where AVGAS is not available or prohibitively expensive. The fuel consumption during sensing/surveying missions is 15 liters per hour per engine. This moderate fuel consumption and the low infrared emissions of the engines effect that infrared search heads cannot find the aircraft in typical operating altitudes. In conjunction with a non reflecting camouflage painting the basic conditions to be undetected for passive surveillance systems are fulfilled when operating for hours over same targets.
These modifications and integrations of sensors up to 115 kg are certified on STC
Supplemental Type Certificate
A Supplemental Type Certificate is an FAA approved major modification or repair to an existing type certified aircraft, engine or propeller. As it adds to the existing type certificate, it is deemed 'supplemental'.-Purpose:...
-base.
Worldwide distribution, maintenance and service are ensured by Tecnam’s dealer network, maintenance facilities and service centers.
Typical Surveillance Mission Configuration
| 385 kg | Max Payload |
| - 170 kg | Crew (Pilot + Operator each 85 kg) |
| - 21 kg | Sensor Equipment (L3-MX10 or FLIR UltraForce 350) |
| - 16 kg | Sensor Lift |
| - 18 kg | Uplink System (SCOTTY Satcom Rack) |
| - 6 kg | Downlink System (BMS) |
| - 10 kg | Operator Workstation + Moving Map (EUROAVIONICS) |
| - 5 kg | Tactical Communication HF-Radio |
| - 139 kg | Fuel for 5 h |
Source for typical surveillance mission configuration
General Characteristics
| TECNAM MMA | |
|---|---|
| Length | 8.7 m (28.5 ft) |
| Wingspan | 11.4 m (37.4 ft) |
| Height | 2.85 m (9.35 ft) |
| Empty weight | 841.5 kg (1,855.2 lbs) |
| Max take-off weight MTOW |
1,180 kg (2,601 lbs) |
| Fuel capacity | 200 litres (53 US gal) |
| Powerplant | 2x Rotax 912S3 |
| Propellers | 2-bladed MT Propeller (MTV-21) |
Performance
| TECNAM MMA | |
|---|---|
| Max. cruise speed | 145 KTAS |
| Cruise speed (75%, 7.000 ft) |
140 KTAS |
| Cruise speed (65%, 9.000 ft) |
135 KTAS |
| Stalling speed with flaps | 53 KTAS |
| Min. mission speed | 64 KIAS |
| Climb rate, s.l. | 1.140 ft/min |
| Climb rate, s.l. (single engine) |
230 ft/min |
| Service ceiling (twin engine) |
15.000 ft |
| Max. ceiling (single engine) |
6.600 ft |
| Take-off distance, s.l. over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle |
390m (1.250 ft) |
| Landing distance, s.l. over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle |
330m (1.050 ft) |
Source: Aircraft Spec Sheet
Applications
Established applications:- PhotogrammetryPhotogrammetryPhotogrammetry is the practice of determining the geometric properties of objects from photographic images. Photogrammetry is as old as modern photography and can be dated to the mid-nineteenth century....
(large format camera on a gyro stabilized platform) - 3D laser scanning (3D laser scanners in combination with a midsize digital camera)
- HyperspectralHyperspectral imagingHyperspectral imaging collects and processes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum. Much as the human eye sees visible light in three bands , spectral imaging divides the spectrum into many more bands...
mapping (hyperspectral sensors in combination with a 3D laser scanner and a digital camera) - High definition video recording (daylight and thermal recording and live downlink)
Further applications are easy to accomplish due to the size and the flexibility of the aircraft cabin.
External links
- Official Company Website of Airborne Technologies, Austria: www.airbornetechnologies.at
- Official Company Website of Tecnam, Italy www.tecnam.com