Landing aircraft on board is a most delicate phase of flight operations at sea. The ability to predict the aircraft carrier's motion over an interval of several seconds within reasonable error bounds may allow improvement in touchdown dispersion and a more certain value for a ramp clearance due to a smoother aircraft trajectory. Also, improved information to the Landing Signal Officer should decrease the number of waveoffs. This work indicates and shows graphically that, based on the data for pitch, heave and roll measured for various ships and sea conditions, the motion can be predicted well. The predictor was designed on the basis of Kalman's optimum filtering theory for the discrete time case, adapted for real-time digital computer operation.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

http://archive.org/details/shipsttitudeesti1094527261

Lieutenant, United States Navy