National Flight Test Institute (NFTI) Degree Programs
Non U.S. Citizens who enroll in the Master of Science program are advised that they may be required to maintain continuous enrollment while at NTPS in order to satisfy United States Visa and immigration requirements.
The National Test Pilot School (NTPS), through its Graduate unit, the National Flight Institute (NFTI), offers two tracks leading to the degree of Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering (MSFTE) or Master of Science in Flight Test and Evaluation (MSFT&E). The degree awarded depends upon the student’s undergraduate preparation. Upon successful completion of the course of study at NFTI, students who have an undergraduate degree from an ABET or equivalent university program are eligible to receive the MSFTE degree. Students with other technical backgrounds will be awarded the MSFT&E degree.
Within the degree programs, the professional track is reserved for those students additionally qualified for the NTPS flying program. Upon successful completion students will be awarded a Certificate of Graduation from NTPS attesting to their qualifications for flight test crew duties as a Test Pilot or Flight Test Engineer in addition to the appropriate MS degree.
Pre-requisites
The prerequisites for enrollment in the Master programs are a Baccalaureate degree in engineering, physical or computer science, mathematics or technical management. Students presenting other credentials will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Transfer Credit
Up to 9 Quarter (6 Semester) transfer credits may be applied toward the Master of Science degree.
Professional Track Curriculum
Test pilots and flight test engineers who have the requisite academic background and who satisfactorily complete the year-long Professional Course, are eligible to receive the Master of Science degree. The Professional Course of 50 weeks duration is for fixed and rotary wing pilots and engineers who require the full scope of flight test instruction. Graduates of this course would immediately be capable of performing first flight, envelope expansion, and definitions of performance, handling qualities and aircraft systems required for compliance with FAR/JAR regulations or military acceptance under the military standards. Throughout the course in both the academics and flying programs particular attention is given to the Federal Airworthiness Regulations (FAR), the Joint Airworthiness Regulations (JAR) and military specification (MIL-SPEC) for piloted aircraft.
Academic Track Curriculum
Academic track students undertake a prescribed curriculum of academic subjects but do not engage in test pilot or flight test engineer flight training. This program is ideally suited for students engaged in flight test support and management activities, aeronautical engineering, or acquisition.
Students in both tracks are required to submit an acceptable final engineering or capstone project report.
Students take a core curriculum and select one of two specialty tracks. Course are offered in modules nominally one week duration.
For detailed information download the online catalog.
Course Catalog Updated 11/20/12.
Lester Ingham, Director, National Flight Test Institute
National Flight Test Institute
P.O Box 658
Mojave, CA 93502-0658
Phone: 661.824.2977
Fax: 661.824.2943
Email:
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- T&E 4201 Introduction to Avionics & Weapons Systems Flight Testing I
- T&E 4201A Workload Demonstration Flight Lab
- T&E 4201B Workload Data Flight Exercise
- T&E 4202 Communications, Navigation, and GPS Flight Testing
- T&E 4202A Radio Aids to Navigation and GPS Flight Laboratory
- T&E 4202B Navigation, GPS, and INS Flight Exercise
- T&E 4203 CFR 14 Part 23/25/27/29 Avionics Certifications
- T&E 4203A Civil Certification Project
- T&E 4204 Flight Test of RADAR and Electronic Warfare Systems
- T&E 4204A RADAR Demonstration Flight Lab
- T&E 4204B RADAR Evaluation Flight Exercise
- T&E 4205 UAV Avionics Systems Flight Testing
- T&E 4206 Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground Weapons Integration
- T&E 4206A Real-Time Anaysis of Weapons Accuracy, TM Exercise
- T&E 4207 Electro-Optic and Infrared Systems Flight Testing
- T&E 4207A FLIR Demo Flight Lab
- T&E 4207B FLIR/EO Systems Evaluation Flight Exercise
- T&E 4208 Night Vision Imaging System Evaluation Techniques
- T&E 4208A Night Vision Imaging System Flight Demonstration Lab
- T&E 4208B Night Vision Imaging System Flight and Laboratory Evaluation
- T&E 4209 Helmet Mounted Display Test and Evaluation
- T&E 4101 Performance Flight Testing I
- T&E 4102 Performance Flight Testing II
- T&E 4103 Flying Qualities Flight Testing I
- T&E 4104 Flying Qualities Flight Testing II
- T&E 4105 Modern Flight Control Systems
- T&E 4106 Structures, Loads, Flutter, and Vibration
- T&E 4107 Airplane Performance and Flying Qualities Flight Laboratory
- T&E 4111 Helicopter Performance Flight Testing I
- T&E 4112 Helicopter Performance Flight Testing II
- T&E 4113 Helicopter Flying Qualities Flight Testing I
- T&E 4114 Helicopter Flying Qualities Flight Testing II
- T&E 4115 Helicopter Performance and Flying Qualities Flight Laboratory
- T&E 4210 Civil Aircraft Icing Certification
- T&E 4210A Icing Demo Flight