T&E 4001 Professional Long Course Introduction
Course Description
A broad look at most of the factors involved in conducting a flight test program. Subject areas include: operational vs. developmental test and evaluation, test pilot and flight test engineer job descriptions, human factors, regulatory requirements, test planning, safety, data analysis and reporting. The student will employ all of these areas as they plan, conduct, and report on a cockpit suitability evaluation performed on an actual aircraft.
Anticipated Student Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course of instruction, the student will have a basic understanding of how a flight test program is conducted. He/she will:
Be familiar with
1. Federal Aviation Regulations/Military Specifications pertaining to aircraft certification / acceptance.
2. The techniques used to conduct a cockpit evaluation.
Understand
3. The differences between developmental testing and operational testing.
4. The job functions of a test pilot and flight test engineer.
5. Human factors considerations applicable to conducting a flight test program.
6. How to analyze flight test data and write a technical report.
7. How to plan a test mission and write test cards.
8. Safety considerations while planning and conducting a flight-test program.
Know
9. How to perform weight and ballast determination of an aircraft.
Sequence of Instruction
Developmental vs. Operational Testing
Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Job Descriptions Certification and Military Specifications
Human Factors
Cockpit Evaluations
Report Writing
Statistical Data Analysis
Weight and Ballast
Weight and Ballast Lab
Mission Planning and Test Card Development
Safety in Flight Test
Technical Review Boards/Safety Review Boards
Exams - Statistical Data Analysis
Report - Cockpit Evaluation
Texts and Reference Materials
NTPS Professional Course Textbook Series, Vol. IX, "Flight Test Safety and Management"
Instructional Methodology
Lectures and Lab
Process of Evaluation
Examinations and Report