Test Pilot / Flight Test Engineer Professional Course
Course Description
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 are 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, the Joint Airworthiness Regulations and military standards for piloted aircraft. This is not a flight training course. This is an academic and science course for persons who are already qualified and experienced pilots or who are engineers.
The course is divided into two primary phases: the Performance and Flying Qualities Phase, and the Systems Phase. The Performance and Flying Qualities Phase always begins in July and the Systems Phase always begins in January. Students may join the course either in January (‘A’ Class) or July (‘B’ Class). All students start with a two-week module of general topics and then join the applicable phase. At the end of their first phase there will be a major phase project followed by a field trip to some of the flight test centers and aircraft manufacturers in the U.S. Between the two phases there is one four-week vacation period. At the end of their second phase, the graduation exercise is an "unknown aircraft" project that is a student-planned limited evaluation of all aspects of an aircraft unfamiliar to the student. The course subjects are taught in modular form throughout the year, generally one week of academics followed by two weeks of flight demonstrations, test planning and review, data collection and analysis, and reporting. There are sixteen different modules:
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Introduction to Flight Test |
Comm/NAV/GPS |
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PEC, Takeoff & Landing, Prop Cruise |
Flight Management Systems |
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Propulsion, Jet Cruise, Energy |
RADAR |
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Static Stability & Control |
Loads and Structures |
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Dynamic Stability, Spins, CLHQ |
Stores Certification and Weapons |
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Flight Controls and Simulation |
Electro-Optics and FLIR Systems |
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Vehicle Subsystems & Special Topics |
Night Vision Imaging Systems |
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Introduction to Systems |
Electronic Warfare |
Degree
The National Test Pilot School through its academic and research unit, the National Flight Test Institute, has been extended approval to award the Master of Science degree by the California Bureau for Private Post-secondary and Vocational Education. The Masters of Science in Flight Test Engineering program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Pre-requisites
All students: English language proficiency. Non-native English speakers must pass a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Engineers: A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent military academy) in math, science or engineering plus medically qualified to perform flight duties.
Pilots: A minimum of 750 hr of pilot-in-command time and a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent military academy) in math, science or engineering
Accommodations
Fully furnished two-bedroom apartment.