Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) Course

Course Description

The course teaches basic flight test principles, concepts, and processes of Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).  Classroom instruction is reinforced by two demonstrations to provide “hands-on” experience in OT&E flight testing. A final project flight further reinforces the classroom instruction.  The final project uses operational requirements/capability documents to plan, flight test, and report on how well an aircraft or system meets mission needs.

This course develops a “customer-centric” view of testing by providing an overview of current OT&E philosophies, processes, concepts and issues.  Specifically the course provides an understanding of how OT&E fits into the acquisition process, the interrelationships of DT&E and OT&E, how test objectives are derived from user requirements, and the importance of relating test results to mission requirements.  The course is extremely beneficial to anyone involved in OT&E; to DT&E testers who interface with OT&E; and to Program Office personnel, Program Managers and Test Managers whose programs are subject to OT&E and who would need to certify a system ready for OT&E.  The course is continually updated based on customer feedback.

Subjects Covered

The Acquisition Process
Performance & Handling Qualities Test
DT&E and OT&E Philosophy and Processes
Techniques
User Requirements Process
Overview & Laboratory Exercise
OT&E test criteria development
Test Crew Resource Management
Test Planning and Data Concerns
Crew Station Evaluation Techniques
Risk Management and Test Safety
Workload Assessment Techniques
Reliability, Maintainability, and Availability
OT&E Lessons Learned
Testing Integrated Systems

Course Information

The OT&E course is offered four times each year.  This course and others may be offered at the customer’s location. Please review the OT&E Joining Instructions (PDF) prior to joining. Call for more details.