Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Professional Course

Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing

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 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:
 

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 Flight Test Technology degree by the California Council for Private Post-secondary and Vocational Education.  Test pilots and flight test engineers who have the necessary academic background and who satisfactorily complete the year-long Professional Course, are eligible to receive this degree.

Prerequisites:
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
Engineers the same degree requirements plus medically qualified to perform flight duties.

Call for Quote. The course costs include accommodations for one year in a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment. All utilities are included except the telephone.