Comprehensive Training Options for Flight Test Professionals

A new course catalogue has been published by the Empire Test Pilot’s School (ETPS) to provide flight test professionals with details of its comprehensive range of training courses covering knowledge and skills development for both military and civilian flight test programmes.

With full and highly flexible learning options for engineers, pilots and aircrew, the catalogue features dedicated training courses for both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.

ETPS is an Approved Training Organisation by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and all courses have been accredited by the UK’s Military Aviation Authority (MAA). The majority of long courses use some of the most advanced and representative training aircraft ever developed for flight test training to optimise skills development for flight test professionals. There are also Bridging, Refresher and Qualitative Evaluation courses as well as specific training options for Evaluator Aircrew and Ship Air Integration Testing.

Although it was the world’s first test pilot school and has been providing flight test training for over 75 years, this is the first time ETPS has published a complete catalogue of all courses for professionals in both the military and civilian areas.

“Our objective is develop the skills and expertise of talented pilots, engineers and aircrew to deliver significant strategic advantage and real commercial value,” says Simon Tate, Director of Operations for Air & Space at QinetiQ. “This new catalogue demonstrates the breadth and quality of our learning environment for developing the precision flying skills and analytical insight to run safe and effective civilian and military flight test programmes. It is essential reading for any professional looking to further develop their career in this challenging field and for operators keen to develop leadership and competency within multi-discipline flight test teams to maximise the commercial and operational effectiveness of their aircraft.”

ETPS has come a very long way since its original formation when jet aircraft and helicopters were very much in their infancy. Founded in 1943 by Group Captain Sammy Wroath who is credited with establishing the principles of flight test training, the school is committed to the principles of ‘best practice’ and today it benefits from state-of-the-art facilities and a fleet of systems-rich aircraft. The modular courses are delivered by a team of highly experienced expert tutors and cover experimental, development and systems testing.