Test Foundations for Flight Test
- This course introduces the components involved with planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting on a flight test program. Concepts such as test planning, risk identification and management, test conduct, data analysis, and technical reporting are presented with real-world flight test examples.
- All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
OVERVIEW
The “Test Foundations for Flight Test” course provides an understanding of the fundamental components involved with planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting on a flight test program. The course will begin with a real-world flight test vignette, introducing the importance of flight test and the plan/execute/analyze/report (PEAR) cycle. Next, a systems engineering approach will be presented, introducing the concept of problem decomposition, requirement traceability, test planning, risk identification, and resource provisioning. To apply these concepts, attendees will plan, execute, analyze, and report on a simple automobile cruise control and speedometer test project.
The course continues with a detailed look at test planning and risk identification, providing real-world flight test examples. Next, flight test execution and test conduct will be covered to include test methodology, communication plans, determination of safety abort parameters, and use of test execution tools. Design principles and best practices for the creation of test execution tools will be detailed for development of control room screens and test cards. Flight test analysis methods will be introduced with methods for accessing, processing, and saving aircraft flight data with sample data sets and basic analysis tools provided. Finally, the course will detail technical reporting concepts to include technical writing basics, presentation of data, and technical presentation techniques.
The culmination of the course will entail a problem decomposition project where test planning, risk identification, risk management, and resource provisioning are applied to a real-world test scenario.
- Understand the various phases of a flight test program, Plan/Execute/Analyze/Report, from program initiation to final technical reporting.
- Explain the key concepts for successful test planning to include the importance of requirement traceability, the elements of a test plan, and the composition of a test team.
- Understand the elements of test safety planning, risk identification and management, and hazard mitigation.
- Gain experience with test conduct concepts to include test methodology, communication plans, monitoring safety parameters, and test execution tools such as control room screens and test cards.
- Gain foundational skills for analyzing flight test data by applying basic tools for accessing, processing, and saving aircraft flight data.
- Learn the ability to communicate technical content through data presentation, verbal reports, and written technical reports.
- Apply a Systems Engineering philosophy to problem decomposition and risk identification for a sample real-world flight test vignette.
The course is intended for any engineer, scientist, researcher, or manager who engages in the planning, execution, analysis, and/or reporting of flight test activities. The course is a broad overview and best suited to those with less than 10 years of experience or limited formal education in flight test engineering.
COURSE INFORMATION
Type of Course: Instructor-Led Short Course
Course Level: Fundamentals-Intermediate
Course Length: 3 days
AIAA CEU's available: Yes
Class 1 – Introduction and Flight Test Examples
- Introduction to flight test
- Real-world test vignette – Importance of flight test
- Plan/Execute/Analyze/Report (PEAR) Process
Class 2 – Systems Engineering and Project Application
- Systems theory and scientific method applied to flight test
- Problem decomposition and generation of test requirements
- Project application – evaluation of an automobile cruise control and speedometer
Class 3 – Test Planning Process
- Elements of a test plan
- Test objectives and measures of performance
- Test methodology and test point matrix
- Real-world examples – test planning
Class 4 – Test Safety Principles
- System safety
- Hazard identification and mitigation
- Risk assessment
- Real-world examples - case studies
Class 5 – Test Conduct
- Test control and personnel roles
- Communication plan
- Pre-flight predictions
- Test safety risk reduction tools – monitoring safety parameters
Class 6 – Test Execution Resources
- Control room display principles
- Test card design principles
Class 7 (Hour 1) - Presentations – Project application
- Results from evaluation of an automobile cruise control and speedometer
Class 7 (Hour 2) – Flight Test Data Analysis Methods
- Accessing data and data formats
- Analysis methods
- Sample data analysis problems
Class 8 – Technical Reporting – Written Reports
- Technical writing concepts
- Guidance on grammar and mechanics
- Data presentation
- Sample data presentation tools
Class 9 (Hour 1) – Technical Reporting – Verbal Reports
- Verbal presentation skills
- Example presentation formats
Class 9 (Hour 2) – Problem Decomposition Project
- Introduction of sample test vignettes from various programs
Class 10 - Presentations – Problem Decomposition Project
- Application of test planning, risk identification, risk management, and resource provisioning
AIAA Training Links
For information, group discounts,
and private course pricing, contact:
Lisa Le, Education Specialist (lisal@aiaa.org)