The school at Edward offers a 48 week curricula offering classroom, simulator and practical flight test experience. The school operates on the basis of four study-focus sections comprising aircraft performance, flying qualities, systems and test management. The performance section deals with the discipline of define, investigating and measuring the performance of various aircraft. Section 2 focused on the characteristics of various aircraft types. The systems focus orients the pilot to the detailed internal aircraft processes and the test management phase teaches the pilot how to define a test program followed by real development of an aircraft test program.
The USNTSP also operates on the basis of a 48 week curricula. The school does not specifically define individual phase programs, but rather offers a linear approach to the discipline of operating as a test pilot to support various service authorities including; The Navy Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E), Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) and various other Navy Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) activities. Additionally the school supports several U.S. Governmental agencies as well as a number of foreign nations .During the program a pilot experiences classroom study, flight test preparation, flight test conduct, data collection, data reduction, and test report preparation.
The National Test School was launched in 1981 to cater to non-military pilots who seek aviation advancement. The school operates various test programs ranging from 3-day to year-long curricula, with the latter offering a Masters Degree upon completion. As the school operates on the basis of a private educational enterprise, the course list is significant ranging from fixed-wing refresher programs to offering engineering programs attractive to the commercial aviation business segment.
Looking at the NTPS curricula for Aircraft Handling and Characteristics gives the reader a sense of the depth of commitment required once selected for one of the professional Test Schools. And this is only one 3 credit course:
Performance Testing Overview
Dimensional Analysis
Subsonic Aerodynamics - Lift
Subsonic Aerodynamics Drag
Drag Polars
Pitot-Static Theory
Position Error Correction (PEC) Requirements & Flight Test Techniques
Reciprocating Engines
Propeller Theory
Propeller Cruise Performance Theory
Takeoff & Landing Performance Theory
Tutorials (Dimensional Analysis, Subsonic Aerodynamics, (PEC), Propeller Cruise)
Exams - Subsonic Aerodynamics, PEC/Prop Cruise
A test pilot is more than just a highly-educated airplane-driver, but an engineer who has been schooled in the science of the "how, when, why and why not " associated with the operation and validation of unknown aircraft types and their systems. Although the popular culture suggests that test pilots are bar-hopping, fist-fighting, skirt/pants chasers nothing can be further from the truth. These professionals are sober, highly committed individuals who believe that safety is a primary goal, but also understand that the discipline of flight test is the only way to learn and fully recount what happens when an airplane is put under pressure.