AIN Staff

The Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) has announced the launch of a new 13-week rotary-wing flight test course set to begin next August. The program will be held at the home of the UK’s joint Ministry of Defence (MOD)/QinetiQ aircraft test and evaluation center at Boscombe Down. 

ETPS (Stand A532) has developed the course to meet the needs of both test pilots and flight engineers conducting flight test activities within the known flight envelope of rotary-wing aircraft. During its 60-year history, ETPS has graduated more than 1,500 test pilots and flight test engineers from their year-long courses. 

“The rotary-wing flight test course will complement the international requirement for our core test pilot and flight test engineer graduate courses,” said the school’s commanding officer Royal Navy Commander Chris Maude. “The new short course will provide a flight test organization manager with an alternative, cost effective training package