The Graduate Course
Typical entrants to the test pilots course are experienced military aviators with around 1,000 flying hours. They will probably have two tours behind them and may have flown two or three aircraft types. Flight test engineer students are sponsored either by their government or company and will range in experience from recently graduated from university to about ten years of engineering experience.
Course Duration
The course starts in January and runs through to December. The year is split into three terms with three weeks leave in the summer.
Tutors
Course tutors are a balanced mix of military and civilian personnel. Flying instructors are chosen for their experience, teaching skills, operational recency and personal qualities. Rotation of military instructors on three-year tours maintains freshness of approach. Ground tutors, both military and civilian, are all highly qualified in appropriate technical and academic disciplines. For more information go to the tutor section.
School Facilities
Ground training is delivered in a purpose built school house whilst flying exercises are conducted in the school's own aircraft. These are drawn from the QinetiQ operated fleet and located at Boscombe Down, the UK MOD's official flight test centre. In addition to these, aircraft and other facilities are hired in, as required, for the course. |
