Flight test engineer

A Flight Test Engineer is an engineer involved in the testing of prototype aircraft. Unlike a Test Pilot a flight test engineer does not take flying control of the aircraft, but could be involved in monitoring and Data Acquisition during the flight, ground runs or tests. Often a Flight Test Engineer will be required to come up with techniques for monitoring a specific variable or system, which requires a bespoke piece of equipment to be fabricated. Due to the specialised nature of the techniques in manufacturing and electronics involved a Flight Test Engineer is usually high skilled and will have undergone in-depth training.

Flight Test Engineers are employed by both large aviation manufacturers (such as Boeing, Westlands and British Aerospace), and research organisations, such as QinetiQ.

External links

• Society of Flight Test Engineers
• Flight Test Safety Committee
• Airplane Stability and Control

See also

• Aerospace engineering