12th Annual ITPS Flight Test Seminar Recap

Day One | Thursday, 12 December, 2024

Day 1 of the 12th Annual ITPS Flight Test Seminar & Society of Flight Test Engineers, Canadian Chapter Symposium brought together over 300 participants from 27 countries, both in-person and virtually. Hosted at the International Test Pilots School (ITPS), the event began with Seminar Day 1 Chairman Dave Lohse, Vice President of Flight Testing at ITPS, delivering opening remarks, followed by a warm welcome from ITPS CEO Giorgio Clementi.

Morning Highlights:

The sessions kicked off with Air Vice Marshal Mark Skidmore (Royal Australian Air Force, Ret’d), ITPS Representative, presenting on the “F/RF-111C Avionics Update Program Weapon Delivery Modelling.” Next, James Sergeant provided an insightful presentation on the innovative “X-59” aircraft.

Billie Flynn, ITPS Chief Technology Officer and former Senior F-35 Test Pilot (Ret’d), teamed up with Rogers Smith, Flight Test and Safety Consultant at SmithsAero, to discuss “Tester Challenges – Past and Future.” Mark Skoog, CEO of Innovative Autonomy and Level 5 Autonomy Labs, highlighted advancements in flight safety with his talk on the “Carry-On GCAS Phase 1 Test Results.” Before lunch, Darren McDonald, Stability & Control Flight Test Engineer at Boeing, shared valuable insights on “Air Data Basics for Flight Test Professionals.”

During the lunch break, attendees explored ITPS’s Advanced Aircraft Simulation Centre and toured the upgraded Grumman HU-16 Albatross, now a mobile flying classroom with six flight test engineer stations.

Afternoon Highlights:

The afternoon sessions began with Charles Presley, P.Eng, Rotary Wing Flight Test Engineer at AETE, who presented “Why the Details Matter When Managing Risk.” Huseyin Erman Ozer, Chief Flight Test Engineer at Turkish Aerospace, followed with an engaging brief on the “KAAN First Flight.”

Castelli Andrea, Head of Flight Test Engineering at Leonardo Helicopters, shared his expertise on the “FTE Staff Training Process” at Leonardo. Gustavo Ruthes, Owner of Perfect Mind, provided a thought-provoking discussion on “Three Ways Mental Performance Can Help Flight Test Professionals.”

Terry Lutz, Experimental Test Pilot at TLZ Aerospace, presented “SMS – An Effective Safety Path Forward,” outlining a framework for robust safety management systems. The day concluded with Perry Comeau, Chief Research Test Pilot at NRC Canada, offering an overview of “Current Projects at NRC’s Flight Research Laboratory.”

The evening ended with a vibrant social event, providing attendees an opportunity to network and share experiences.

Day Two | Friday, 13 December, 2024

On December 13, Day 2 of the 12th Annual Flight Test Seminar continued with insightful discussions hosted by ITPS in collaboration with the Society of Flight Test Engineers. Chaired by Billie Flynn, ITPS Chief Technology Officer and former Senior F-35 Test Pilot (Ret’d), the day delivered engaging presentations and panel discussions.

Morning Highlights:

Jeffrey Canclini, President of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, opened with “The Future Flight Tester,” exploring innovation in training and the importance of community in flight testing. Noam D Eisen, Pilot and Aerospace Engineer at Lucid Aero, followed with “Introduction to STPA and Application to Test Hazard Identification,” earning the “Best Presentation” award, sponsored by ITPS.

The morning concluded with a “Fireside Chat” featuring panelists like Lt. Col. Casper Bǿrge Nielsen (Royal Danish Air Force) and Rogers Smith (SmithsAero Consultant), discussing “Truth vs Honesty” and the challenges of navigating organizational hubris in flight test programs.

Afternoon Highlights:

Major Waldo Britz, Senior Flight Test Engineer at AATES, presented on “Cabin Noise Assessment – Helicopter Gunnery,” while Michael K. Mulquiney, ITPS Chief UAS Flight Test Instructor, shared insights on “RPAS Flight Test Programs.”

Mikko Koli, ITPS Instructor and former Finnish Air Force Test Pilot, discussed integrating the AGM-158A JASSM Cruise Missile with the F/A-18 C/D Hornet Fleet. Emre Can Kaya, Chief Flight Test Engineer at Turkish Aerospace, detailed advancements in test management for platforms like the KAAN and HURJET, later receiving an honorary Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering from ITPS.

Thank you to all 304 attendees from 27 countries for making this event a success!