Society of Flight Test Engineers

The?SFTE EC Jesualdo Martinez Award In Flight Testing?has been created to commemorate our colleague and board member Jesualdo Martinez Rodanes. This award is devoted to reward special dedication and remarkable accomplishment or inspirational work in the area of Flight Testing, and will be delivered during our upcoming European SFTE Symposium! Submissions are due on 4/15

Check out the calendar link for more information: https://lnkd.in/eZvNSP6X

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??? PAPERS, PAPERS. THIS IS A CALL FOR PAPERS. Dear flight testers, are you ready? We are delighted to announce that the 2025 symposium of the SFTE European Chapter will take place in Prague (Czech Republic), from 4 until 6 June. Please sharpen your pens, spool up your turbines, and get ready for the next mindblowing, not-to-be-missed SFTE -EC gathering! ?? Deadline for submitting your abstracts: 15 February 2025. ??

Kudos to ITPS for offering a forum where distinguished flight testers from around the globe could share knowledge and discuss the methods and strategies needed to better ensure safe and effective flight testing.

12th Annual Flight Test Seminar – Day 2 Morning Highlights On December 13, we celebrated Day 2 of our 12th Annual Flight Test Seminar, hosted at ITPS in collaboration with the Society of Flight Test Engineers. Billie Flynn, Chief Technology Officer at ITPS and former Senior F-35 Test Pilot (Ret'd), chaired the day and shared his extensive experience in the flight test profession. We were honoured to welcome Jeffrey Canclini, President of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, who presented "The Future Flight Tester: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing Aerospace Landscape," offering insightful perspectives on the future of training innovation in flight testing and the value of community in flight testing. The morning’s presentations concluded with an "Introduction to STPA and Application to Test Hazard Identification" session by Noam D Eisen, Pilot and Aerospace Engineer at Lucid Aero. Noam's presentation was met with great interest, and he was later awarded the "Best Presentation" cash prize, sponsored by ITPS. An engaging "Fireside Chat: A Spark of Ideas" session featured a distinguished panel, including Lt. Col. Casper B?rge Nielsen (PEL, Chief of Fighter Aircraft Branch, Royal Danish Air Force), Jeff "CANMAN" Canclini (President, SFTE), ROGERS SMITH (Flight Test and Safety Consultant, SmithsAero), and Air Vice Marshal Mark Skidmore (Royal Australian Air Force (Ret'd) and ITPS Representative). Billie Flynn and Dave Lohse moderated the insightful discussion that centred around the theme of "Truth vs Honesty" in flight test programs and the challenges of navigating "Organisational Hubris," especially when technical advice is not heeded. The panellists shared their extensive flight test experiences and offered valuable perspectives on overcoming these hurdles. The session concluded with a thought-provoking conversation on the "Relevance for Testers," emphasizing the importance of flight testers staying relevant to both companies and programs in an ever-evolving aerospace landscape. More to come on Day 2!

The first morning of the 12th Annual ITPS Flight Test Seminar & Society of Flight Test Engineers, Canadian Chapter Symposium set an impressive tone, drawing over 300 participants from 27 countries, both in-person and virtually. Hosted at the International Test Pilots School (ITPS), Seminar Day 1 Chairman Dave Lohse, Vice President of Flight Testing at ITPS provided opening remarks followed by a warm welcome from Giorgio Clementi, Chief Executive Officer. The morning sessions featured prominent speakers, starting with Air Vice Marshal Mark Skidmore, Royal Australian Air Force (Ret'd) and ITPS Representative, who presented on the "F/RF-111C Avionics Update Program Weapon Delivery Modelling." This was followed by James Sergeant’s presentation on the innovative "X-59" aircraft. Billie Flynn, ITPS Chief Technology Officer and former Senior F-35 Test Pilot (Ret'd), joined forces with Rogers Smith, Flight Test and Safety Consultant at SmithsAero, for a brief on "Tester Challenges – Past and Future." Mark Skoog, CEO of Innovative Autonomy and Level 5 Autonomy Labs, shared critical insights on the "Carry-On GCAS Phase 1 Test Results," emphasizing advances in flight safety. Prior to lunch, Darren McDonald, Flight Test Engineer in Stability & Control at Boeing, presented on "Air Data Basics for Flight Test Professionals." The lunch break offered attendees a chance to explore ITPS’s Advanced Aircraft Simulation Centre and tour the upgraded Grumman HU-16 Albatross, now a mobile flying classroom with six flight test engineer stations. The first morning seamlessly combined professional development with new technology and explored lessons learned. #ITPSCanada #flighttest #testpilots #flighttestengineer #aerospace The Society of Experimental Test Pilots

?? A message from your President ?? Greetings, Flight Testers! I recently had the privilege of visiting Italy, where I toured two remarkable Leonardo flight test organizations near Milan, Italy—one dedicated to developing and certifying Leonardo Helicopters and the other focused on testing Leonardo’s trainer/light attack aircraft. Despite being only 20 miles apart, these organizations are distinctly different in their missions and processes. What unites them, however, is the unwavering dedication and enthusiasm of their teams—an inspiring mix of young and seasoned flight test professionals—working tirelessly to achieve their goals. During my visit, I spoke with Leonardo flight test engineers (FTEs) and test pilots about the value SFTE offers. From knowledge-sharing platforms and symposia to networking opportunities for individual members and support services for local chapters, SFTE is here to elevate the flight test community. I emphasized that SFTE is a “big tent” organization, welcoming FTEs, pilots, instrumentation engineers, and data analysts. By becoming active SFTE members, individuals not only gain access to a wealth of resources but also contribute to strengthening SFTE’s ability to fulfill our vision. SFTE Vision - Become a more influential community of diverse flight test professionals. - Serve as the premier resource for promoting and facilitating training, competency, and respect in the flight test field. - Larger symposiums organized with robust HQ event planner support. - A conduit for enhancing member career progression in the flight test arena. - A growing society which actively mentors junior flight testers. The response from Leonardo test professionals was overwhelmingly positive. From our discussions it was clear that: - Greater knowledge sharing among flight testers is essential. - The next generation of air vehicles—featuring increased complexity, new technologies, automation, and autonomy, and often lacking a pilot—raises the bar for the skills, tools, and professional development required of FTEs. - Finding time and resources for professional development remains a challenge. You can view the presentation and listen to my thoughts on SFTE value and vision at the two links in the comments. Does this vision and the challenges resonate with you? SFTE needs your involvement to expand our reach and influence in order to meet these challenges. ? And numbers count. So please encourage your test colleagues to join SFTE. Together, we can shape the future of flight testing, inspire the next generation, and ensure our profession thrives in an era of unprecedented technological advancement. I want to hear from you! Join me at the Dec 19th?President’s Office Hours, to discuss the topics above. Refer to the? SFTE Event Calendar for details Your President, Jeff

Gather 'round Flight Testers! Be sure to tune in to the newest episode of the Flight Test Safety podcast, representing and featuring both SFTE and SETP. Our President, Jeff Canclini, takes the time to discuss his vision and goals of our society. https://lnkd.in/ePp_pm5d

Office Hours TODAY!