How do I become a test pilot?

Pachong

Pachong

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,

I'm mainly asking out of sheer curiosity, but I'd like to know what kind of experience your average test pilot has. Are these older, retired guys? Military guys? No idea. I just remember in college they made us take a kind of job placement test and after I completed the test, it said that I would be best suited/interested in being a test pilot. (Not that I really give that test much credit)
 
Exceed the demonstrated x-wind component on whichever aircraft you are flying. Then put that on your resume and see if it gets you the job.
 
Put some parts together with bolts and rivets, attach a lycoming to the contraption, signoff with friendly administration and go up.
 
Historically test pilots (for commercial companies) have come out of the military. They have a training program set up for that sort of thing. Most of them have strong backgrounds (read: Masters or better) in engineering and have lots of experience with a wide variety of aircraft. Once they are out in the civilian world they generally get a lot of experience with a type (Boeing, Airbus etc) of aircraft at an airline and then move over to working for the manufacturer where they probably start off as a delivery pilot on one line of airplanes (read: 737, 767, A32X etc). From there they may move to a development line where they are doing what we typically think of as "flight testing".

YMMV but both guys I know that are doing the job now got there that way.
 
Grow a big moustache and curse and spit a lot. And Beaman's. Don't forget the Beaman's.

At least I imagine.
 
BobDDuck said:
Historically test pilots (for commercial companies) have come out of the military. They have a training program set up for that sort of thing. Most of them have strong backgrounds (read: Masters or better) in engineering and have lots of experience with a wide variety of aircraft. Once they are out in the civilian world they generally get a lot of experience with a type (Boeing, Airbus etc) of aircraft at an airline and then move over to working for the manufacturer where they probably start off as a delivery pilot on one line of airplanes (read: 737, 767, A32X etc). From there they may move to a development line where they are doing what we typically think of as "flight testing".

YMMV but both guys I know that are doing the job now got there that way.
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That's certainly not the only way to become a Test Pilot. I know quite a few folks who have zero military experience. Civilian flight testing runs the spectrum from a new type certification down to putting research / test widgets onto a test-bed aircraft that will never be productionized in it's current form (e.g...developmental IR sensors bolted onto a King Air). A techical background, an A & P / AMT, and deep knowledge of the aircraft certification FARs parts 21, 23, 25, & 125 is the starting path to becoming a Test Pilot. If you like airplanes, are technically minded, and can handle the FAA's bureaucracy...flight testing can be a pretty fun job.
 
Being a test pilot is something that I've always wanted to do. Way up there on my longterm aviation goals. Gotta figure out how to get my A&P...
 
SpiraMirabilis said:
I stand corrected!! Although on a per week basis the test pilot course is only 4 times as expensive as AllATPs (~$4,000/wk to $17,000/wk).
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Really, the only folks who go to the long course are foreign military types whom the US Government does not allow to go to our military test pilot schools. However, their short courses are actually pretty useful to new civilian test pilots or engineers new to flight test engineering. http://www.ntps.edu/information/cou...performance-a-flying-qualities-flight-testing. At $9k for two weeks...they're actually comparable to AllATP.
 
Muff3n said:
How in the world does that place even stay open? I don't see how somebody can afford 900,000 dollars to get some aircraft training. Unless somebody is just mega rich and wants to do it for fun. I don't know of any career pilots that have 900,000 sitting in the bank.
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Individuals don't fund the NTPS cost...foreign militaries do. Foreign countries buy NTPS slots because a) they don't have enough slots at the military test pilot schools, b) no military will allow that country to have students at its test pilot school or c) the foriegn country recognizes that NTPS is actually quite cost effective when compared to paying the bill for a military test pilot school. As it turns out, NTPS just barely stays open. Draken parts are quite costly.
 
Did anyone else catch the part about the long course that they're ABET accredited and you get an M.S. in Flight Test Engineering when you finish? Sounds amazing. I would love to work in Flight Test Engineering either as a pilot or an engineer, just to be part of the process (or ideally the latter first, then the former). :)
 
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