Test flight

L

LV-ARG

Well-Known Member
I've been asked to assist two foreign pilots that will be doing a test flight out of FXE on a kingair 350 and they need to test fly the pressurization system. The capt wants to climb to FL300. I was wondering how could I file, request, or plan for this in order to get it done as quickly as possible.

any ideas?
 
LV-ARG said:
I've been asked to assist two foreign pilots that will be doing a test flight out of FXE on a kingair 350 and they need to test fly the pressurization system. The capt wants to climb to FL300. I was wondering how could I file, request, or plan for this in order to get it done as quickly as possible.

any ideas?
Click to expand...

File an IFR flight plan to a radial-distance fix somewhere off-shore and out of the way, and explain what you're doing on frequency (or in the remarks field - but I'm not sure if the remarks field is passed along to controller stations). At the old home base there were many test flights of similar airplanes (climb, test pressurization, emergency descent, systems shakeout, and so on), and they all have flight plans that look something like "CMA CMA270D50 CMA"
 
ditto. (file IFR and put it in the remarks section)

Just tell clearance that you're conducting an "operational check flight", what direction, altitude, the distance you want , how long you'll be up, what you need from them and about how long you'll be out.

Also, here's some worthless, yet unverified trivia: unless you're a certified (or authorized) test pilot. You can't legally conduct a "test" flight. A former military pilot friend got jammed up on a ramp check with this one. Was asked what he had been doing, when he responded "conducting a test flight", he was asked to produce his test pilot credentials. After the FAA guy finished puffing out his chest, he informed my friend that ONLY TEST PILOTS can perform TEST FLIGHTS; all others (within the scope of this discussion) are "Operational Check Flights".

I wanted to throw the B.S flag at the whole situation but I had nothing to support it. Sounded about half true and about half crap to me....but I've not said "Test flight" since.........
 
dustoff17 said:
ditto. (file IFR and put it in the remarks section)

Just tell clearance that you're conducting an "operational check flight", what direction, altitude, the distance you want , how long you'll be up, what you need from them and about how long you'll be out.

Also, here's some worthless, yet unverified trivia: unless you're a certified (or authorized) test pilot. You can't legally conduct a "test" flight. A former military pilot friend got jammed up on a ramp check with this one. Was asked what he had been doing, when he responded "conducting a test flight", he was asked to produce his test pilot credentials. After the FAA guy finished puffing out his chest, he informed my friend that ONLY TEST PILOTS can perform TEST FLIGHTS; all others (within the scope of this discussion) are "Operational Check Flights".

I wanted to throw the B.S flag at the whole situation but I had nothing to support it. Sounded about half true and about half crap to me....but I've not said "Test flight" since.........
Click to expand...

What test pilot credentials, I wasn't aware that the Federales issued a test pilot certificate? If that was the case I would have pointed to my certs and said, "its in your hand, right on top of my medical there."

If that were the case http://www.ronsflying.com/ would have a hard time selling their services.
 
I am a FAA DER Test Pilot. Other than a nice certificate on my I love me wall, the FAA does not issue any other sort of test pilot certificates or credentials.


dustoff17 said:
ditto. (file IFR and put it in the remarks section)

Just tell clearance that you're conducting an "operational check flight", what direction, altitude, the distance you want , how long you'll be up, what you need from them and about how long you'll be out.

Also, here's some worthless, yet unverified trivia: unless you're a certified (or authorized) test pilot. You can't legally conduct a "test" flight. A former military pilot friend got jammed up on a ramp check with this one. Was asked what he had been doing, when he responded "conducting a test flight", he was asked to produce his test pilot credentials. After the FAA guy finished puffing out his chest, he informed my friend that ONLY TEST PILOTS can perform TEST FLIGHTS; all others (within the scope of this discussion) are "Operational Check Flights".

I wanted to throw the B.S flag at the whole situation but I had nothing to support it. Sounded about half true and about half crap to me....but I've not said "Test flight" since.........
Click to expand...
 
Jimflyfast said:
I am a FAA DER Test Pilot. Other than a nice certificate on my I love me wall, the FAA does not issue any other sort of test pilot certificates or credentials.
Click to expand...

Does that DER apply to one aircraft type, or is it kind of a carte blanch deal?
 
Polar742 said:
Does that DER apply to one aircraft type, or is it kind of a carte blanch deal?
Click to expand...

I am authorized to do DER test pilot work on any part 23 or part 25 aircraft. For aircraft requiring a type rating, if I do not have it for the particular aircraft then I need to have an appropriately rated and current pilot as the second pilot.
 
Jimflyfast said:
I am authorized to do DER test pilot work on any part 23 or part 25 aircraft. For aircraft requiring a type rating, if I do not have it for the particular aircraft then I need to have an appropriately rated and current pilot as the second pilot.
Click to expand...

Most excellent.

I'll buy you one round at ZigZag for that answer.
 
Should they file ICAO or Domestic FPL? Acft is equipped with an FMS. What about on the intl flight leaving from the US (only reqd if requesting any rnav route right?)
 
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