Society of Flight Test Engineers Symposium 2010

Tomorrow begins the first day of the 41st SFTE Conference! There are two morning training tracks and one track in the afternoon. Then follows the conference reception (1800-2100) at the GCC Lower Atrium.

Morning Session, Track 1, National Harbor Room 12
Aero Devices (0800-1100)
UAV Range Safety (1100-1200)

Morning Session, Track 2, National Harbor Room 13
EMI in the Test Environment (0800-1000)
Orbis Matching Pitot-Static Calibration without a Cone (1000-1200)

Afternoon Session, National Harbor Room 12
Air Safety Investigation Techniques (1330-1600)

Attendees,

The 41st International SFTE Symposium program [pdf, 588kb] is now available for download!

See you in two short weeks!

Hank Caruso, renouned aviation artist, will be attending the 2010 SFTE International Symposium with merchandise available for sale Tuesday-Thursday!

Hank Caruso’s Aerocatures^tm are internationally recognized as some of the most novel and distinctive images in aviation art today.  Trained as both an artist and test engineer, Hank’s familiarity with aviation technology and aircraft operations enable him to convincingly show how flight crews feel about their aircraft and how the aircraft feel about themselves.  His careful draftsmanship and attention to detail add a strong sense of realism to his dynamic portrayals of each aircraft’s unique personality.

The credibility of Hank’s aviation art is enhanced by his first-hand flying experiences as a backseater with Navy and Air Force operational, test, and training squadrons, including the Blue Angels, Top Gun, and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.  On 9 September 2006, the U.S. Navy designated Hank Caruso as Honorary Naval Aviator #27.

Hank is an Artist Fellow in the American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA) and a regular contributor to the U.S. Air Force Art Program and Naval Aviation News. Many military aviation squadrons and civilian aerospace organizations have commissioned original Aerocatures^tm for use as logos, VIP presentations, and limited-edition commemorative prints.

TITLE: Range Safety for Unmanned Air Vehicles

INSTRUCTOR: Bob Jacob (NAVAIR)

DURATION: 1-hr

SYNPOSIS: This class will provide an overview to unique aspects of range safety as it pertains to testing and operation of UAVs. Case studies and notable UAV incidents will be discussed.

This training session will be given from 1100 to 1200 in National Harbor Room 12.

Attendees,

The National Harbor and DC area offer other additional activities to the conference:

1) If you are looking do something a little different one evening, we can highly recommend the Cirque du Soleil shows.  Their “OVO” show will actually be at the National Harbor complex during the Symposium, within easy walking distance of the hotel.  More information and tickets may be purchased at the Cirque du Soleil OVO website.

2)  The National Geographic museum in Washington DC has an exhbit featuring arugablely one of the first Aeronautical Engineers.   ”Da Vinci-The Genius”, from the museum website:

“Featuring an array of full-scale machine inventions, reproductions of his famous Renaissance paintings, and detailed anatomical sketches, Da Vinci–The Genius demonstrates the full scope of Leonardo da Vinci’s remarkable innovations as an inventor, artist, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, musician, and architect.”

More information can be found on the National Geographic Events website for “Da Vinci-The Genius“

An additional training course on Pitot-Static calibration has been added to the agenda on 13 September 2010.

TITLE: Orbis Matching – Precision Pitot-Static Calibration without a Cone
INSTRUCTOR: Al Lawless (Honda Jet)
DURATION: 2-hrs
SYNPOSIS: This class will introduce and fully train attendees on a novel appraach to collecting high quality static source error correction data using GPS instead of a trailing cone. While other GPS methods exist, they are altitude-based and therefore unsuitable at higher RVSM altitudes. The “Orbis Method” introduced here uses GPS velocities and orbis maneuvering to determine winds and subsequently airspeed with extreme precision. Discussion includes all error analysis, workarounds, and trick to the trade.

The SFTE Symposium committee is proud to announce that Pieerre J. Thuot, Naval Aviator, Test Pilot, and NASA Astronaut, will be the guest speaker for the Luncheon on Wednesday 15 September, 1130-1300.

Selected as an astronaut by NASA in June 1985, Astronaut Pierre J. Thuot served in a variety of technical assignments.  As the remote manipulator system (robot arm), crew equipment, and extravehicular activity (EVA) representative for the Astronaut Office, he participated in the design, development and evaluation of Space Shuttle payloads, crew equipment, and crew procedures.  He performed Space Shuttle flight software verification and served as a CAPCOM in NASA’s Mission Control Center.  He served as the lead astronaut for Space Station integrated assembly and maintenance operations within the Astronaut Office.  Additionally, Thuot served as Chief of the Astronaut Office Mission Support Branch, as well as supervising Astronaut Candidate training for the class of 1995.  A veteran of three space flights, STS-36 in 1990, STS-49 in 1992 and STS-62 in 1994, Thuot has logged over 654 hours in space, including 17.7 hours on three space walks.  Pierre Thuot is a former F-14 RIO, a graduate of US Naval Test Pilot School Class 83, and currently with Whitney, Bradley, and Brown supporting the Patuxent River aviation community.

Registration for the 2010 SFTE Symposium is open! Early registration discounts are available until July 18.

On-line registration is located at the SFTE HQ symposium registration page.

A calendar for the week of festivities is located at the Schedule of Events page.

Mr. Gene Kranz

The SFTE Symposium committee is proud to announce that Mr. Gene Kranz, retired NASA Flight Director and manager, will be the guest speaker at the SFTE International Symposium Banquet the evening of September 16th 2010.

Mr. Kranz served as Flight Director during the Gemini and Apollo programs.  He is best known by the public for his role as lead Flight Director during the legendary Apollo 13 space mission for which he was a co-recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  After the Apollo program, Mr. Kranz served as a flight operations director for the Skylab Program and overall director of NASA Mission Operations.  Mr. Kranz retired from NASA after 37 years of federal service.

His philosophy and approach to space flight operations set the standard for space and flight-test control rooms today.   His experiences are chronicled in his New York Times best-selling autobiography, Failure is Not an Option:  Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond.

Technical Training Sessions are planned to be held from 0800 through 1700 on Monday, 13-Sep-2010, with a 1.5 hour lunch break.

Training course times are TBD and will be finalized prior to the symposium. Additional training subjects may be added in the near future, so please check the website often.  Although we don’t anticipate any training course cancellations, course offerings may change for reasons outside the control of SFTE.

Topics this year include:

1) “Aero Devices” by JJ McCue, Instructor US Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) (4 hr) – You see these devices all the time, whether it be on a current test program, or sitting as a passenger on a commercial flight.  Do you ever wonder why winglets are used? What is that stall fence really providing? Slots, slats, VGs, vortilons, notches, strakes… It’s enough to make even the most seasoned aero engineer’s head spin (or spiral).  This presentation will enlighten the audience by providing a review of subsonic, transonic, and supersonic aerodynamics. Discussion points will be mixed throughout the approximate 4 hour presentation, and include Computational Fluid Dynamics, Wing Theory, Winglets, High Angle-of-Attack Aero, High Lift Devices, Boundary Layer Control, and many real-world examples.

2) “Air Safety Investigation Techniques” by TBD, Instructor National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Training Center (4-hr) – A general review of mishap and safety investigative techniques used by the NTSB.  Discussion topics may include:
1. NTSB overview and history
3. NTSB go-team and the on-scene investigation
4. The “party” process
5. Post on-scene investigation
6. International investigations
7. Safety recommendations
8. Survival factors
9. Human performance
10. Case studies

3) “EMI in the Test Environment” by Daniel W. Hrehov PE, Flight Test Engineer Boeing Commercial Airplane Company (2 hr) – One flight test topic often misunderstood is Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), its affect on aircraft avionics and in what way it should be flight tested.  In some cases, EMI has been the source of much confusion and the cause of unnecessary airplane testing due in part to its unfamiliar technical terms that don’t easily lend itself to traditional flight testing procedures and partially to the notion that it is covered by someone else (the ‘EMI experts’).
This presentation will explore the aspects of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) as it pertains to both flight test pilots and engineers in the certification of aircraft avionics and electrical systems.  It will attempt to raise the level of basic EMC understanding so that flight test crews can be better interface with the experts of this highly technical topic.  It will provide a better understanding of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and the overall picture of how aircraft are designed and tested to address electromagnetic compatibility issues from a Flight Test perspective.

Some of the topics that will be covered are:
1. Basic review of electromagnetic terms.
2. Brief descriptions of the electromagnetic environment aircraft are subjected to.
3. How EMI is addressed in the regulations and compliance guidance.
4. Identification of various forms of electromagnetic testing.
5. Explain the role others play in the overall compliance.
6. Discuss our role as pilots and engineers in EMC testing.