Test Pilots
10-09-2011, 09:14 AM
#1
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Test Pilots
Any TPS folks out there...can you shed some light on this for me...
I recently was offered a job to replace, and thus become, the sole T-6A Operational Test Pilot. I guess they send you off to TPS to attend the "short course". I guess you get to fly about 7-8 different airframes too.
Anybody been and know any details? No PCS involved, cause i'm already at the same base for the job. I'm kind of at a x-road because I have a strong desire to fly for the airlines and get out of the deployment stronghold. A $40k school has got to carry a nice ADSC w/ it too i'm guessing....just as mine is about up...so civ life would prob be on hold for a while.
No airlines beating down my door, yet, but I know if I commit to the TP job, no doubt my interview offers will start to surface! Could be a sweet job though!
Thx in advance for intel and advice!
I recently was offered a job to replace, and thus become, the sole T-6A Operational Test Pilot. I guess they send you off to TPS to attend the "short course". I guess you get to fly about 7-8 different airframes too.
Anybody been and know any details? No PCS involved, cause i'm already at the same base for the job. I'm kind of at a x-road because I have a strong desire to fly for the airlines and get out of the deployment stronghold. A $40k school has got to carry a nice ADSC w/ it too i'm guessing....just as mine is about up...so civ life would prob be on hold for a while.
No airlines beating down my door, yet, but I know if I commit to the TP job, no doubt my interview offers will start to surface! Could be a sweet job though!
Thx in advance for intel and advice!
10-09-2011, 09:42 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 52
Sounds like an interesting opportunity, but I'd imagine the ADSC would be an additional 2-3 years. I think TPS at Edwards carries a 3 year ADSC, but I'm not positive. Any prospects in the Guard/Reserves until you can get picked up by an airline?
For me, I chose to not transfer the GI Bill a couple of years back because I didn't want the additional ADSC. Wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do (still not sure) but wanted to have options in 2012.
For me, I chose to not transfer the GI Bill a couple of years back because I didn't want the additional ADSC. Wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do (still not sure) but wanted to have options in 2012.
10-09-2011, 09:52 AM
#3
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Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Short-Course?
I was a TPS wannabe, but never got picked-up. Last I knew, it was a 3-years ADSC.
I've never heard of a "short course."
Need some more details here. Where is the gig, in what exact capacity? If this is for Operational Test of a potential AT-6, then the term "Test Pilot," in the FAA sense, probably does not apply.
The only ways I know of to be granted the title "Test Pilot" are:
1. Graduate a full-course military Test Pilot School, whether ours, the British, or French.
2. Graduate from the National Test Pilot School at Mojave. The tuition is somewhere around $250,000.
3. Have flown in an engineering test capacity on newly uncertified aircraft in a capacity that leads to their certification (that's how they covered the guys in antiquity before there were recognized schools).
NOW: if they are giving you the full TPS school and title, that is a valuable commodity. Gigs with the FAA start at $120k. Work with major manufacturers is seasonal (when new types are developed), but I believe still lucrative.
I've never heard of a "short course."
Need some more details here. Where is the gig, in what exact capacity? If this is for Operational Test of a potential AT-6, then the term "Test Pilot," in the FAA sense, probably does not apply.
The only ways I know of to be granted the title "Test Pilot" are:
1. Graduate a full-course military Test Pilot School, whether ours, the British, or French.
2. Graduate from the National Test Pilot School at Mojave. The tuition is somewhere around $250,000.
3. Have flown in an engineering test capacity on newly uncertified aircraft in a capacity that leads to their certification (that's how they covered the guys in antiquity before there were recognized schools).
NOW: if they are giving you the full TPS school and title, that is a valuable commodity. Gigs with the FAA start at $120k. Work with major manufacturers is seasonal (when new types are developed), but I believe still lucrative.
10-09-2011, 10:11 AM
#4
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Originally Posted by UAL T38 Phlyer
I was a TPS wannabe, but never got picked-up. Last I knew, it was a 3-years ADSC.
I've never heard of a "short course."
Need some more details here. Where is the gig, in what exact capacity? If this is for Operational Test of a potential AT-6, then the term "Test Pilot," in the FAA sense, probably does not apply.
The only ways I know of to be granted the title "Test Pilot" are:
1. Graduate a full-course military Test Pilot School, whether ours, the British, or French.
2. Graduate from the National Test Pilot School at Mojave. The tuition is somewhere around $250,000.
3. Have flown in an engineering test capacity on newly uncertified aircraft in a capacity that leads to their certification (that's how they covered the guys in antiquity before there were recognized schools).
NOW: if they are giving you the full TPS school and title, that is a valuable commodity. Gigs with the FAA start at $120k. Work with major manufacturers is seasonal (when new types are developed), but I believe still lucrative.
I've never heard of a "short course."
Need some more details here. Where is the gig, in what exact capacity? If this is for Operational Test of a potential AT-6, then the term "Test Pilot," in the FAA sense, probably does not apply.
The only ways I know of to be granted the title "Test Pilot" are:
1. Graduate a full-course military Test Pilot School, whether ours, the British, or French.
2. Graduate from the National Test Pilot School at Mojave. The tuition is somewhere around $250,000.
3. Have flown in an engineering test capacity on newly uncertified aircraft in a capacity that leads to their certification (that's how they covered the guys in antiquity before there were recognized schools).
NOW: if they are giving you the full TPS school and title, that is a valuable commodity. Gigs with the FAA start at $120k. Work with major manufacturers is seasonal (when new types are developed), but I believe still lucrative.
Nope, not the AT-6. The current dude flys in my squadron (attached) but he wears patches from the Majcom. It is definitely NOT the full TPS school. He said they call it the "short course" which I didn't even realize existed and it costs about $40k. Somewhere around 6-9 weeks I think and you fly multiple airframes, learn how to write reports on the tests you conduct, etc. You DO NOT get the title of true Test Pilot, but you do operational tests on your specific airframe (flying and ground), then publish the reports for your chain...which is directly to the G.O. I'm guessing you would test stuff that they want to change or mods to the aircraft. I'm not totally smart on it, but he said your SURF would be updated to show TPS short course.
I can't see how "TPS - XX MDS Op Test Pilot" on a resume could look bad though!
A good example...actually the only one that I witnessed recently, was testing radial tires vs. bias ply on the Texan. It lasted a few months. I think there might have been one regarding the actual PCL (throttle) cutoff gaurd that has been in the works (3 different variations, of which none have actually been installed yet).
10-09-2011, 10:19 AM
#5
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Originally Posted by Flyer5
Sounds like an interesting opportunity, but I'd imagine the ADSC would be an additional 2-3 years. I think TPS at Edwards carries a 3 year ADSC, but I'm not positive. Any prospects in the Guard/Reserves until you can get picked up by an airline?
For me, I chose to not transfer the GI Bill a couple of years back because I didn't want the additional ADSC. Wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do (still not sure) but wanted to have options in 2012.
For me, I chose to not transfer the GI Bill a couple of years back because I didn't want the additional ADSC. Wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do (still not sure) but wanted to have options in 2012.
Nothin's free....so I can't imagine any TPS school (short, med or long) would be any different. Heck...you can't get through TUI, I mean Touro, I mean Trident, without an ADSC!!
Yeah, I have a reserve job lined up (TR)....incase I get a job offer, but I don't think it would pay the bills as the only source of income. I actually took the new GI Bill, but it was the xfer benefits that added an extra year onto my ADSC. Haven't touched it at all though, and according to the functionals, you would just lose that "transfer" benefit if you don't complete the ADSC (i.e. not a hardened UPT or PCS style ADSC)
10-09-2011, 10:46 AM
#6
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Position: 767A (Ret)
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A log of sufficient "Engineering Evaluation" (12 months) or "Production Flight Test" (24 months) experience may qualify you for Associate Membership in S.E.T.P.
TPS grads can reduce these time requirements by 6 months.
More information here: https://www.setp.org/
TPS grads can reduce these time requirements by 6 months.
More information here: https://www.setp.org/
10-09-2011, 11:14 AM
#7
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Ahh...I think I found some intel.
Factsheets : U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
It is the TPS website. It actually has a small paragraph towards the bottom that addresses the short course.
Factsheets : U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
It is the TPS website. It actually has a small paragraph towards the bottom that addresses the short course.
10-09-2011, 12:10 PM
#8
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Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
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I haven't checked out the link yet that you provided, but $40k isn't even going to cover a few hours flying time in any military airframe much less multiple airframes it would seem!
Good luck in the decision though. I'm sure that any type of experience like that would look good on the resume, just be careful how you word it in the future since if you use the words' test pilot' in most sectors of the aviation world people are going to think that you have attended one o the full courses. You don't want it to look fishy and miss out on a golden opportunity over semantics.
USMCFLYR
Good luck in the decision though. I'm sure that any type of experience like that would look good on the resume, just be careful how you word it in the future since if you use the words' test pilot' in most sectors of the aviation world people are going to think that you have attended one o the full courses. You don't want it to look fishy and miss out on a golden opportunity over semantics.
USMCFLYR
10-09-2011, 01:11 PM
#9
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Your exactly right USMCFLYR, that's sort of what I was trying to figure out also...would the long term benefit of the job/trng be worth the reality that this would almost certainly place me in the position of commiting to 20 yrs.
12 yrs now + 3 ADSC....then only another 5 to retire....would be silly to punch at that point right?
Then there are the deployment rates we are seeing....probably at least 1-2 365's in that time not to mention 210's from AEF rotations.
This would b a whole lot easier if my phone would hurry up n ring already!
12 yrs now + 3 ADSC....then only another 5 to retire....would be silly to punch at that point right?
Then there are the deployment rates we are seeing....probably at least 1-2 365's in that time not to mention 210's from AEF rotations.
This would b a whole lot easier if my phone would hurry up n ring already!
10-09-2011, 04:15 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 829
Depends on what you want to do. If you want straight airline, that stamp probably doesn't even give you a statistical bump. If you want to do OT on the outside for some manufacturer, they probably want dudes with the full TPS or lots of 121 (i.e. airliner operational) experience for manufacturers like Boeing. About the only company that would put value in that experience is Beechcraft.
That being said, do what you want to do. Don't do anything or suck up bad deals that you don't want to because it might help your resume. If you don't take this gig and you think you'll look back wishing you did, do it. If not, don't.
That being said, do what you want to do. Don't do anything or suck up bad deals that you don't want to because it might help your resume. If you don't take this gig and you think you'll look back wishing you did, do it. If not, don't.
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