Civilian Test Pilot Opportunities?
#11
Suggestion
They're hosting a symposium Sept 24-27 in Anaheim CA which would be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about this kind of flying. The civilian and military test pilots attending will be glad to talk to you.
#12
I have a friend who got to attend the civilian TP school while working for a manufacturer...fully funded. He had GA and regional experience, but I'm sure he got the opportunity based on the specific needs of his job at the time.
As long as you're in the military, try to get it that way.
As long as you're in the military, try to get it that way.
#13
I can give you a little insight to this. This is pretty much what I did. I am a test pilot for Hawker Beechcraft after serving 10 years active duty in the Navy.
#14
-What's your typical work day like?
-Job Security?
-Time off?
-Pay/Benefits?
-Overall job satisfaction?
Thanks
#15
- The company is doing very well. Huge backlog on jet orders. Most other biz jet companies are doing well too.
- Time off is normal for a business job. We do trade off weekend work only when needed. If you work the weekend you get comps days mid week.
- Pay/benes: Is based on your experience. I had prior FCF (military post maint. flights) experience and other guys had more jet time, it is up in the air a bit. Benefits are great, about $200 a month for a family for full medical.
- I love my job. I tried the 121 world for about 5 months and didn't really care for it. I was gone more then than I ever was in the military. I also didn't get much from the flying. I love getting to fly here again.
I hope this helps.
#17
Yeah, you pretty much need a employer to sponsor you. Even if you HAD $500K, there is almost no way you could justify a return on investment for doing that, you'd be better off keeping the money and working at a regional. You could probably retire at 55....
#20
A company may have several dozen test pilots on staff if they have a bunch of airframes to test, depending on how new are the design is. Pay at these companies is based on standardized pay structures, but test pilots will start at about $70k and on a higher band than regular engineers, and are on the same pay bands as senior engineers or middle managers. The salaries top out at about $150k in the bizjet segment for a senior test pilot position. You may wish to move on if that kind of money is not enough- by move on, I mean go into management at the same company, or go to another segment of the test pilot job market that pays more.
Particular test pilots are assigned to particular airframes, and they may have several but they tend to be attached to one or two airframes prior to certification of that airframe. Although during less hurried times a test pilot may observe a normal 8-5 pm work schedule, comprised of a variety of flying and non-flying duties, when the pressure is up to get a new airframe ready for initial certification the schedule may run 24/7/365 until it is finished. This is because some testing has to be done in real flying conditions, ie. ice testing, and the test pilots may have to travel to find the right conditions or fly at times outside of the normal office schedule and the company will want desperately to meet its certification expectation date for a variety of reasons not mentioned here. They may even have to leave the country to perform situational testing. Usually this has to do with finding the correct weather conditions. Test pilots are expected to bend and flex to meet the schedule and it can get quite demanding prior to certification. Night flights and holidays are not out of the question.
Here's a list of qualifications in order of importance, high to low. Bear in mind this is my take on it, and nothing more than that.
1. Engineering degree. Required for all.
2. Seniority at the company. Specialization on a particular airframe is the most desirable variety. Required for all, unless the candidate is heavily experienced in the next category. Proven ability to work in teams is highly desirable.
3. Flight experience- can be from a wide variety of aircraft and flight situations. The hierarchy of value would be something like this-
A. Military jet time, and if possible NTPS school.
B. Part 121, 135, or 91 jet time.
C. Any kind of multiengine time.
D. Single engine time as an instructor or commercial pilot.
Since flight experience varies among applicants, it is less important than items (1) and (2) on the list, but you need about 1500 hours minimum to be competitive in most cases. bear in mind that pilots with even less time than this can make it up the ladder during strong economic times.
There are positions as CoPilot Test Pilots, not everyone goes directly to the left seat. This is where getting along well with others is important. In most airframes, with the exception being very small ones, there are two test pilots on every mission and actually even the small airframes will always have two pilots although the second will operate the chase plane. They need to work well together. The ability to do so is worth as much as almost anything else, and accounts for the flexibility in pilot qualifications. You may bring only a limited amount of prior flight experience to the table as a test pilot but be able to work well as a team player. You will get promoted faster than a person who cannot work as well in teams.
I have a friend who got to attend the civilian TP school while working for a manufacturer...fully funded. He had GA and regional experience, but I'm sure he got the opportunity based on the specific needs of his job at the time...
As long as you're in the military, try to get it that way...
...Yeah, you pretty much need a employer to sponsor you. Even if you HAD $500K, there is almost no way you could justify a return on investment for doing that, you'd be better off keeping the money and working at a regional. You could probably retire at 55....
As long as you're in the military, try to get it that way...
...Yeah, you pretty much need a employer to sponsor you. Even if you HAD $500K, there is almost no way you could justify a return on investment for doing that, you'd be better off keeping the money and working at a regional. You could probably retire at 55....
Finally, now is not the time to be pursuing a test pilot job in the GA market segment of airplane manufacturing business. The recession has devastated this market segment and there are actually senior test pilots being laid off. Wait a few years to give it a try, would be my advice. I hope this helps.
Last edited by Cubdriver; 08-11-2009 at 11:00 AM. Reason: spelling and diction
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