First academic coordination meeting of the Sirius Delta Class

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The fourth class of the postgraduate program in flight testing at SIRIUS-ETEP held its 1st academic coordination meeting on September 14, four weeks after the start of academic activities in the Remote Testing format

The postgraduate program in flight testing at SIRIUS-ETEP is a dual degree course, as students also receive the Level 2 Flight Test Pilot (PEV) certificate, and it is structured in two modules. The first module, in the distance learning format, covers all the theoretical aspects of flight testing. Classes include Aeronautical Familiarization (for non-pilots); Fundamentals of Flight Testing; Aerodynamics; Performance; Flying Qualities; Engines and Mechanical Systems; and Avionic Systems

The second module, in a blended format, covers the practical part of flight testing. Classes are offered in Flight Test Management; Aircraft Technical Instruction; Preparations for Test Flights, along with flight tests conducted in simulators and aircraft.

For the completion of the postgraduate program, students will carry out an aircraft evaluation as their final course project. In this work, they will have the opportunity to plan, execute, and document an aircraft evaluation using all the knowledge and flight test techniques acquired.

The agenda of the first meeting addressed the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and commitment in the distance learning courses; the class’s academic monitoring model; the schedule of the first module; the evaluation model; the lives that will be carried out; and the importance of the students’ voice for the continuous improvement of the SIRIUS FTBR flight test course.The coordination meetings will take place monthly until the end of the postgraduate program, scheduled for September 2024.

To all our students, our congratulations on the decision to take advantage of a unique opportunity in the civil market to specialize in the fascinating field of flight testing! Strength and success to all!

GRADUATION CEREMONY – SIRIUS BRAVO CLASS

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On July 28, ETEP and SIRIUS FLIGHT TEST BR held the graduation ceremony of the second class of the Postgraduate Program in Flight Testing, the third class of Flight Test Pilot – Level 2, and the awarding of the participation certificates for the Instrumentation Course.

The graduates of the Postgraduate Course in Flight Testing and Flight Test Pilot – Level 2 were: CDR Daniel Furlani; CDR Edemilson Lopes; ENG. Gustavo Seiko; CDR Heitor Munaretto; CDR Fábio Perez; CDR Flávio Varandas; CDR Ivan Crespi; ENG. Luis Castillo; CDR Régis de Mello; and CDR Vladimir Malvestio.

The graduates of the Flight Test Instrumentation Course were: ENG. Anastácio Barros; ENG. André Junior; ENG. Alexandre Alves; ENG. Alexandre Alencar; ENG. Matheus Silvestre; ENG. Yasmin Castro; TECH. Gustavo Ortiz; TECH. João Luis Fioravante; TECH. Matheus Funashima; and TECH. Nathan Martins.

The Tenente Brigadeiro Nelson Taveira Award was presented to ENG. Luis Castillo for achieving the best overall performance in the flight test postgraduate program of the SIRIUS BRAVO class.

Due to work commitments, ENG. Luis Castillo was unable to attend. The Award was received by his flight partner during the practical phase of the course, CDR Flávio Varandas, from Mrs. Divone Taveira

The Engineer Kovacs Award was presented to ENG. Gustavo Seiko for his academic performance in the SIRIUS BRAVO class.

The Embraer Award was presented to CDR Régis de Mello for his academic performance in the course, airplane category.

The Brigadeiro Aldo da Rosa Award was presented to CDR Daniel Furlani for his academic performance in the course, helicopter category.

During the ceremony, SIRIUS FLIGHT TEST BR paid tribute to the strategic partner: EFAI Aviation School, represented by CDR João Bosco, and to the family of Ten. Brig. Taveira, represented by his wife, Mrs. Divone Taveira, for embodying his entire legacy to the flight test community in Brazil.

The Speaker of the SIRIUS BRAVO Class, CDR Edemilson Lopes, highlighted the satisfaction of completing this unique specialization in Latin America, and the class patron, ENG. Augusto Otero, welcomed the new members of the flight test community.

The expertise of SIRIUS FLIGHT TEST BR in delivering, for the civil market, a unique course in Latin America—the Postgraduate Lato Sensu Program in Flight Testing and the Flight Test Pilot Course – Level 2 (PEV-2)—comes from its experienced faculty and the infrastructure of distance learning, simulators, and available aircraft. The instructors are alumni of the current Flight Test and Research Institute (IPEV) and companies such as EMBRAER.

SIRIUS FLIGHT TEST BR congratulates all the graduates of the courses.

May you all be very happy with your new qualifications. Use them wisely.

DELTA Class in formation – Postgraduate Program in Flight Test Engineering and Operations and Flight Test Pilot Level 2 (PEV-2)

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While organizing the graduation ceremony of the BRAVO Class, SIRIUS Flight Test-BR has opened enrollment for the formation of the DELTA Class in the Postgraduate Courses in Flight Test Engineering and Operations and Flight Test Pilot Level 2 (PEV-2).

Graduation of the CHARLIE Class – Feb 2023

The Courses last 14 months and are organized into 2 modules. The first is Theoretical for Flight Testing, and the second covers Flight Test Management and Practice. Each module lasts seven months, with the first in distance learning format and the second a mix of distance and in-person learning.

Beginning of a video lesson; Simulator instruction; Test flight

The Courses are scheduled to begin on August 18

The Courses are aimed at higher-education professionals who work or wish to work in the aeronautical field, as well as general aviation pilots.

Come be part of the Flight Test family in Brazil!

Commander FURLANI successfully completed the practical phase of the BRAVO Class in the Postgraduate Program in Flight Test Operations and Flight Test Pilot, Level 2 (PEV-2) in the Helicopter category

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In the week of July 9, 2023, Commander FURLANI carried out the scheduled flights in the Postgraduate Course in Flight Test Operations and PEV-2 in the Helicopter category, at ETEP/SIRIUS FT-BR. The flights took place at the EFAI Aviation School (Pará de Minas-MG), a partner of SIRIUS FT-BR, under the instruction and evaluation of Commander BOSCO (Test 10). Three flights were conducted to apply Flight Test Techniques, two in the Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter and one (final evaluation flight) in the H-125 Esquilo helicopter

 

For this phase of the course, three test orders (TOs) were issued for the evaluation of the Schweizer 269C-1 and one TO for the evaluation of the H-125 Esquilo. In each TO, a flight scenario was proposed with various situations that must be addressed through proper planning, preparation of flight cards, briefing, execution of the flight with data collection, and preparation of reports for each evaluated aircraft.

With the objective of evaluating the Schweizer 269C-1, the first Test Order aimed at collecting power data during in-ground effect and out-of-ground effect hover with three different weights, using ballast attached to the aircraft structure. For this test, the free hover method assisted by a laser rangefinder was used as the flight test technique. The second Test Order included functional checks of the helicopter in level flight in order to plot the speed versus engine manifold pressure graph. In this test, it was possible to determine the minimum power-required speed in level flight, the maximum range speed, and the maximum level flight speed, as well as to compare the obtained results with the values presented in the manufacturer’s manual. The third Test Order covered the evaluation of the aircraft’s performance in climb at maximum continuous power and autorotation descent at various speeds.

The information obtained from the test flights allowed Commander FURLANI to address the questions proposed in the Test Orders, validate items available in the flight manual, and generate performance curves that are not available in the manual.

In the final evaluation on the H-125 Esquilo helicopter, the proposed flight scenario included checks on in-ground and out-of-ground effect hover, level flight performance, climbs at maximum continuous power, autorotation descents, and onboard systems. In this context, one flight hour was allocated for the H-125 evaluation, which required careful planning, the application of all flight test concepts and techniques taught during the course, as well as a combination of management and execution of the test by Commander FURLANI. Thus, the performance characteristics and the behavior of the onboard systems were verified.

After completing the flights, Commander FURLANI will document the evaluation results of the Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter and the H-125 Esquilo in their respective Flight Test Reports, which will be presented as the final course activity

Congratulations to Commander FURLANI for overcoming another stage in the pursuit of the Postgraduate Certificate in Flight Test Operations and Flight Test Pilot, Level 2 in the Helicopter category

Commander LOPES – Bravo Class successfully completes the practical phase of the Postgraduate Program in Flight Test Operations – Helicopter and Flight Test Pilot – Level 2 (PEV-2) – Helicopter

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In the week of June 25 to July 1, Commander LOPES carried out the four flights scheduled in the Postgraduate Courses in Flight Test Operations – Helicopter and PEV-2 – Helicopter, at ETEP/SIRIUS FTBR.

The flights were carried out in Pará de Minas – MG, at the EFAI Aviation School, a partner of SIRIUS in the Courses, and included the Instruction and Evaluation of Commander BOSCO – Test 10, in Flight Test Techniques (FTT) and in the final evaluation flight.

Three flights were carried out in the Schweizer helicopter, following Test Orders to: 1) Obtain power data in in-ground effect hover and verify the power aspects in out-of-ground effect hover, and compare them with the information in the Flight Manual. In this test, the flight test technique used was the free hover method with a laser rangefinder; 2) Perform functional checks of the helicopter in level flight conditions, such as: obtain the manifold pressure curve as a function of speed, determine the maximum horizontal speed (VH), determine the fuel consumption in level flight at VH, and compare the results with the information in the Flight Manual; 3) Perform functional checks of the helicopter in climb and descent flight conditions, such as: determine the climb rate at various speeds, determine the descent rate at various speeds, obtain the climb rate and descent rate curve as a function of speed under the tested conditions, and compare the results with the information in the Flight Manual

For all flights, Commander LOPES prepared flight test cards and conducted a technical-operational briefing as part of the test planning. Once the flights were carried out, Commander LOPES will document the results of the test flights in a Flight Test Report

The fourth test flight was the evaluation of the H125 – Esquilo aircraft, from partner EFAI, in compliance with the Test Order that presented a scenario in which a company was interested in purchasing an H125 aircraft which, according to the seller, was in perfect condition. He exemplified by saying that even on the hottest days, around 35ºC, the aircraft could perform Out of Ground Effect hovers at maximum takeoff weight with power to spare, and that in In Ground Effect hover it could handle the full planned weight. He also stated that the aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 120 kt at any altitude, regardless of weight, with an endurance of 3h20min. A so-called specialist accompanying the seller claimed that the aircraft had unique performance, being able to reach a climb rate of up to 2,000 ft/min with a full fuel tank and 5 passengers on board, and that if a rapid descent was needed, it could descend at up to 3,000 ft/min without any difficulty. Both claimed that all onboard systems were fully functionalIt was just taking the aircraft and flying away”.

Based on the information presented and using flight test planning and techniques, the fourth test flight verified the behavior of the onboard systems and the performance characteristics in the aforementioned phases of flight, in order to confirm or correct the information provided by the seller and the so-called specialist

Now Commander LOPES will document the results of the H125 Esquilo evaluation flight in a Flight Test Report and present them to the “clients”

Congratulations to Commander LOPES for overcoming another stage in the pursuit of the Postgraduate Certificate in Flight Test Operations and Flight Test Pilot – Level 2

Sirius Bravo Class in the Final Stretch – Fabio, Heitor, and Gustavo carried out the final aircraft evaluation flight

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Three more students from the Postgraduate Program in Flight Test Operations and the Postgraduate Program in Flight Test Engineering – Bravo Class, at ETEP/SIRIUS FTBR, successfully complete the practical phase of the Course

Commanders FÁBIO and HEITOR, and Engineer GUSTAVO, conclude the practical phase of the Postgraduate Program in Flight Test Operations, and in Flight Test Engineering, respectively

Commander FÁBIO carried out the test flight to evaluate the EMB-711C – Corisco aircraft in compliance with the Test Order that presented a scenario in which the new owner of the aircraft was concerned with comments made by so-called specialists regarding performance characteristics during takeoff, climb, and descent; flying qualities and controllability during takeoff, approach, and landing, as well as in low-speed turning flight; certain instabilities in cruise flight; and nonconformities in the indications of engine parameters and airspeeds, as well as in the communication system.

Based on the information presented and using flight test planning and techniques, the test flight then verified the behavior of the aforementioned systems, the performance characteristics, and the flying qualities in the various phases of flight, in order to confirm or correct the information provided by the so-called specialists

The test flight lasted one hour and had the collaboration of the instructors Commander MUNARETTO, as flight test pilot, and Engineer OTERO, as flight test engineer

Now the results will be documented in a Flight Test Report and presented to the “clients”

Commander HEITOR and Engineer GUSTAVO carried out the test flight to evaluate the H125 – Esquilo aircraft, from partner EFAI, in compliance with the Test Order that presented a scenario in which a company was interested in purchasing an H125 aircraft which, according to the seller, was in perfect condition. He explained that even on the hottest days, around 35ºC, the aircraft could perform Out of Ground Effect (OGE) hovers at maximum takeoff weight with power to spare, and that in In Ground Effect (IGE) hover it could handle the full planned weight. He also stated that the aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 120 kt at any altitude, regardless of weight, with an endurance of 3h20min. A so-called specialist accompanying the seller claimed that the aircraft had unique performance, being able to reach a climb rate of up to 2,000 ft/min with a full fuel tank and 5 passengers on board, and that if a rapid descent was needed, it could descend at up to 3,000 ft/min without any difficulty. Both claimed that all onboard systems were fully functionalIt was just taking the aircraft and flying away”.

Based on the information presented and using flight test planning and techniques, the test flight verified the behavior of the onboard systems and the performance characteristics in the aforementioned phases of flight, in order to confirm or correct the information provided by the seller and the so-called specialist

The test flight lasted one hour and had the collaboration of Instructor Commander BOSCO, as the test pilot

Now the results will be documented in a Flight Test Report and presented to the “clients”

Congratulations to Commanders FÁBIO and HEITOR, and to Engineer GUSTAVO, for overcoming another stage in the pursuit of the Postgraduate Certificate in Flight Test Operations and Flight Test Pilot – Level 2, and the Postgraduate Certificate in Flight Test Engineering, respectively