FLIGHT TEST INSTRUMENTATION COURSE

ENGINEER / TECHNICIAN

I – GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This short-term course is primarily intended to train engineers and/or technicians with advanced backgrounds involved in test instrumentation who wish to gain advanced knowledge about the means and methods used in flight test instrumentation, as well as emerging technologies that will be applied in testing and evaluation for the development and certification of new aeronautical products and their industrial applications.

To facilitate students’ understanding, during the course the following will be presented:

  • The main standards, regulations, and best practices in metrology and test instrumentation;
  • A evolução, i.e., passado, presente e futuro dos sistemas usados em sistemas de instrumentação de ensaios;
  • The relationship between theoretical foundations and practical solutions that are commonly used to improve and refine the measurement process in testing;
  • Several case studies based on real situations.

The course is blended: ONLINE (Fundamentals) and IN-PERSON (Laboratories and Flight) and is divided into 3 modules:

  • MODULE 1 – FUNDAMENTAL INSTRUMENTATION
  • MODULE 2 – INSTRUMENTATION PRACTICE – LABORATORY
  • MODULE 3 – INSTRUMENTATION PRACTICE – IN FLIGHT

After enrolling, the student will receive access to the Sirius FT-BR online learning portal to take the theoretical classes. The course lasts approximately 6 months. After completing the theoretical classes, the student will be able to take the practical laboratory and flight classes at Sirius FT-BR. If the student is unable to attend the laboratory practical classes in person, they may choose to watch the recorded practical class instead.

II – COURSE OBJECTIVES

Provide knowledge and techniques so that students can design and validate an instrumentation system to be used in a test campaign, meeting the requirements set by the client.

More specifically, the course should provide technical and practical knowledge so that students can:

  • Understand, with practical examples, the significance of metrology standards.
  • Know, identify, model, and minimize the main factors that compromise the results of a measurement process
  • Define what and how will be measured and, together with the test team, optimize the scope of the test instrumentation requirements so that they can efficiently meet the needs of the test campaign.
  • Understand in detail and with practical examples the operation of the main components used in flight test instrumentation and in industrial applications.
  • Design and select the components that will be used in test instrumentation.
  • Define and provide the necessary tools so that the instrumentation team can acquire and record accurate and reliable data.
  • Consolidate, through a real case study (i.e., test flight), the knowledge required for the integration and experimental validation of test instrumentation

III – CRITERIA FOR ENROLLMENT ACCEPTANCE

  • For Engineer: Bachelor’s degree completed or in progress;
  • For Technician: Technical course completed or in progress;
  • Basic knowledge of mathematics and statistics, signal analysis, and analog and digital electrical and electronic circuits;
  • Basic knowledge of programming and validation of data processing routines in the OCTAVE® or MATLAB® development system.® ou MATLAB®.

IV – PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PROCESS

The students will be evaluated by:

  • Minimum attendance of 100% in theoretical classes (online);
  • Minimum attendance of 67% in practical activities
    (i.e., On-site laboratory);
  • Minimum performance of six points (Grade 6) in laboratory activities, exercises, and assignments;
  • Participation in a flight for instrumentation data collection.

V – COURSE LOCATION

  • Theoretical: Asynchronous online learning on the Sirius FT-BR platform.
  • Practical: In person (Sirius FT-BR – São José dos Campos and Caçapava-SP).

Note 1: In the practical part, the student must attend at least two of the three scheduled laboratories.

Note 2: If the student cannot attend in person due to distance, they may watch the recorded practical classes, but will only receive a certificate of participation.

VI – TOTAL COURSE HOURS

  • 109 class periods (each period equals 45 minutes).

VII – COURSE INSTRUCTORS

  • Eng. Nelson Paiva Leite, PhD.
  • Eng. Augusto Otero, MSc.
  • Cpt. Luiz Munaretto, PEV-1.
INSTRUCTORS