POSTGRADUATE LATO SENSU IN ENGINEERING AND FLIGHT TEST OPERATIONS

The Postgraduate Program in Engineering and Flight Test Operations is a distinguishing factor to increase employability, as the professional will have:

  • Theoretical and practical knowledge of flight test management;
  • Theoretical and practical knowledge of performance, flight qualities, and systems of various types of aircraft;
  • Practical classes in simulators and aircraft;
  • Knowledge of the requirements used by Aeronautical Certification Authorities (ANAC, FAA, etc.) in Type Certification and Supplemental Type Certification processes;
  • Classes and interaction with instructors with extensive experience in the aeronautical sector and in working with national (ANAC, IFI) and international (FAA, EASA) aviation authorities;
  • Option to specialize in airplane and/or helicopter;
  • Postgraduate diploma registered with the MEC.

I – GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Postgraduate Program in Engineering and Flight Test Operations is aimed at Private, Commercial, and Airline Transport Pilots with higher education, Engineers from various specialties, Professionals with a background in Aeronautical Sciences, and other Professionals with a higher education degree who have at least two years of aeronautical experience.

The course is a specialization for pilots with higher education, Engineers, Professionals with a background in Aeronautical Sciences, and other Professionals with higher education who have at least two years of aeronautical experience, and who will engage with the aspects of engineering and the real operation of flight testing.

The course is also carried out in a practical way through flights in various types of simulators and airplanes.

The course covers aspects of Aeronautical Knowledge, Performance Testing, Flight Qualities Testing, Systems Testing, and Flight Test Management.

II – COURSE OBJECTIVES

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Provide knowledge and techniques for the pilot to plan, conduct, and analyze flights: experience flights, low-risk flight tests, production flights, acceptance flights from a manufacturer, a seller, or a leasing company, considering that this pilot has acquired during the Course the theoretical and practical knowledge to perform flight tests within the limits established in the aircraft’s Flight Manual.

Provide knowledge and techniques for the engineer to plan, coordinate, and analyze flights: experience flights, low-risk flight tests, production flights, acceptance flights from a manufacturer, a seller, or a leasing company, considering that this engineer has acquired during the Course the theoretical and practical knowledge to plan, coordinate, and analyze a flight test within the limits established in the aircraft’s Flight Manual.

The Course curriculum also includes the program for Flight Test Pilot Training – Level 2 (PEV-2), as provided by ANAC in IS 61.15-001D.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

  • Learn the main test techniques and perform typical flight test maneuvers for performance and flight qualities;
  • Learn the main test techniques for various systems;
  • Develop the ability to prepare a Flight Test Plan, Flight Cards, and Flight Test Reports;
  • Develop the ability to coordinate between the engineer/specialist and the flight test pilot;
  • Compare technical data obtained in flight with the Flight Manual approved by the aviation authority;
  • Understand all aspects of planning and conducting a flight test.

III – CRITERIA FOR ENROLLMENT ACCEPTANCE

1 – Pilot:

To enroll in the Course, the pilot-student candidate must:

  • Hold a higher education degree;
  • Hold a Commercial Pilot License;
  • Hold a valid MNTE rating (or equivalent in multi-engine equipment);
  • Hold a valid first-class medical certificate (CMA) until the end of the Course, to be presented up to 60 days before the start of flight operations in aircraft;
  • Hold IFR and MLTE ratings (they do not need to be valid);
  • Have at least 400 recorded flight hours;
  • Have flown at least four different types of aircraft;
  • Have completed a Jet Training Course or have at least 10 flight hours in a jet or turboprop aircraft.

2 – Engineer (with related academic background) and other Professionals with higher education:

Although there are no ANAC requirements for engineers and other professionals with higher education, the Student may enroll in the Course if:

  • They have completed a higher education degree in engineering in areas related to aeronautics, or a higher education degree in aeronautical sciences, or other higher education programs (with proof of at least two years of aeronautical experience);
  • Hold a medical statement, issued within the last 60 days prior to the flights in airplanes, declaring that there are no restrictions to performing aerial activities in an airplane until the end of the Course.

Note: Students must sign an acknowledgment of awareness regarding flight in an experimental aircraft that will be used in the Course.

IV – DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PROCESS (GENERAL)

Students will be evaluated by:

  • Submitted exercise lists;
  • Exams taken;
  • Thesis – Applied Investigative Project on Aircraft (written and oral presentation);
  • Flight logs in simulators;
  • Flight logs in aircraft and test reports.

GRADES AND FINAL AVERAGE OF THE COURSES

The student’s final grade will be based on the weighted average obtained in the 2 Course Modules, as described in the “Final Grade Calculation” table.

Final Grade Calculation

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT WEIGHT FINAL AVERAGE
Average of the grades from the exercise lists 0,3 Sum of the values of the previous items divided by 4
Average of the grades from the theoretical exams taken 0,7
Normalized average of the grades from flight sheets in simulators 1
Normalized average of the grades from flight sheets in aircraft and flight test reports 1
Final Course Project (written paper and oral presentation) 1

APPROVAL CRITERIA

A student will be considered approved if: They achieve a final average equal to or greater than 6.0; Attend 80% or more of the theoretical activities of the Course; and participate in 100% of the practical activities of the Course.

Note: For students whose performance in all subjects is at least 80% attendance and a grade of 7.0 (seven) in each curricular component of the Course’s Pedagogical Project, a Certificate of Completion of the Flight Test Pilot Course – Level 2 (PEV-2) will be granted.

EVALUATION OF FLIGHTS IN SIMULATORS AND AIRCRAFT

During simulator and aircraft flights, the instructor will evaluate the student pilot’s response in cognitive and psychomotor terms, assigning a grade for this evaluation at the application level and at the practice level, respectively.

During simulator and aircraft flights, the instructor will evaluate the student engineer’s response in cognitive and teamwork terms, assigning a grade for this evaluation at the application level and at the practice level, respectively.

The instructor must issue a final grade for the flight sheet, which should be a weighted score based on performance in each exercise and its relative importance, using the same grading scale applied to psychomotor, cognitive, and teamwork items mentioned above.

In the case of a deficient final grade (below 5), the student must repeat the simulator or aircraft flight, limited to two repetitions.

V – COURSE MODALITY AND DURATION

The course will be offered in distance learning, online, and in-person formats according to the modules: on line, e presencial de acordo com os módulos:

  • Module 1 – Flight Test Theory: Distance Learning
  • Module 2 – Practical in Simulators and Aircraft: Distance Learning, Online, on line, and In-person.

The course will last a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 18 months, starting on August 18, 2023.

VI – COURSE LOCATION

  • Classes will be mixed: distance learning, on line, and in-person.
  • Theoretical classes in distance learning format (Optionally, some theoretical classes may be online and in-person); on line, and in-person);
  • Practical classes in simulators: ETEP Campus, Av. Barão do Rio Branco, 882 – Jardim Esplanada, São José dos Campos – SP,
  • Practical classes in aircraft: at the aerodromes of Vale do Paraíba, SP, and Campinas region, SP.