Overview
Flight testing is a branch of aeronautical engineering that develops the technologies and procedures needed to evaluate an aircraft's behavior during actual flight, using specialized instrumentation and data acquisition systems to gather performance data. Data gathered during test flights is validated for accuracy and analyzed to identify design problems that need correcting before a design is finalized, or to formally document a completed design's capabilities for certification or customer acceptance. Flight testing accomplishes two major tasks: first finding and fixing design problems during development, and then verifying and documenting the aircraft's final capabilities once the design is complete. For individual pilots, a check ride refers to a practical flight test administered by an examiner to verify a pilot has met the required skill and knowledge standards for a new certificate or rating, functioning as the individual-pilot equivalent of the aircraft-level flight testing process.
History
Formal flight testing as an engineering discipline developed alongside early aircraft certification requirements in the 1920s and 1930s, as governments began requiring documented proof that new aircraft designs met minimum safety and performance standards. The check ride concept, requiring individual pilots to demonstrate their skills to an independent examiner before receiving a new certificate or rating, was formalized around the same period as part of the broader development of pilot licensing systems. Both flight testing and check ride procedures grew significantly more standardized and rigorous through the mid-20th century, as aviation authorities accumulated more accident investigation data pointing to specific skills and knowledge gaps that needed to be verified. Modern check ride standards continue to evolve based on ongoing safety data, with regulators periodically updating required maneuvers and knowledge areas to address newly identified risk factors in pilot performance.
Design & Specifications
Check ride standards specify exact maneuvers and knowledge areas an examiner must evaluate, based on the specific certificate or rating being tested.
Operations
Pilots schedule check rides with a certified examiner, demonstrating required skills in flight before receiving a new certificate or rating.
See also
References
| Category | Aviation Business & Pilot Operations |
| Type | Practical pilot skills test |
| Related Field | Flight testing (engineering) |
| Administered By | Independent examiner |
| Purpose | Certificate/rating verification |