The UASF Test Pilot School is the world’s premier institution for flight test education. We teach flight test techniques and flight test planning methods for both piloted and unpiloted fixed wing vehicles. We are seeking highly-qualified and motivated individuals for collaboration in the advancement of current state-of-the-art methodology in specific research and teaching areas while enhancing the capabilities of tools employed by USAF TPS to support test and evaluation education. Opportunities for focused research include the following topics:
• Advancement of our ability to teach complex topics to our students in minimal time using modern engineering education techniques, including the flipped classroom, direct application of theoretical concepts to student flight tests, simulation exercises that reinforce academic concepts, and educational tools for use in classroom and homework exercises.
• UAS curriculum evaluation and development to include specific flight test techniques for UAS platforms. USAF TPS is building a UAS flight testing curriculum and welcomes input for review and evaluation from others. TPS is also researching techniques to increase pilot/operator effectiveness in the presence of multiple seconds of time delay between a ground station and aircraft. TPS is also interested in instrumentation of Group I, II, and III UAS.
• Human interaction with complex systems to include Handling Qualities of complex control systems to include adaptive/robust systems and the prediction of new operational flight envelopes when robust control is actively accounting for uncertainties.
TPS has state of the art flight simulation capabilities and rapid prototyping of control going from simulation model to flight within the same day. TPS has unique access to multiple aircraft, and staff capable of conducting advanced/complex flight testing.