Leaders discuss future test pilot school curriculum

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Brooke Davis
  • Air Force Flight Test Center Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) --  Representatives from around the Air Force met here recently to help U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School experts modify the institution's current curriculum to fit future test and evaluation demands.

Test pilot school graduates and nongraduates representing organizations from Air Force Materiel Command headquarters, Aeronautical Systems Center, Electronic Systems Center and Air Armament Center gathered to provide insight into the current curriculum.

Representatives from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Warfare Center and secretary of the Air Force for acquisitions also joined the gathering. Their intent was keeping the school up-to-date with rapidly changing testing methods and technology.

"This was a very successful conference, not only with the number and level of participants involved, but also in what was accomplished," said Col. Ernie Haendschke, TPS commander. "We discussed the results of a survey that was sent out to all graduates earlier in the year, along with various inputs from the commanders and supervisors of our graduates.

"We also highlighted the issues and resources that would be needed to meet identified requirements," he said. "After the preliminary information gathering and analysis was completed, the board discussed a vision for the future of test training and its impact on TPS."

He said the overall problem is the current instructional system is not fully suited to meet future warfighter and acquisition community needs. Contractors have increasing roles, and the current curriculum is not providing testers the necessary expertise to properly test and manage advanced systems like the Global Hawk, Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems X-45A, Airborne Laser, F/A-22 Raptor and Joint Strike Fighter.

"This is an outstanding opportunity to transform TPS into a world-class training organization for the future," said Maj. Gen. Wilbert D. "Doug" Pearson Jr., Air Force Flight Test Center commander. "With the broad representation of the operational world, the outcome of this conference will center on operational requirements for the warfighter aligned with the test and evaluation side of the house."

This conference brought a lot of credibility to TPS by bringing together representatives from all sides of the Air Force. The main goals are to work together to provide the warfighter with the best and most advanced technology possible so the job will be done better, General Pearson said.

The school's strategies to provide skilled testers include: determining current and future top-level requirements for each graduate of both the long and potential short courses, and developing a cost-effective strategy to meet requirements including different phases of training and aircraft sortie requirements.

"The work of the advisory board will hopefully have a positive impact on TPS, its mission and how it accomplishes the mission using essential tools," said Lt. Gen. Dick Reynolds, Air Force Materiel Command vice commander.

"But we also discussed the need to look at the curriculum in light of the big changes in our Air Force which impact how we equip, train and fight today,” he said. “That's work ahead of us for both the staff and advisory board.”

"The board proposed a number of immediate actions that could be quick fixes for current curriculum issues, along with strategies to elevate problems to senior Air Force (leaders), and suggested sponsors to assist with modifying the curriculum," Colonel Haendschke said.

The school's leaders said they will keep the advisory counsel members periodically updated on the progress of curriculum modifications and decisions made from this conference. (Courtesy of AFMC News Service)