The definition of a flight test engineer has not been well-defined, but the those who are FTEs know who they are, and many are members of the Society of Flight Test Engineers. The following is a list of 4 ways to find out more about SFTE.
1. Interview with an FTE
This interview with a Navy civil servant helps to explain a small part of the role of an FTE, both in the words and pictures.
2. Video of a First Flight
Airbus is Europe’s largest employer of FTEs, and this video montage fromt the A400M first flight particularly illustrates the roles and responsibilities of an FTE in the cockpit.
3. FTE web links
This blog is a great source of FTE biographical photos, like this one signed by the test team, including the lead FTE on the highly classified (in its time) B-1 program..jpg "B-1 photo signed by test pilot and FTE")
SFTE has a website, and on it you will find this extensive listing of flight test related web links.
4. FTEs on Social Media
Connect with other FTEs in the SFTE facebook group (it’s not a facebook page–it’s a group).
SFTE is on twitter, and finally, you can also network with SFTE on LinkedIn.
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Every Wednesday features the current events and connections column both here and on twitter. You can also search this website for the tags “current-events” or “connect” or link to this page of flight test organizations to access all of these posts.
