Flight Test Engineering

Since 1970, the Flight Test Engineering (FVT) working group has been supporting scientists in the development and approval process as well as in the integration of new equipment and systems on DLR research aircraft. To this end, the Flight Test Engineering team is made up of aerospace engineers and mechanics.

Flighttest

The flight test required for aircraft modification approvals is carried out by the flight test engineers (FVI or FTE). The Flight Test Engineering working group has specially trained personnel for this purpose, who work on the planning, execution and evaluation of the flight test.

Development activities - for the departement design organisation (EB)

The flight test engineers support the development organisation with the development and certification work in the course of the individual modification approvals. The scope of personnel qualifications ranges from development engineer (EI) for various specialist areas to the so-called lead development engineer (fEI) or type test engineer (MPI).

Conversion of aircraft for science

FVT manages the conversion of the aircraft for scientific missions in close coordination with project management. In addition, the FVT and its mechanics support the integration phases on the research aircraft. Furthermore, the scientific equipment is re-qualified by FVT before being installed in the aircraft. For this purpose, FVT has so-called construction inspectors and personnel with a so-called C6 rating.

Continuing Airworthiness Management – Research systems

The FVT is responsible for managing the maintenance tasks of the research systems installed on the research aircraft at the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen (OP).

This task includes:

  • the creation of work orders
  • the creation, recording and management of ICA tracking
  • the commissioning of maintenance measures
  • Presentation of the current configuration of the VFZ in the Modification & Repair Report
  • Checking and reporting back on completed work packages

Prototype workshop

The FVT also maintains a mechanical workshop for the production of prototypes as part of the prototype construction programme. The scope of production ranges from initial concept and draft designs to aircraft-specific installations in accordance with scientific specifications and requirements. The workshop was modernised from the ground up in 2023 in order to meet future production requirements.