Training & Short Courses

Upset Recovery Training

• Aircraft Upset Recovery Training (3 days). The Flight Dynamics Ltd Upset Recovery course goes beyond the traditional academic and simulator training proposed in the FAA-sponsored Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid, and develops an understanding of flight dynamics in high incidence and sideslip conditions. A progressive sequence of flying exercises complements the detailed ground studies, and the result is possibly the most comprehensive and effective upset recovery package available anywhere.

Flight Test

• Short Pre-TPS Course (6 weeks). Getting back to the classroom can be a challenge for those starting a graduate 12-month long test pilot or flight test engineer course. The major test pilot schools all recommend that students who might need a refresher in a basic academic skills would benefit from a short course covering maths and the physical sciences. In addition, UK air law and flight radiotelephony procedures are covered, with students able to sit the CAA exams if they wish.
• Long Pre-TPS Course (12 weeks). Students with English as a second language can benefit from a longer Pre-TPS course which takes the subjects at a slower pace, and also offers written and oral English language tuition and comprehension training. Pre-TPS courses are held in Wiltshire, less than 30 miles from ETPS Boscombe Down, and offer an ideal opportunity for students to establish in the UK before wives and families join them for the start of the full TPS course.



• Performance Flight Testing: Theory & Practice (2 weeks). This course covers the essential elements of establishing the performance characteristics of a new aircraft. The theory of aircraft performance is backed up by a thorough treatment of the flight test techniques required to ensure gathering of quality data.



• Stability & Control Flight Testing: Theory & Practice (2 weeks). This course covers the essential elements of determining the static and dynamic stability characteristics of an aircraft. The theory of aircraft stability & control is backed up by a thorough treatment of the flight test techniques required to ensure gathering of quality data.



• Flight Test Instrumentation (3 days) Covers the principles of sensors, data processing, recording and telemetry used in flight test instrumentation.

Flight Dynamics

• Aircraft Flight Dynamics (3 days) This course covers the material necessary to understand the dynamic behaviour of fixed-wing aircraft. Through the 6 degree-of-freedom equations of motion, concepts of stability and control derivatives are introduced, and analysed to reveal the five classical modes of aircraft dynamic response (short period, phugoid, dutch roll, spiral and roll modes).
  
  
• Flight Simulation Modelling (3 days) The building blocks necessary to construct a functional, validatable model of the behaviour of an aircraft are covered in this course. Includes aerodynamic functions, six degree-of-freedom equations of motion, dynamic components, panel methods, undercarriage modelling, wide-envelope considerations, tuning and validation methods. The essential elements of powerplant modelling are also covered.
  
  
• Dynamics of Aircraft Handling Qualities (3 days) Modern handling qualities specification documents include reference to a variety of specialised methods of handling qualities determination. This course provides the theoretical background necessary to understand and interpret these documents, including time and frequency domain methods, transfer function techniques and the essential qualitative assessment method of the Cooper-Harpur rating scale.
  
  
• Flight Control Systems Design (3 days) The course begins with a review of classical aircraft dynamics, then develops the design strategies of stability augmentation systems through to modern fly-by-wire, concentrating on the control law design methods used to achieve desirable closed-loop properties. Control strategies such as "g", pitch rate and flight path command modes are investigated, and the issues of reliability analysis of multiple redundant control system architectures are discussed.

Engineering Fundamentals

• Systems & Control Theory I (3 days). This course is intended for those engineers who need to develop a knowledge of classical control theory, including block diagram algebra, feedback principles and stability characteristics. The course covers the essential time, frequency and Laplace domain methods (transfer functions) of control systems design, including Root Locus.
  
  
• Systems & Control Theory II (3 days). For those who need to extend their knowledge of classical control methods into multivariable matrix techniques for systems containing multiple dynamic inputs and outputs. Traditional single-loop and frequency domain methods do not work effetively in highly coupled multivariable systems and a new breed of control techniques are required. These are rooted in the domain of linear (matrix) algebra, and this course provides the necessary background training to understand the multivariable control techniques used to design complex systems.
  
  
• Engineering Mathematics I (3 days). For those without an engineering degree, or those simply needing a refresher, this course offers the essential elements of mathematics used in all branches of engineering. Topics include trigonometric functions, vectors, complex numbers, linear & simultaneous equations and polynomial equations.
  
  
• Engineering Mathematics II (3 days). More engineering maths topics for those needing refreshing. Differential and intergral calculus, theory of equations, differential equations, statistics and probability.
  
  
• Engineering Mathematics III (3 days). Even more maths topics. Numerical solutions of differential equations, Fourier and Laplace transorms and their applications, linear programming (numerical optimisation).
  
  
• Mathematical Software for Engineers (3 days) Introduction to three software packages for mathematical and engineering applications. Covers essential features of Matlab, MathCad and Mathematica.

Booking Information

For course availability and price information please contact Flight Dynamics Ltd at shortcourses@flightdynamics.demon.co.uk

For more information on course content, or possible on-site presentation please contact Dr Martin Kellett at mgk@flightdynamics.demon.co.uk

Alternatively you can phone during UK office hours on +44 (0)1793 879282.