Course Title: Flight Test Engineering

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Flight Test Engineering

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
AERO2375	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2009, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Lachlan Thompson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6265

Course Coordinator Email: lachlan.thompson@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora East Campus: Building 251, Level 3, Room 24

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

AERO2356 Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics

Course Description

This course provides you with practical “hands on experience” with flight test experiments and instrumentation in a test team environment, thereby providing a guided practical learning environment. This course gives a working knowledge and appreciation of the following areas: design of flight test experiments, instrumentation, safety, the team, airworthiness, flight test planning, debriefing and result analysis. The course is designed to develop competency in the design of flight test programs and the selection of appropriate safety equipment, instrumentation and resources to safely conduct basic flight testing of manned aircraft.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course develops and assesses the following program learning outcomes:
• Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline
• Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline
• Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources
• Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains
• Effective team membership and team leadership

Upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to:
• Explain the responsibility of the Flight Test Engineer and airworthiness and regulatory responsibility
• Explain the Australian regulatory (CASA) procedures and processes
• Document and plan a flight test
• Design a flight test, and select and calibrate appropriate instrumentation
• Analyse and report on flight test data
• Work in a safe flight test team

Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities can include: lectures, hands-on flight test laboratory including selection of instrumentation, interviews and briefings and final review with the test team.

Overview of Learning Resources

Course references are available in the RMIT Library or will be made available. The course Blackboard will be used for reference and communication, and is available through myRMIT. An aircraft will be used for the flight testing.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment will be by a mix of individual and group work, which can include Flight Test Laboratory experiments and report, and an Examination (or Test).