International Ferry & Flight Test Group

PRE-MAINTENANCE AND POST-MAINTENANCE EVALUATIONS

IFFTG is often requested to assign a flight test crew to work with maintenance personnel in evaluating the condition of an airplane, engines, systems and installed equipment, as a means of identifying defects and required maintenance before the airplane enters a repair station. This may involve power assurance, performance or other standardized engine evaluations, in addition to the inspection and testing of the airplane, systems and equipment. Use of highly-trained flight test crews ensures that engines will be operated within their limitations, and that defects in the airplane, engines, systems and equipment will be effectively determined.

After completion of maintenance, ground tests of the airplane, engines, systems and equipment, coupled with flight-tests to confirm operational status, can be an invaluable tool to ensure that an airplane is ready for delivery to a customer without problems that can impact both safety and remedial repair expenses.

Trained flight test crews bring not only engineering and flight operations experience, as many IFFTG flight test personnel are also licensed and experienced as aircraft and powerplant mechanics. With this type of background, IFFTG test pilot personnel provide technical assistance as a part of the maintenance team.