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Series T

Flight testing is required for aircraft renewal of airworthiness certificates, after maintenance/repairs that impact flight characteristics, and to troubleshoot defects. It ensures aircraft handling, performance, and equipment are functioning properly. Routine tests check climb performance, cruise speed, stalling speed, vibrations, and equipment. Test flight reports are evaluated against expected performance standards in manuals. Pilots must have minimum flight hours and recent experience on type.

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Abdulla Khan
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827 views4 pages

Series T

Flight testing is required for aircraft renewal of airworthiness certificates, after maintenance/repairs that impact flight characteristics, and to troubleshoot defects. It ensures aircraft handling, performance, and equipment are functioning properly. Routine tests check climb performance, cruise speed, stalling speed, vibrations, and equipment. Test flight reports are evaluated against expected performance standards in manuals. Pilots must have minimum flight hours and recent experience on type.

Uploaded by

Abdulla Khan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SERIES-T

PART 2 Subject: Flight Testing of aircraft for which a Certificate of Airworthiness has
previously been issued.

1)Explain flight test.

"Flight Test" means the flying of an aircraft, without any passenger on board, for the purpose of
ensuring that: -
(i) the aircraft handling characteristics have not deteriorated with time;
(ii) the aircraft performance remains as scheduled; and
(iii) aircraft and its equipment function properly

2)When and why flight testing is required?

At the time of renewal of Certificate of Airworthiness of aircraft(ARC is valid for 1yr)


When aircraft has undergone any maintenance, repair, or, modification which affect
operational or flight characteristics of the aircraft.
For the purpose of evaluation in respect of fuel consumption engine power and performance of
radio/ radar/ navigational equipment or instruments whenever these are doubted and cannot
be satisfactorily checked on ground
When aircraft has undergone engine change(In twin,three,four engine aircraft when a single
engine is changed there is no need to carry testflight provided satisfactory engine ground
testing procedure subsequent to an engine change and acceptable to Director General of
Civil Aviation is evolved prior to availing of this relaxation. However, if two engines are
changed a test flight is necessary.)
To satisfactorily determine the cause of a defect so as to assess the maintenance required to
rectify the defect.

*)Operator of an aircraft shall, for each type of aircraft operated by it,


specify in its approved Quality Control and/or Maintenance System
Manual, the circumstances under which a flight test is to be
performed(At present mentioned in MOE).

*)Without CRS(Certificate release to service)test flight cannot be carried out.

*)The licensed individual who signs the pretest flight certification


documents shall also ensure that the document shows the purpose of
test flight and the information required to be observed/recorded during
the test flight by the flight crew

3)What should be ensured in routine test flight?

The routine test flight procedure will at least ensure: -


(i) that "all-engine-operating climb performance is within acceptable limits,
(ii) that the cruise speed at the cruising engine power, is within the range
(iii) that the stalling speed has not increased beyond the figure specified by the manufacturer/
DGCA.
(iv) that through normal operating range of the aircraft no abnormal vibrations exist
(v) that flight controls operate and respond normally and satisfactorily.
Note: - The stalling characteristics of the aircraft if required to be checked, must be checked at
a safe altitude.
(vi) The radio/ radar equipment functions correctly as installed in the aircraft and the operating
range is satisfactory.

*)A flight test report appropriate to the flight test performed shall be
completed by the pilot- in- command or by any other flight
crewmember of the aircraft, authorised by the operator

*)A flight test report and record of defects and adjustments shall be
made in the flight logbook(always in white page section) of the aircraft

*)Additionally, scheduled airlines will have aircraft performance


monitoring cell in their "Engineering Section" for keeping the
performance of each aircraft under continuous surveillance by
regularly analysing the flight data like ROC, cruising speed, fuel
consumption, range of Radio/ Radar equipment etc., collected from
revenue flight reports for detecting any persisting shortfall in the
performance of any aircraft

4)Evaluation of test flight reports?

The "Rate of Climb" figure read off the aircraft instrument, during the climbing phase of the test
flight, is related to test conditions, viz., mean altitude, mean temperature and mean weight.
This will be termed as "observed actual climb performance"
The "expected climb performance" figure corresponding to test conditions (mean altitude,
mean temperature and mean weight) shall be obtained from the relevant manual of the
aircraft, like Flight Manual, Operations Manual, Pilot's notes.
The "observed actual climb performance" shall in no case be lower by more than 3% (in terms
of ft. per minute) of the "expected climb performance" for the purpose of acceptance of test
flight report.

*)In case necessary graphs for deriving "expected climb performance"


figure corresponding to test conditions are not readily available, then
appropriate "ROC correction factor" graph (Appendix to this CAR) be
used---either graph meant

Formula:-

Expected ROC= ROC x AUW(maximum)/Mean weight(at test condition)

*)When a satisfactory flight test has been performed and subsequent


defects, if any, are rectified and certified an endorsement to this
effect shall be made in the Pilot's Defect Report/ Maintenance
documents/aircraft log book by licensed/approved person responsible
for issuing "Flight Release

*)For the purpose of flight tests, the number of flight crew to be


carried on board shall be as specified in the flight manual

5)What experience should pilot have to carryout test flight?

i.Single Engine:-
500hrs-flying time,100hrs-PIC on type,10hrs-recent in 6months on type
ii.Twin Engine
1000hrs-flying time,500hrs-PIC on twin,100hrs-PIC on type,10hrs-recent in 6months on type
PRIVATE(Piston engine not exceeding 300kg)
500hrs-flying time,200-PIC of which 100hrs be on type,10hrs-recent in 6months on similar typ

*)The Quality Control Manager/Chief Instructor of an approved organisation


or Chief Engineer/ Engineer in charge of other organisations shall submit a
certificate to the Regional Airworthiness Office at the time of renewal of
Certificate of Airworthiness of the aircraft, stating that Test Flight/
Evaluations of revenue flights were carried out.

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