Aeronautics Professions - Flight Testing and Development

Flight testing is often perceived through the prestigious role of test pilot, yet aircraft development is, above all, a team effort. It's a highly complex operation with daily challenges of all kinds. Every problem must be solved to deliver absolutely perfect aircraft or helicopters to customers. This requires specialists in many disciplines, both on the ground and in the air. It's an exciting adventure.
This book presents the professions related to this development. It features numerous examples selected from commercial and general aviation, combat aircraft, and helicopters. In the final section of the book, the reader will discover authentic, unpublished accounts from the experiences of test pilots.

Claude Lelaie, a graduate of the École Polytechnique, former fighter and airline pilot, and test pilot, held the high-level position of Flight Test Director and Director of Flight Safety at Airbus. In April 2005, he was at the controls of the Airbus A380 during the giant airline's very first flight. He oversaw the aircraft's entire certification process.