as this post was started about Rotary test flying I thought I better give some input from the West of the UK, where a well known UK manufacturer is based.
As normal you fly the crew necessary to carry out the sortie, BUT this depends on the philosophy of the organisation carrying out the testing. WHL crew consists of a Test pilot (at least 1!) and supporting FTE(s) for all flights regardless of the type (initials, envelope expansion etc). I know that other organisations use telemetry to monitor the flight which negates the requirement to have FTEs on board, it's not a philisophy the WHL subscribe to as the feeling is that the pilots concentrate on the flying and the FTEs on the engineering, indeed although the pilot is captain of the aircraft the test controller is normally the FTE and you get a better appreciation of the test environment if you are actually there.
The FTEs are suitably trained as both testers
and system operators, so generally there is no need to use other personnel. There are of course exceptions, primarily where experience counts, such as live hoisting or heavy underslung load operations which require type currency. In that case the crew can be requested from RWOETU or the applicable RAF/RN squadron but for non UK customers this can be done by WHL crew if required.
Avionics testing is primarily rig tested nowadays anyway and the aircraft testing is basically the validate the rig results, in that case the aircrew gain experience on the integration rigs and then confirm that the S/W functions correctly.
Mission system testing is done in the same way so in answer to the original question the rear crew are civilian FTEs , HOWEVER bear in mind that the RTS procedure used in the UK uses external assessors (QQ/RWOETU) who do use operational guys to determine the operational limits and procedures, as was said earlier it depends on the philisophy of the test organisation
Happy 2007 and lets all fly safe
