Fte

[Genghis the Engineer]

In my opinion there are places that are totally hung-up on TPS graduates only (particularly as TPs - although CAA doesn't employ many non graduate FTEs I notice) and others who consider it an utter irrelevance. I broadly think that they are both wrong.

My first boss in an FT department, an FTE, was not a TPS graduate. But he had behind him 30 years specialist FTE experience, starting at de-Havillands - he certainly justified the term and was very good at his job (well better than me anyway). Likewise there are TPs out there who don't have the relevant flying suit badge (including if my recollection is correct, one who posts on here quite regularly) but who have become household names in the field.

Likewise there are one or two people I've come across (again, either profession) who are in FT jobs ONLY because they've got the right flying suit badge and frankly would be better flying an airliner or working in a design office where they can't do too much harm. (Having said that, and before the Union jumps on me, the vast majority of TPS graduates (again, either profession) are incredibly capable, competent and employable.)

My opinion is that the French have at least half the right idea - for either a TP or an FTE to license them (us!). TPS graduation could, as with SETP membership, give a streamlined (but not guaranteed) route into that license (as might appropriate degrees), but ultimately a demonstration of suffient training and competence in the role should allow us to wear the label "TP" or "FTE". As a starting point for the requirements to gain such a piece of paper, I'd suggest looking at...

- The SETP and SFTE full membership requirements.
- The RAeS / UK Engineering council CEng requirements.
- The groundschool syllabus of ETPS/USNTPS/USAFTPS/EPNER

Of-course, what I'm describing is remarkably similar to an abandoned project a few years ago banded around the RAeS for a "Chartered Test Pilot", which I'm sorry to say I had no involvement in but I think was a very good idea and perhaps should be dusted off and re-examined sometime; maybe not under that label, but perhaps as the basis for a UK (JAA/EASA?) TP/FTE license to practice?

As to FTO, I'd say that's a separate issue. FTOs need particular training and competence - I'd have great reservation about anybody claiming to be an FTE who has no FTO background, but equally I've known Engineers, Technicians, Navigators or even other Pilots who have made excellent FTOs but would not have claimed to be an FTE.

G