Test Pilots in Canada

[Mimician]

Hi,

I've just got my undergrad Electrical Engineering degree in Canada, but now I wanna pursue a career as a pilot more instead. :rolleyes:

I'm planning to get a PPL from my local flight school, but I realize how big an investment it is to earn all the way up to a CPL and enough ratings before I can start looking for a job... :ugh:

So I'm thinking about using my degree to help me in some ways. The more obvious one would be using it to find myself a job to support my part-time flight training. :cool:

But I'm also thinking maybe I can find a job in the aerospace industry and work myself up to be a flight test engineer? So I need some advice from you guys. :)

Is Electrical Engineering too far removed from aerospace?? Does anyone know of some of the big aerospace companies around in Canada (esp Ontario)?? What would be a good start (as an entry-level) for me that's not too hard to get in but still have good potential?? :confused:

Thanks a lot! :ok:

Mimician :cool:

[Red Mud]

Your best bet would be to join the Canadian Forces and get involved with the Aeronautical Enginerring and Test Establishment. The first part means having the skill set and motivation to go with your degree. The second part comes after you prove yourself as a pilot and a few other nods from the adults. On the civilian side contact an aerospace manufacturing company and inquire as to any entry level positions in their flight test or production programs. Chances are you will have to start as a basic engineer then work into an FTE position. The actual flying jobs normally require a few years of experience in the cockpit to accompany some practical use of your degree. Neither route is easy but they don't give out those jobs to neophytes. Set your sights, figure out the steps involved and carry out the plan and you'll most likely reach your goal. Good luck.

[Mimician]

Thanks Red Mud! Ya I've been applying to jobs at those aerospace companies but no luck so far. :rolleyes:

What would the Canadian Forces be involved here? I'm not really pursuing military... :uhoh:

I'm gonna help out in the upcoming air show as a volunteer. Hope that'll kinda help too :p

Forgot to mention I wear glasses (but i was able to get Class 1 Medical) dunno if that'll limit me on the military side :sad:

[ballonio]

the glasses shouldn't be a problem, a current Eurofighter project pilot at BAE wears them.........not regular glasses though.

[Mimician]

oh. wat kind of glasses? :8

[Raymond Ginardon]

Yes - I think about half of us wear glasses, but it's not an issue at our stage because we were accepted in to the military (a long time ago!) when our eyesight was way better. Once you're in, deteriorating eyesight is (to a point) just corrected with specs.

Ballonio - what do you mean by 'not regular glasses'? Surely the truth about the X-ray glasses isn't on the streets yet.......

Ray :-)

[ballonio]

not sure, they are not his standard office glasses, a bit bigger, maybe for more peripheral vision??, I should think the lenses are polycarb as well..........I'll ask.

[Mimician]

Unfortunately my eyesight deteriorated before I got in... :(

Oh, why do they use special glasses? Is it better "in the air"?? :ooh:

[Davaar]

Is Electrical Engineering too far removed from aerospace??

To the best of my recollection the great Harry Halton who died a year or two ago, former president of Canadair Limited, was an electrical/ systems engineer. Other former presidents were an accountant (and Spitfire pilot) and a lawyer.

[MarkMcC]

Hi there,

All of the test pilots that I know of in Canada (which is by no means exhaustive...) have graduated from one of the recognised test pilot programs - USAF, USN, Empire, EPNER, or NTPS. Anyone who hasn't is armed with thousands of hours of flight experience on a type relevant to their current job. I have worked with several flight test engineers who progressed from entry level positions into their current jobs through years of engineering experience, plus a good number of flying hours and supplementary courses. So...PPL plus an entry level job is where you need to start if you don't want to go the military route; however, there are a good many reasons to take that route, as it shortens the road by decades...

The Air Force wouldn't accept you as a pilot with glasses (your vision can degrade somewhat once you're trained, but you need a fairly high standard to begin with) but you could go as an Aerospace Engineer and be eligible to apply for a Flight Test Engineer position once you have three years experience in your trade (FTEs are typically taken much younger that QTPs). If accepted, you get the million dollar course and owe the military five years before you can move on. The Air Force Trains between 2 and 4 FTEs a year, and it is these people with whom you'll compete in the limited Canadian job market.

As for Electrical Engineering - nothing wrong with it! Any of the test pilot schools are looking for an honours science or engineering degree (with the possible exception of Empire - no degree required, however IMHO the RAF gives its pilots a background in aeronautical science that is second to none, so don't let a piece of paper that says B.Sc. fool you...). More and more work in industry is centred around systems testing and development, to which E.Eng. is quite applicable.

PM if you'd like to chat further.

Cheers, T355

[ICT_SLB]

Tester,
You're correct about the majority of TPs in Canada but Bombardier does have at least two non-military TPs in Production Flight Test (one at Downsview & one at Mirabel) and there's also one at Transport Canada (who did not come via the FTE route AFAIK).

[Genghis, May I suggest this and the other "How do I become a TP" thread be merged? They're definitely overlapping.]

[Genghis the Engineer]

[Genghis, May I suggest this and the other "How do I become a TP" thread be merged? They're definitely overlapping.]

At the moment, I disagree, because both are quite "country specific", but I'll keep an eye on it.

G

[UB6IB9]

Somewhat off topic. Does the Canadian Forces ever send Navigators (with Engineering Degrees) to Test Pilot School to become Experimental Test Navigators? Or do they only send Pilot's and Aeropspace Engineers to the Test Pilot Schools?

Cheers

[Shawn Coyle]

It's been some time since I had direct contact with the CF, but the navigators seem to go to the Aerosystems course (in Winnipeg, I believe). Flight Test Engineers go to Test Pilot Schools.
Might be a good thing to consider the National Test Pilot School Systems course - quite a good course and very suited for navigators who get into flight test work.

[Matthew Parsons]

Normally our FTN's have an Aerospace Systems Course. The NTPS and the PaxR. systems courses are also good.

As far as a Navigator going FTE, if you have the experience requirements, then apply, as others have. The flying background is definitely useful, both in completing the course and in the work afterwards.

These definitions (FTE, FTN, and even TP) are slowly becoming obscured, even more so when we consider much of the systems testing.