Flightglobal
 

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-web-chat.html

Great article on Flightglobal with Test Pilot Mike Gerzanics.

Now he has a great job. Southwest as a 9-5 gig and testing on the side. I don’t think that i could be a test pilot full time but would love to do it as well as stay in the airlines.

How on earth do you get into testing without a military background?

Im not a newby, i have been flying for 12 years and am currently a narrow body capt.

Beleive you might have been led astray by journalese. Mike is a "Test Pilot" in the same meaning as a test drive of a new car not an Experimental Test Pilot who does the initial certification flying. They quote one of the aircraft he flew was the CL605 - well I worked on that program and, with the greatest of respect, Mike was NOT on the test team. Having said that, getting someone to let you fly the latest equipment & get paid for it is a great gig if you can land it.

Experimental Test Pilot
 

Gentlemen,

I am Mike "Gerz" Gerzanics, Flight International's Test Pilot . As a matter of fact I am an Experimental Test Pilot, Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School in June 1991. Awarded USAF Outstanding Experimental Test Pilot of 1993 for my ground breaking work in thrust vectored flight control system on F-16. Go you tube "F-16 MATV" for a little video snapshot.

Poster is correct, I was not an Experimental Test Pilot for Challenger 605 program. Typically I fly "Test" or perhaps "preview" aircraft with a fully qualified company pilot onboard. I have an extensive military and civil background. Mostly fighters in USAF: F-111, A-37, O-2, F-16. Joined United Airlines as an Engineering Test Pilot in 1995. Type rated on and did production acceptance (post mx) on: b727, 737, 747, 757/767, 777 and DC-10. Left UAL and worked as an Experimental Test Pilot for Boeing IDS in Long Beach, CA, Flew C-17. Left Boeing to join SWA, to spend more time with family.

I have flow a number of aircraft for Flight International that were "Experimental," but I again was not the PIC.

I feel very fortunate to do the Flight Test reports for Flight International, and hope the readership enjoys my articles.

Kindest Regards,

Gerz

Mike,

I have always enjoyed your articles. Reading them, there was never a doubt in my mind that you were a tp - it was all in the reporting :>