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Test pilot training at EPNER in Istres
By Henri Pierte Grollea/KS
EPNER, the French test pilot school, is one of the most prestigious in the world. Increasingly, aspiring test pilots from abroad are coming to Istres to acquire their skills. For practice runs, types such as the Mirage 2000D, Alpha Jet and Nord 262 are available.
Anyone seeking to gain his test pilot certificate in France must satisfy extremely high standards. For foreign candidates this starts with linguistic skills, as the tuition is conducted in French. For candidates from the Armée de l´Air, Aéronavale or the ALAT (army aviation) strict guidelines apply. For example, fighter jet pilots must provide evidence of at least 1,200 flying hours simply to be admitted to the selection procedure, in the course of which candidates' theoretical knowledge and flying skills are scrutinised in two test missions with instructors from the École du Personnel Navigant d´Essais et de Réception (EPNER).
Every September 20 to 25 students start the main ten-month course, which is divided into aircraft and helicopter classes. This distinction applies to both pilots and test engineers and other flying test personnel. In parallel to this there is also a training course for controllers who will later monitor the testing. This is not found anywhere else in the world.
As well as the top qualification as an “experimental test pilot”, EPNER also offers shorter courses. Class B qualification can be attained in five months (around 50 flights) and qualifies one, for example, to conduct tests within an already explored flight envelope for the relevant type with a view to working through any system tests. Acceptance flights are the kind of work that is typical for personnel in possession of the B Class qualification.
Another option is geared towards the requirements of testing light aircraft. A final possibility is courses specifically tailored to the customer, such as have been run several times over the last few years for two pilots and two flight engineers of the United Arab Emirates Air Force at a time.
“We always match the number of students with the expected test programmes,” explains Lieutenant-Colonel Didier Leclercq, who heads up the Centre d´Essais en Vol (CEV) flight test centre, which is also situated in Istres. In September, more transport aircraft pilots than normal will therefore start their training, in order to be qualified in time for testing of the new military airlifter, the A400M, in 2008.
The would-be test pilots have a strenuous programme of work ahead of them. The schedule includes 450 hours of theory alone. This is normally delivered in the mornings, whereas the flying takes place in the afternoons. Fixed-wing aircraft test pilots perform 110 test missions on no fewer than 25 different types, while helicopter pilots are even allowed 125 flying hours. On the other hand, there are “only” 15 different types available for them to try their hand on.
EPNER has about 20 aircraft and helicopters on its books, together offering up to 2,500 flying hours per year. The fleet is made up as follows:
Alpha Jet: Three aircraft serve as workhorses for the fixed-wing pilots, who can also perform spinning trials with the trainer.
Mirage 2000D: One prototype is used for supersonic flights. If required, two-seat Mirage 2000B's belonging to the Armée de l´Air are also available for the students to carry out weapon systems assessments.
Mystère 20: This business jet is ideal for training civil certification flying. As well as its own last remaining aircraft, EPNER can also call on the aircraft of the CEV.
Nord 262: This regional aircraft is used to teach students how to handle turboprops. Water tanks in the cabin allow the centre of gravity position to be altered. The old aircraft have reached the point where they need a lot of maintenance and will soon have to be replaced.
PC-7: With this trainer, the prospective test pilots can accumulate experience.
HR100: Three of these piston-engined aircraft are used for liaison duties and for the assessment of light aircraft.
Abeille: Another light aircraft used to train General Aviation test pilots.
Fennec: The basic training of helicopter test pilots is carried out on the military version of the Écureuil.
Dauphin: The larger helicopters are provided with extensive instrumentation in the cabin.
Puma: The heavy Puma has workstations for flight engineers in the cabin.
If required, additional aircraft can be hired or provided by the armed forces. These include the Transall, CN-235, Rafale (from Dassault) and L-39 (from Apache Aviation). A Learjet with variable stability is also regularly chartered. Helicopter pilots can test the Viviane visual system in the army aviation Gazelle, or assess the Lynx and Panther weapons systems. As EPNER Director Lieutenant-Colonel Rigel Hebmann explains, “The many different types expand the horizon of the students. Most of them fly more types with us than they have done in their entire career to date.”
But extremely precise flying within prespecified parameters in order to achieve test objectives is not everything. The aim of the training is more to impart a methodical approach to test work to the students. Efficient team working is also increasingly important. Finally, the graduates should be in position to accurately assess their own strengths and limitations.
Since EPNER was officially founded in 1946, 1,860 students from 22 countries have already obtained qualifications in Istres. These have included more than 400 foreign candidates. The biggest customer has proved to be the Italian armed forces, with 122 students. Germany was second with 84 pilots, above the United Kingdom (49), India (33) and Spain (23).
From page 62 of FLUG REVUE 3/2007
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