Test Pilot

Have you ever wondered what a test pilot does? Or why we even still need them?  In this talk Dave will explore the reality of a test pilot’s job. He’ll describe the wide variety of activities which fall under the heading of ‘flight test’ and he’ll explain why test pilots remain in demand by civilian and military organisations.  He’ll tell us how test pilots are trained, and he’ll illustrate his talk with real world stories of test programmes which he’s been involved in over the years. He’ll also talk about a few of the interesting aircraft he’s encountered along the way.

Dave Best is one of the UK’s most experienced test pilots.  Starting out as a fighter pilot flying the Phantom and the Tornado, he completed test pilot training in 1989 at the Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS), Boscombe Down. Over the years he then held a variety of military flight test roles including Tornado project test pilot, Commander of ETPS and MOD Chief Test Pilot.  Interspersed with the flying, Dave held a number of staff roles and also completed several operational deployments, culminating in a job as NATO’s Air Operations Director in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was responsible the planning and conduct of coalition air operations.  After leaving the RAF, Dave co-founded Nova Systems International, an aerospace engineering and flight test company with EASA design and flight test approvals.  He worked at Nova for 10 years as a Director, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Test Pilot.  On retiring from the company in 2022 he had intended to retire completely but seems to have found himself back in full time flying.  He now works as a test pilot instructor at ETPS and as an Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) Instructor at CRM Aviation Europe…..it’s better than being made to dig the garden. 

David Best (pilot) – Wikipedia

24/25 Programme

1st Oct – Ed Hicks – Air to Air Photography and Oshkosh (See Poster)

26th Oct  – Annual Skittle Match vs BAC

5th Nov – Air Cdre (Ret’d) Dave Best – Test Pilot flying

3rd Dec – Strut Christmas Meal & Quiz (Willy Wicket Inn)

7th Jan – Review of 2024

4th Feb – TBD

4th Mar – LAA Chief Inspector – Lucy Wootton

1st Apr – TBD

10th May  – Strut Fly-Out 7th Jun – Annual (!) Strut Fly-In – Oaksey Park

17th Jul – Fly-Out (Popham BBQ)

2nd Sep – AGM 

7th Oct – TBD

18th Oct – Annual Skittle Match vs BAC

4th Nov – TBD

2nd Dec – Strut Christmas Meal & Quiz (Willy Wicket Inn)

Dunkeswell Fly Out – 4th May

For once the weather gods were in our favour for the Strut fly-out to Dunkeswell. G-DENS was awaiting Permit inspection, so Trevor went with Neville and Sarah in his alternative vehicle, Jodel D250 G-BJBO. They were joined by Kevin in his Sonex, John and Pat in their RV12, and Philip + 2 in a Bristol Aero Club Cherokee.

April Meeting – GA Safety & Survival

Dave learned to fly in 1985, when Biggin Hill was almost affordable!  After taking on a share in a Jodel, he wanted to fly to Europe but could not make head or tail of the published requirements to do it.  So he sat down with a cold towel around his head to work it out and having distilled all the official-speak he realised that it is FAR simpler than it looks – so has been on a mission to let everybody else in UK General Aviation know the good news.
He also worked for a while as a flight test observer developing, amongst other interesting tasks, operating clearances to allow helicopters to land on ships.  It was at that point, being a coward, that he began to take a personal interest in aircrew safety and survival.
This talk attempts to combine both those interests by providing an overview of what GA pilots might wish to consider when flying over water and/or remote areas.  It is a collection of information gathered from the professional training he has received and hints and tips gathered from many sources.

Dave learned to fly in 1985, when Biggin Hill was almost affordable!  After taking on a share in a Jodel, he wanted to fly to Europe but could not make head or tail of the published requirements to do it.  So he sat down with a cold towel around his head to work it out and having distilled all the official-speak he realised that it is FAR simpler than it looks – so has been on a mission to let everybody else in UK General Aviation know the good news.

He also worked for a while as a flight test observer developing, amongst other interesting tasks, operating clearances to allow helicopters to land on ships.  It was at that point, being a coward, that he began to take a personal interest in aircrew safety and survival.

Tonight’s talk attempts to combine both those interests by providing an overview of what GA pilots might wish to consider when flying over water and/or remote areas.  It is a collection of information gathered from the professional training he has received and hints and tips gathered from many sources.

Information from the CAA (and elsewhere!)


Version 4 of the Skyway Code is now available here.

The key updates to this version are:

  • Key retained EU law for aviation.
  • Updates to aeronautical information, including UK Flight Information Service (FIS) frequencies and Frequency Monitoring Codes.
  • Updated operational guidance, including fuel management and crossing controlled airspace.

    The CAA have published a new Safety Sense Leaflet 32 providing guidance on reporting safety occurrences in GA operations in GA and related activity.

    Read it to make sure you understand when occurrence reporting is mandatory; even when not, you are encouraged to do so. Accidents and serious incidents must be reported to the AAIB.

PilotAware

Our November meeting will be a presentation from Keith Vinning of PilotAware on advances in electronic conspicuity interoperability. All welcome – let your flying friends know: BAWA 19:30 Tuesday November 7.