ITPS Expertise Spans World of Aerospace Domains
One of the world's most remarkable aerospace success stories takes place in London, Canada, where ITPS Canada sets the standard in quality, bespoke training for test pilots, flight test engineers and tactical leaders. Originating in Cranfield, UK and for the past twenty years is headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada. ITPS is a unique organization with two divisions, offering the highest qualifications achievable by military pilots training to be Experimental Test Pilots at the International Test Pilots School and Fighter Weapons Instructors at the International Tactical Training Center (ITTC). One of only four fully accredited schools of flight testing worldwide and the only commercial military tactical training center, ITPS is staffed by world-class experts and driven by passion. ITPS is a leader in aerospace training innovation.
ITPS uniquely focuses on bringing its expertise to solve specific customer requirements. Whilst providing internationally accredited programs, ITPS strives to make each program relevant and valuable to an individual customer, be it an Experimental Test Pilot Course focused on 5th generation aircraft flight testing or a shorter EASA CAT-2 compliant course focused on military tactical transport with additional military systems modules. Effective and affordable stop-gap solutions are delivered, including Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT) and Fighter Weapons Instructor Courses (FWIC). In addition, as an Ontario Ministry of Education Designated Learning Institution, ITPS is able to offer a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering to international students either as part of the one-year test pilot and flight test engineer courses or as a stand-alone program. This is a fully accredited post-graduate degree under the Ontario Ministry of Education, enjoying the same international recognition as all Canadian University degrees.
Despite the pandemic, ITPS continues to attract students from industry and military worldwide and is busier than ever, thanks to great support from the Canadian Government in facilitating access to international students under an Essential Services provision. Classes in 2021 include students from the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, Republic of Korea Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force and Belgian Defense. Major manufacturers are also attending ITPS with students from Airbus Manching and Leonardo Helicopter. Both the latter have entrusted ITPS with multi-year contracts to educate their flight test engineers and, in the case of Airbus, also Experimental Test Pilots. Feedback from customers highlights the excellence of the instruction, outstanding facilities, the unique fleet of aircraft and simulators and the supportive and collegial atmosphere at ITPS.
Both Turkish industry and military have been long-time partners of ITPS in this context. ITPS is proud of the fact that every single Experimental Test Pilot and almost all qualified Flight Test Engineers in Turkey are ITPS graduates. As early as 2013, ITPS delivered bespoke training for the Turkish Aerospace flight test team for the HürKuş turboprop trainer, experimental test pilot and flight test engineer training for TÜBITAK-SAGE and multiple in-country courses for Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), Aselsan and Roketsan. In recognition of this special relationship, ITPS sponsored the training of a Turkish Air Force Experimental Test Pilot on a one-year course in 2019. ITPS looks forward to its continued collaboration with Turkish industry and the Turkish Air Force,
The pandemic has had a silver lining in that it has spurred innovation and, in November 2020, ITPS introduced a Part-Distance Learning Graduate Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Course with launch customer the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. Students in Shanghai attended a ten-week, 400 lecture hour ground school, with live support by ITPS instructors. Pandemic restrictions resulted in the practical elements of the course being conducted in Shanghai and Chengdu with the course completing in October 2021 with a final project on the ARJ-21 at COMAC in Shanghai. ITPS’s responsiveness and flexibility were highlighted by this challenging program for a major aircraft manufacturer while under great pressure to qualify flight test crews for its airliner programs.
ITPS prides itself in not only teaching, but actively participating in flight testing and tactical operations. In 2020-21, ITPS teams supported the certification flight tests for the Harbin Aircraft Industries Group AC352 and CHANGHE AC311 helicopters in China. ITPS was also contracted to provide support for the Natural Icing Flight Test Campaign of the COMAC C-919 airliner. At the time of writing, an ITPS team of instructors was flying in Thailand with the Royal Thai Air Force honing the skills of the RTAF TOP GUNs on the 2021 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course. The synergy between tactical and flight test training operations enhances all ITPS training programs, keeping instructor knowledge and skills sharp and up to date. This is another factor that enriches the student experience at ITPS.
Top Gun Tactical Training
ITTC, the thriving tactical division of ITPS, is equally responsive and innovative. Presented with a request for advanced training for tactical transport crews, ITTC brought its expertise to bear to develop a new program for Indonesia within 30 days. In July, ITTC will deliver the bespoke Advanced Airlift Tactical Training Course (AATTC) onsite at the customer's operating base. Providing comprehensive tactical training education, including Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT) and Fighter Weapons Instructor Training (FWIC), ITTC employs a team of world-class experts to develop advanced curricula. As a commercial organization, ITTC has the flexibility to deliver the training on-demand, in Canada or the customer’s country. Brendan Pierce, Deputy Head of Training, says, "our expert instructors develop a recommended syllabus based on thousands of hours of tactical experience. That syllabus is then tweaked in consultation with the customer to maximize its training benefit in accordance with their specific needs."
Ground, and In-Flight Simulation
Advanced simulation, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR), revolutionized flight training and ITPS was an early adopter of these technologies. ITPS has invested in a world-class facility to implement modern training curricula leveraging the latest technology. The Advanced Aircraft Simulation Centre (AASC) comprises four F-18 domed simulators, four F-35 pilot stations, a Boeing 787 full flight deck FBW simulator and an F-16 based Variability Stability System (VSS) engineering simulator. The AASC also contains a mission briefing room and a large lecture theatre for unpacking missions in a collaborative classroom style. Simulators are networked and within a synthetic battlespace, complex missions may be flown with real time ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation) for monitoring the progress of exercise and post-mission debriefing. Live Virtual Constructive Training (LCVT) allows for very realistic and effective tactics training in complex scenario at low cost.
The simulator training includes virtual reality using VR 360˚ headsets with a resolution synthetic image. Thus, students learn in a photorealistic immersive environment with extraordinary realism. The variety of available technologies allows ITPS to optimize the training to make use of the most advantageous devices.
For example, on request of the Republic of Korea Air Force, an aerial refueling flight test course was developed using the simulators. It proved possible to teach both the drogue and boom tanker systems test methods and provide a program not available at any other institution. The AASC capabilities have only begun to be utilized and multiple on-demand courses have already been developed including an Advanced Weapons and Tactics (AWT) course, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) course and others.
Continuous Technology Innovation
A major challenge facing air forces involves training pilots for 5th and 6th generation fighters. ITPS is training such candidates right now with graduates going on to test F-35, KAI KF-21, and starting next year, candidates for the Turkish Aircraft Industries TF-X. Operating costs of these new aircraft are extremely high and asset numbers limited, making simulation an essential tool in preparing tactical and flight test crews. ITPS is leveraging in-flight simulation with its 5th Generation Surrogate Training Aircraft (5STA) Project. The key concept is that if one cannot afford to train in a 5th generation fighter the next best thing is to put elements of 5th generation concepts, avionics and simulated systems in an affordable and maintainable platform.
The resulting 5STA is a novel learning tool: A Hawker Hunter T-75 with a Genesys Systems-based cockpit upgrade. The 5STA features an L3 PanthrTM Large Area Display (LAD), Embedded Tactical Simulation System for both Air to Air and Air to Ground missions, Hands-on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) controls and a Thales Scorpion Head Mounted Display (HMD). This asset is entering ground testing and once cleared for training operations in early 2022, will provide students with the opportunity to learn about operating or testing current and future fighter aircraft featuring advanced Human Machine Interface (HMI) concepts.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) are proliferating in service and in roles and are increasingly capable and complex. This has led to a demand for training in RPAS employment as well as Test and Evaluation. The challenge for ITPS was to bring into service a representative system which provided excellent training to customers but at an affordable cost and without security restrictions. The answer is the Manned Remotely Piloted Aircraft (MRPA), an advanced, one-of-a-kind, operational RPA able to fly complete Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) missions, carrying a state-of-the-art EO/IR/Laser turret sensor. The MRPA Ground Control System trailer (GCS) is fully representative of systems in service. In addition, it can also operate in simulation mode for greater operational flexibility and functionality, such as weapons delivery and Large Force Employment (LFE) networked into our Advanced Aircraft Simulation Center (AASC).
The MRPA can legally fly beyond the line of sight in civil airspace, providing great flexibility of operations.
An essential skill for test pilots and flight test engineers is the evaluation of Handling Qualities, particularly in the context of highly augmented aircraft, equipped with Digital Flight Control Systems (DFCS). Purchasing and operating a DFCS equipped aircraft would be too costly and would be extremely restrictive. The school therefore started developing an Adaptive Handling Qualities Aircraft (AHQA) Variable Stability System (VSS) aircraft tool in August 2020. This VSS allows for a dynamic environment where the aircraft's handling qualities are modified to enable different aircraft flying qualities to be demonstrated and tested in flight. The system is a valuable tool to validate novel controls laws and aircraft response. The AHQA is already in ground testing before the first test campaign this summer.
A diverse fleet of aircraft
The diversity of aircraft available for training at ITPS is second to none. The school owns over 22 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft that occupy the ITPS hangars, including three Hunter T-7/75, five Aero Vodochody L39C, three Aero Vodochody L29 Delfin, a Beechcraft B60 Duke, a Cirrus SR-22 and an IAR 823 Brasov.
The school uses three helicopters on the rotary-wing side: A Bell 206B Jet Ranger, a Sikorsky S-76 and an MBB Bo 105M. Additional aircraft are leased by the school, including an Embraer Phenom 100 and 300, a Pilatus PC-12 and an Agusta Westland AW109SP as well as a variety of ex-military aircraft.
A unique asset is the Grumman HU-16 Albatross seaplane. Ever popular with students and staff, this vintage aircraft provides a challenging transport aircraft learning experience for students, with the added capability of operations off the surrounding Great Lakes!
A Flexible Approach to Program Delivery
Uniquely for organizations in this sector, ITPS is singularly focused on meeting the requirements of each customer, rather than requiring customers attend a “one-size-fits-all” program. Whilst addressing all the foundational knowledge, training is optimized by exposing students to different aircraft or systems of particular relevance to their future career. Course modules can be drawn up on demand as was done recently with the Air-to-Air Refueling Flight Test (AARF) and the Cybersecurity Test and Evaluation modules. Training is available online for distance learning either as short courses or in preparation for the flying phase in Canada. ITPS prides itself on its responsiveness, and customer focus.
Looking Ahead on the Horizon
ITPS exists to provide the highest level of training, best quality on demand to customer specification. Customer feedback indicates that ITPS in this approach has a winning strategy – Going forward we shall redouble efforts to provide customers with the best learning experience, whilst embracing and introducing new technology and investing in world class expertise. The future is bright for the International Test Pilots School
