FTSC News

Flight Test Safety Committee Podcast Channel - EP36 - Teaching New Pilots Old Planes

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This Podcast is sponsored by Time2climb Training and Consulting

Flight Test Safety Committee Podcast Channel - EP35 - Halloween Episode: Frightful Flights Terrifying Test Points Ghostly Gremlins

Join host Art Tomassetti as he shares stories of frightful flights, terrifying test points and ghostly gremlins.  This is a special Halloween edition on the Flight Test Safety Podcast.

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Available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Play, and Amazon Music: FTSCChannel

This Podcast is sponsored by Time2climb Training and Consulting

Just this week, all of the FTEs flew north for the winter (I mean...annual symposium in London, Ontario), and a week earlier, the international Flight Test Safety Workshop ended in the UK.  Both meetings resulted in countless discussions that deserve their own columns in this newsletter, but instead of a technical paper, this month features something light-hearted and fun...orange you glad?

Orange wire, orange flight suits, and orange paint on our airplanes...each is related to safety, but where does legend meet fact?

Ghouls and goblins might be the source of Halloween fright, but another thing that scares us is the complexity of today's modern systems and the effect of unknown unknowns on flight test safety.  You can help Ben Luther research the topic by facing your fears and taking his survey.  

If you have your own photos of Frankenstein aircraft or flight test modifications, send them our way.  If there is a flight test safety paper we should know about from the SFTE symposium or European FTSW, send that to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Happy Halloween!

Mark Jones Jr.
Editor

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I spent part of the holiday on Monday shooting sport clays with a shotgun.  Before we started, I was talking to one of the instructors who learned the skill while hunting ducks.  That's a tough way to learn on the job, but it's another example of "implicit learning."  Implicit learning is when we learn by doing rather than deliberate practice, and it applies to how we do flight test safety.  The first article contemplates these ideas during an afternoon of folding laundry, which is, incidentally, a relevant fact.

The second article is an introduction to the EVTOL committee.  At press time, I noticed that the newsletter still has a typographical error: the name of the committee should appear with a capital E.  If the article and the newsletter attachments constrain you to reach out to the committee--and I hope they do--have them explain why they selected a capital E.  They explained it to me, and I forgot to make the edits.  Also note that "constrain" is another word for motivate.  (English is a strange language.)

Now that I've given you several sundry observations, I'll close by encouraging you to read Turbo Talk and listen to 2 podcasts about the same topic with a host of characters you probably know, both of which you'll find in this edition.

Send questions and observations about the English language to the editor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sincerely,

Mark Jones Jr.
Editor

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Flight Test Safety Committee Podcast Channel - EP33 - 3Q (Part 2)

In this episode we look back in history at a historic flight of the X-15 and pick up our flight test discussion about 3Q.

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Available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Play, and Amazon Music: FTSCChannel

Direct download link to the Sep 2019 FTSF that has Mark’s article about 3Q

Link to EFTSW Registration

Link to SETP S&B Registration

Link to SFTE International Symposium Registration:

This Podcast is sponsored by Time2climb Training and Consulting

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Emails include Workshop Information, The Flight Test Safety Fact Newsletter, The Flight Test Safety Committee Podcast and other pertinent information you may be interested in.

The Flight Test Safety Database is once again available to everyone at http://ftsdb.grc.nasa.gov/.

Please pass this info on to your colleagues and friends within the flight test community.

Thank you all for your patience and support for the Flight Test Safety Database.

Flight Test Safety Committee Podcast Channel - EP 32 - 3Q

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In this episode I go out on location for a flight test safety discussion about predicting the future, assessing safety culture and more. Join Mark Jones Jr., Vanessa Rebello, and myself at the 3rd Planet Mothership for part 1 of this interview.  (I even get to be one of the interviewees for a little bit)

Here is a direct download link to the Sep 2019 FTSF that has Mark’s article about 3Q: https://flighttestsafety.org/images/Flight_Test_Safety_Fact_19-09.pdf

Available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Play, and Amazon Music: FTSCChannel

The other day I ran into my stats professor, and I said, "what are the chances?"  Almost unbelievably,I happened upon my geography teacher from elementary, and she said, "small world."**

I joke, but understanding the limitations of the 2d risk matrix and exploring alternatives are not a joke.  This month, a member of our profession who doubles as a cyber-acquisition professional shares what he learned about risk from that particular domain and encourages us to think about it.  While this particular article was under review, someone suggested adding an illustration.  I think that's a helpful suggestion, but I also believe that taking the time to draw your own is equally helpful.

When do we stop what we are doing long enough to draw a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system? I ask this, because research shows that "getting your hands dirty" with the data or idea is more fruitful than dashboards and automated systems.  

There's also a recap of the Workshop, a link to the videos, and two months worth of podcasts on which to catch up.  

While you are at it, print a copy of the newsletter and put it in the breakroom, because we are still trying to Reach Everyone.  

**Twitter is a great place to find viral threads with hilarious puns, and someone should probably be dropping some flight test humor.

Send questions and jokes to the editor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sincerely,

Mark Jones Jr.
Editor

For added convenience and security, you can download the newsletter here.

Flight Test Safety Committee Podcast Channel - EP30 - My Five Safety Lessons from Top Gun

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This month we will look at how pop culture (well one fairly popular movie from the 80s anyway) can provide lessons in safety.  And in our look back in aviation history we will talk about the Dornier DO 31 VTOL Jet Transport 

Link to Drury Wood bio

Major Drury W. Wood | National Air and Space Museum (si.edu)

Available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Play, and Amazon Music: FTSCChannel

Flight Test Safety Committee Podcast Channel - EP 31 - How Do You Do Safety?

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This month I spoke with Steve Bush and Stan Swan from the Columbia Aviation Association (CAA) and talked about one of the approaches they have to improving flight safety.  You can learn more about the CAA in the link below.

Home - Columbia Aviation Association (caapilots.com)

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This month we expand our look back in aviation history on the anniversary of the last flight of the XB-70 Valkyrie. We will talk about this amazing aircraft and hear from the pilot who flew the first flight.

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SETP Oral History Videos

Al White Wikipedia Bio

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Words have the power of life and death.  With a single word, we can command the abort of a dangerous flight test maneuver, but the power of our words extends beyond the cockpit and the control room to the cubicle and conference room.  We must engage in the kind of discussions that some would characterize as conflict, because it makes our arguments stronger, and it helps us fight for unity.  

As we begin a fourth year of the Flight Test Safety Fact, we issue the same challenge issued in the first edition:  Your words matter.  We need them.  

We want your opinions and your responses.  We want to hear how you are implementing lessons learned at your workplace.  After you read Rod Huete's op-ed, your thoughts on subjective probability and 2D risk matrix are important.  Whether you send us an email or hold a discussion during a lunch-and-learn, we want to know.

There's a good chance that the subtle humor in this email won't mean the same thing to everyone, but to the average reader, we think you'll find something to talk about inside this month's newsletter.

Sincerely,

Mark Jones Jr.
Editor

For added convenience and security, you can download the newsletter here.

What is the first thought that goes through your mind when you read about a flight test accident? 

That's probably the kind of question we all feel comfortable asking, but do we ever consider what goes through our hearts when we read the same headline? As humans we have an emotional response, and in this month's edition I discuss both questions.  The second thing that should go through our minds is the probability that this kind of thing would happen, and I explain what I mean subjectively about the topic.  

You'll also find information about Flight Test Safety Workshop registration, and this month we also share two previously published web-based resources that help both our hearts and our minds when we do hear about an aircraft crash.  

Send your ideas and opinions, responses and replies, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

Sincerely,

Mark Jones Jr.
Editor

This month we will take a stroll to the lake while we discuss the value of rehearsing flight test missions in a simulator linked to a control room. Great Idea- sure, Common Lesson Learned- absolutely, written into policy or mandated in requirements...well... #flighttestsafety #FTSCchannel

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Listen Now! http://flighttestsafety.org/ftsc-news/flight-test-safety-podcast-channel

Sea Dart Flight Footage

Sea Hunt Episode 1

Backyard Bear Encounter

 
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This month we talk with Mat McMenemy and Don Grove from Bell about Lessons Learned on the Bell V-280 program and in our look back in history we talk about Neil's Cross Country Flight.

Matt McMenemy is the Verification Manager for Bell on the V-280 / Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. 

Don Grove is the Military Chief Pilot for Bell and lead test pilot on the V-280 Valor program.

Bell V-280 Links 
V-280 Valor website: https://www.bellflight.com/products/bell-v-280

Following Historic Development and Flight Test Program Bell V-280 Valor Focuses on FLRAA Competition 

Listen Now! http://flighttestsafety.org/ftsc-news/flight-test-safety-podcast-channel

 Available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Play, and Amazon Music: FTSCChannel