2025 Fellow Nominees
We are excited to announce the following nominees for the SFTE Fellow class of 2025. Up to 4 new Fellows may be elected in 2025, and those elected will be announced in September and presented at the annual Syposium in October. Learn more about our Fellow nominees by reading the nominations below.
Nomination:
The Wright Chapter of SFTE nominates Leonard "Len" P. Pohlar for the grade of Fellow. Len has over 45 years of professional experience in various test and program management positions. He was the first civil service employee to be selected by the United States Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS) selection committee to attend the USAF TPS flight test engineer program and graduated in Class 82A as a distinguished graduate. Len is a charter member of the Wright Chapter of SFTE, in officer positions both when the chapter was active in the 80s and 90s, and again when the chapter was reformed in 2010. The Wright Chapter wholeheartedly endorses Leonard P. Pohlar's nomination for the grade of Fellow.
Nominee Career History:
Leonard P. Pohlar is a retired aeronautical engineer and program manager. He retired as a GS-15 Senior Leader in 2007 after 32 years in the United States Civil Service followed by 13 years as a support contractor in various test management positions. Entering United States Air Force Civil Service in 1976 he began his career as a flight test engineer with the 4950th Test Wing with programs such as the XC-8 Air Cushion Landing System and the NKC-135 Airborne Laser Lab. He also served as lead test Director of the EC-18B Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA) conversion program which featured a significant testing effort to avoid the performance manual issues of the original EC-135 ARIA aircraft. This included executing a full wind-tunnel program to complement the detailed flight test program. He was also the first civil service employee to be selected by the United States Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS) selection committee to attend the USAF TPS flight test engineer program and graduated in Class 82A as a distinguished graduate. He transferred to the X-30 National Aerospace Plane Program (NASP) in 1986 as a test manager. He coordinated all ground testing for the NASP technology and design development projects and supported the evolving flight test strategy planning for this unique integration of air and space design requirements. He transferred to the C-17 program in 1992 into the Test and Training Division and lead the effort to overcome significant challenges affecting the C-17 flight test schedule. He attended the Defense Systems Management College in 1996 and returned as the deputy program manager, and then program manager, for the Special Operations Forces (SOF) MC-130H Combat Talon II Program. He later transferred to the SOF Integration Division focusing on the integration of electronic warfare systems and many advanced technology concepts across the SOF fixed wing fleet. He then transferred to a staff position is the Chief of Capability Planning for the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) including serving as the lead manager for the Advanced Technology Councils for all the major USAF commands on behalf of the ASC commander. He also served as lead manager for the first Aeronautical Summit. He retired from the USAF civil service after 32 years and entered a 13-year period serving as a test manager in the Air Force Material Command Headquarters Air & Space Operations Division (AFMC/A3F) and the C-130J International Program Office. He fully retired from service to the USAF mission in July 2021
Thomas Reider
Nominated By:
Pax River Chapter (Victoria Couture, Seth Shaw, Carla Jackson, Ron Menello)
Nomination:
We are writing to nominate Mr. Thomas A. Reider, otherwise known as TR, as a candidate for Fellow of the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE). Mr. Reider has had an extensive and notable career in propulsion flight testing the majority of US Navy strike aircraft, including the F-14A/B/D, AV-8B, X-32, and F-35B/C. In addition to his contributions to the safe and effective conduct of complex flight test programs, he serves as a manager, mentor, and occasional teambuilding event chef for new propulsion flight test engineers. TR has consistently and persistently promoted the SFTE throughout his career, providing the personal nudge that gets new flight test engineers to attend meetings, write papers, and volunteer as new chapter officers.
After earning his BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University in 1987, Mr. Reider started his career supporting F-14 test and eventually becoming the F-14 Tomcat Lead Propulsion Flight Test Engineer in the Flight Systems Department at Strike Aircraft Test Directorate, Patuxent River, MD. His work included developing test requirements, writing test plans, defining instrumentation requirements, briefing and conducting flights, analyzing test data, and reporting on results. His projects frequently included coordination with and presentations to other government organizations and with major aircraft and engine manufacturers. One notable project was the F-14A(PLUS) Engine Gearbox Evaluation. TR led a team that investigated failure mode of the F110-GE-400 engine gearbox discovered during initial carrier suitability trials. His efforts qualified a new design gearbox restraint system including shipboard testing aboard USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69). This high visibility project successfully overcame the gearbox issues and the aircraft were delivered on time for deployment.
In 1995, Mr. Reider transitioned to become the AV-8B Harrier Lead Propulsion Flight Test Engineer. Projects consisted of conventional mode flight and STOVL mode testing and included high risk single engine airstart testing and high angle-of-attack aircraft departure testing. All AV-8B flight tests were accomplished at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) China Lake, CA requiring extensive coordination with NAWC-WD personnel for safe and timely completion of offsite tests. Other notable AV-8B projects included AV-8B Harrier II PLUS High Angle-of-Attack Program, and F402-RR-408 and -406 Digital Engine Control Unit Noise Suppression Software Evaluations and Redesigned Inlet Guide Vane Controller (IGVC) Evaluations. His efforts with AV-8B testing earned Mr. Reider the Naval Test Wing Atlantic Engineer of the Year for 1996.
Mr. Reider has been a leader and plankowner of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) propulsion test team since 1997, after joining the Joint Test Force as part of the small team of government flight test engineers assigned to the Contractor Demonstration Phase, later known as Battle of the X-planes. He served as the Boeing X-32 Integrated Flight Test Team Propulsion Team Leader and represented the Systems Test Integrated Product Team in the areas of propulsion and flight test at JSF PDR and CDR meetings, interim design reviews, and flight test working groups. He even relocated to Palmdale, CA and Edwards Air Force Base for 15 months for the initial flight testing of the X-32 aircraft, where he was the Test Conductor for the secondary telemetry control room and responsible for propulsion/electrical/hydraulic/fuel system control room personnel. Mr. Reider earned an Exceptional Civilian Service Award in April 2001 for his efforts helping the Boeing X-32 test team to safely execute their demonstration flight test program from the initial first flights to the endpoints of X-32B Hover and Vertical Landings.
Following the conclusion of the X-32 and X-35 program, Mr. Reider was assigned as the Team Lead of the F-35 Propulsion Team at the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) in 2001. There he was responsible for coordinating all propulsion system flight tests on the five F-35B STOVL and three F-35C CV aircraft during the JSF System Design and Development flight test program. This position required technical expertise and knowledge of the F135 engine and the new STOVL Lift System components. TR closely monitored the F135 engine development test program to access readiness for flight test and understand system limitations and co-led a team of up to fifteen government and contractor propulsion flight test engineers.
Mr. Reider was responsible for the development of new techniques for testing the F135 engine and LiftFan throughout the STOVL mode envelope where direct control of rotor speeds is no longer directly controllable by the pilot as found in legacy aircraft. He additionally served as a Test Director for both conventional and STOVL flight testing early in the development test program, successfully leading control rooms of 30 or more engineers from multiple nations, contractors, government, and across a wide swath of engineering disciplines through high risk and complexity testing. TR’s efforts and leadership directly contributed to the success of the F-35’s unique propulsion and STOVL Lift System and the extensive test program required to prove its stability, reliability, and wide envelope.
Currently, Mr. Reider serves as co-lead for the Fighter and Attack Propulsion and Subsystems T&E Branch at Strike Test and Evaluation Squadron 23. The branch consists of 24 flight test engineers of varying experience levels that support F/A-18, T-45, F-35, AV-8B, and MQ-25 test teams. TR uses his flight test expertise as an empowered reviewer to ensure test plans are technically sound with proper safety planning and are ready to progress to the Executive Review Board (ERB) and reports are technically accurate. Projects have included Physiological Event (PE) testing with the T-45 and F/A-18 aircraft. PE related work with the T-45 required extensive coordination with contractor and human factors engineering personnel to work technical issues, along with interfacing with fleet squadrons. Similarly, cockpit pressurization issues on the F/A-18 required the same level of effort with contractor and air vehicle engineering counterparts. Both projects required focused attention due to high level visibility and the urgency of Fleet related PEs, and culminated with gathering critical data in direct support of the Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) teams that were stood up to address the issues and support the safety of performance of the USN fleet of trainer and strike aircraft and their aircrew.
Beyond his extensive career in flight test, Mr. Reider has served the Society in multiple capacities during his career. He was the SFTE Patuxent River Chapter President in 1999 and served as a Director on the International Board of Directors from 2000-2002. TR served as the 2002 International Symposium Vice-Chairman in Baltimore, MD, and committee chairmen for both the 2003 International Symposium (hosted by SFTE HQ in Portsmouth, VA) and the recent 2023 International Symposium in Annapolis, MD. In his role as a Branch Head and mentor, TR has consistently and insistently promoted SFTE to each new generation of flight test engineers joining the flight test community at Pax River.
Mr. Reider is a regular attendee of Pax River Chapter meetings and has provided some of the most attended and talked about presentations in the chapter’s recent history, such as Battle of the XPlanes, Revisited with Tom Briggs (NTWL VX-23 Chief Test Engineer) and The Real Top Gun Mavericks with Paul Conigliaro (former NTWL Senior Aeromechanics Flight Test Engineer). These excellent presentations have covered the spectrum of flight testing from propulsion and flight controls, technical and humorous anecdotes, and showed, much like the movies, how the work Mr. Reider has done has built a foundation and legacy that the new generation of fighters, films, and flight test engineers use to this day to further the flight test profession.
Nomination:
Paul Koks holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Haarlem. He completed his thesis in the field of low speed aerodynamics on the Grob G-109B and specialized in aircraft structural engineering before graduating in June 1985.
After fulfilling his military service in the Royal Netherlands Army Engineers Corps he joined NLR in 1986 as a flight test instrumentation engineer at the Flight Test and Certification Department. He participated in NLR’s operational flight test instrumentation team for the certification of the Fokker 50, Fokker 100 and later on the Fokker 60 aircraft. He was promoted to instrumentation project leader for the Fokker 70 certification programme and at the same time started his FTE career.
From 1997, during the modification and transformation of the F-16 MLU aircraft J-066 into an instrumented but fully operational test aircraft, he was responsible for the mechanical design and installation and integration of the F-16 MLU flight test instrumentation suite. From 1999 onwards he holds the position of NLR project manager for the follow-on support of the J-066 ‘Orange Jumper’ test aircraft. During this time he supported a wide range of flight test programmes for the RNLAF and MNFP partners. From integrating and certifying new systems, configurations, weapons and mission functionality as well as performing Early Operational Assessment (EOA), DT&E and OT&E programmes.
Later on he became involved and participated in several civil (EASA/FAA) and military airworthiness certification and flight test projects as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) or Compliance Verification Engineer (CVE). Example projects are avionics and aircraft system update programmes and research projects for fixed wing aircraft as well as avionics update projects and mission system evaluation projects for rotorcraft.
From 2013 onwards he was Senior R&D Engineer for the Flight Test and Certification Department. He is part of the department staff and from 2013 made responsible for the department's activities in the field of Flight Testing and Certification (deputy). In 2012 through 2014 he contributed to and is part of the establishment of an approved Design Organisation for NLR’s research aircraft (RADO). In the RADO he started as a Design and Certification Engineer (DCE) involved in major modification projects for NLR’s research aircraft such as the integration of a forward looking LIDAR to investigate the phenomena of Clear Air Turbulence (CAT). Between 2016 and April 2020 he was head of the section Flight Test Support. In July 2020 his nomination was approved by the authorities and he was promoted to become the head of NLR’s Design Organization (HoDO).
Since April 2020 he is promoted to head of the Flight Test and Certification (ASTC) department being part of NLR’s Aerospace Systems division.
In May 2020 he was asked to join the NATO Systems Concepts and Integration (SCI) Panel in the position of National Panel Member on behalf of NLR The Netherlands.
In his professional life Paul was and is project manager for several complex, multidisciplinary and larger programmes in the field of aerospace and systems engineering, flight test and certification support for both civil and military (international) customers. He is motivated and committed to stimulate the project teams to obtain the optimal results within the project constraints.
Paul is enjoying family life with his partner Ilona.
He presented papers in the field of flight test instrumentation and flight testing & certification at symposia of the Society of Flight Test Engineers - European Chapter (SFTE EC) in 2000, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2017. Via the position as Director at Large and Vice President he was re-elected in 2023 to join the board of the SFTE EC in the position of President. From 2010 onwards he is a reviewer for the AIAA Journal of Aircraft in the field of flight test instrumentation and flight testing & certification.
To demonstrate his involvement for flight testing & certification two recent achievements by his department ASTC will be shared.
- H2020 Clean Sky 2 projects SCALAIR and NOVAIR The objective for the European research programmes is:
- SCALAIR: To demonstrate the feasibility and validate using scaled model aircraft as a step between wind tunnel test en prototype flight test thus accelerating the development of new aircraft. In SCALAIR we developed a 1:8.5 scaled A320 aircraft (Scaled Flight Demonstrator SFD), integrate an instrumentation suite and developed a Ground Control Station for BVLOS operations. After the successful completion of wind tunnel tests early 2022, in autumn 2022 19 successful mission flights were performed in Grottaglie Italy following 6 qualification test flights at Deelen AFB in the Netherlands during springtime. An impression of a mission flight can be seen here: Mission Flight Tests of Clean Aviation’s Scaled Flight Demonstrator - YouTube
- NOVAIR: The project continues in 2023 and 2024 testing a radical distributed electric propulsion configuration replacing the two jet engines for six electric driven propeller engines. Wind tunnel tests for this Distributed Electric Propulsion DEP SFD were performed early 2023 @ DNW wind tunnel in Marknesse (NLR).
- PEC project As of August 2nd 2023 NLR is proud to be awarded a European patent (No. 20178184.6) for a novel approach and methodology to support PEC certification of air data systems of aircraft. This methodology was developed using the latest GNSS technology and a special designed data processing approach using NLR’s Citation research aircraft as a pacer aircraft. The solution is used to test and certify new developments of the Air Data System for the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. The methodology has been demonstrated and proven to deliver the required performance for PEC certification. This project started as a research project in 2018 and will serve customers continuing in 2023 and 2024.
Nomination:
We are enthusiastically nominating Tom ‘Oddball’ Osmundson, for SFTE Fellow for the many
years of serving the Seattle Chapter and for his flight test work certifying Boeing commercial
and military models for almost twenty years.
Tom joined Boeing Flight Test in 2005 in the Stability and Control group, after graduating from
Washington State University with a BSME degree He worked on dozens of Boeing models
providing FAA Part 25 Sub Chapter B certification efforts by becoming an FAA Authorized
Representative within Boeing's ODA and then transitioned to an Engineering Unit Member (EUM) as a Flight Analyst.
Thomas Oddball Osmundson is an FTE with over 18 years of experience in S&C Analysis
with the North Boeing Field commercial and military derivatives flight test organization.
Oddball has flight test experience as an analysis engineer on many 7-series airplane programs,
including: 737 thrust reverser cascade vane redesign, 737-800SFP, 737-900ER, P-8 India, 747-
400 LCF, 777-200LR, 787-9, 787-10, S&C group focal for the 747-8F and 747-8
Intercontinental, and focal/lead for the 767-2C/KC-46A Tanker program. He has flight tested all
737 Max variants (8, 9, 7, 10) and most recently the 777-9x and planning for a 747-8 VIP
transport.
Tom joined SFTE in 2005 and became Senior Member by April of 2019. He has held several
roles as Seattle Chapter officer that include: Secretary from 2012 to 2015; and Treasurer from
2015 till the present.
Oddball co-authored An Introspective of the Risk Assessment and Alleviation Used by BT&E
Commercial Transport and presented it at the 2018 Flight Test Safety Workshop in Arlington,
TX. He is also well known locally for developing and organizing the very popular airplane trivia
contest at the chapters holiday party. He researches unique airplanes, then using pictures of their
‘tails’ has a multiple choice contest on guessing the correct model names.
Tom has greatly supported the Seattle Chapters STEM Outreach effort by helping organize and
participating in all of the STEM related activities by the chapter that have occurred in the last ten
years including, SFTE dinner meetings at Raisbeck Aviation High School, judging student flight
test projects and providing input into Flight Test Academy.
We wholeheartedly support Tom Osmundson’s nomination to become an SFTE Fellow.
Nomination:
The Canadian Chapter is thrilled to nominate Mr. James (Jim) CT Martin as a candidate to become an SFTE Fellow in 2024!
Jim joined the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE) way back in 1979 and has been an active Senior Member since 1994. He is a memorable individual amongst flight testers and thus qualifies all the requirements to be nominated Fellow of the Society.
He has a B.Sc. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from The Queen’s University of Belfast (1969) and is a Graduate Flight Test Engineer of The Empire Test Pilots’ School (1976).
Following university graduation, he worked in the UK as a Design Stress Engineer on a large transport aircraft and as a Systems Engineer engaged in guidance and control of missiles.
He began his flight test career in 1973 at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, UK working as a trials officer on Jaguar, Harrier and Sea Harrier aircraft. Duties included flight test technical planning and analysis of navigation and attack systems.
He arrived in Canada to work as a Systems Test Engineer on the NASA Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS/Canadarm) and in 1978 joined Canadair Ltd., initially in Montreal and subsequently re-located to Mojave, California, as a flight test engineer on the CL-600 Challenger business jet aircraft. He had a key role in that program, being involved in test planning and flight test engineering, where he amassed many flight hours testing everything from performance and flying qualities to systems, culminating with the type certification in 1980.
Jim joined Transport Canada Civil Aviation’s (TCCA) flight test division in 1981, participating in various domestic programs: CL-601/604, CRJ 700/900/1000, Global Express, Global 650, CL 215/215T, DHC-7-100/150, DHC-8-100/200/300/400, as well as TCCA familiarization of Airbus A319/320/340, ATR 42/72, Boeing B757-200, Boeing B767 200/300, EMBRAER E170/175/190, Dassault Falcon 200/900, and many other models from Gulfstream, Cessna, Fokker, Learjet, McDonnell Douglas, Shorts, Aerospatiale helicopters, MBB helicopters and more. . He has flown as an operational flight test engineer on numerous research, development, and certification projects on a wide variety of aircraft projects (over 60 types/variants in addition to those experienced at ETPS).
His contribution to advancements in aircraft certification flight test were very significant, helping place TCCA as a top 4 certification authorities in the world. He became superintendent of flight test engineering in 1989, providing technical leadership and supervision to the department’s fixed and rotary wing flight test engineers and is ubiquitously seen as a highly respected FTE.
His main technical responsibilities were the overview of certification test programs, test procedures and test analysis methods for approval of aircraft performance, handling qualities, powerplant performance and systems performance. One of the highlights and legacies that he left at TCCA is a database of lessons learned, consisting of discussion papers and notes that are used up to this date as guidelines to less experienced flight test engineers.
He was also heavily involved in the development of flight related airworthiness regulations, including a leading technical role in the FAA ARAC Flight Test Harmonization Working Group, FAA Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment Aviation Rulemaking Council (TALPA ARC), the JAA Flight Study/Steering Group (FSG/FStG)
His technical contributions were constant all along the years, to this date, where he has presented numerous flight test technical papers at SAE International Conferences, SFTE Annual Conferences and Symposia, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) Annual Conferences, SFTE/SETP/AIAA Flight Test Safety Symposia and at the Russian Flight Test Centre (Zhukovsky).
Jim has always been active in our Society, for example promoting the SFTE within TCCA and Canadian industry, inviting and indicating new members, as well as accepting engineering students to engage on flight test support activities for example, developing contaminated runways performance analysis methods and policies. More recently, Jim has had constant presence in the Canadian Chapter meetings, contributing to strengthen and grow the local chapter as well as assuming a mentoring role with younger members. This is a common point in Jim's trajectory: he enjoys being a good tutor/mentor to young flight test engineers eager to learn from his vast experience.
In all, his contributions to our profession reflect SFTE's core values!
In 2013 he retired from TCCA and began consulting work on his own business, Strangford Aviation where he has been involved as an operational flight test engineer and as a Transport Canada flight test analyst delegate (DAR) on aircraft special mission modifications, particularly firefighting airtankers. He has also been a guest instructor at International Test Pilots School (ITPS), contributing with his vast hands-on experience on certification programs, and once again helping, the next generation of FTEs and test pilots.
Awards and honours include the Empire Test Pilots’ School Dunlop Trophy for Flight Test Engineers in 1976 and the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute McCurdy Award for outstanding achievement in the science and creative aspects of engineering relating to aeronautics and space research, in 2006.
Nomination:
Please accept this nomination for Mr. John Bretz for SFTE Fellow.
John has been a continual supporter of SFTE for many years and is currently serving as a Director on the Antelope Valley Chapter Board. He has a background in test across several companies and several various functions from drones to aircraft and is very familiar with the data processing side of flight test. He was an early developer of IADS helping to bring IADS to its dominance in the real-time and postflight processing flight test market.
I think it would be very beneficial for SFTE to add a Fellow who is knowledgeable in data processing/electronic systems/software to represent such a critical function of our flight test profession. I dare say that I do not think we currently have ANY fellows from this flight test discipline and it is time that we rectify that. Recognizing this field as part of our flight test technical community is very important.
Please accept this nomination and endorsement for Mr. Bretz for SFTE Fellow.
PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
- Various Informal Trade Show Presentations of IADS
- Presentation of Rational Fraction Polynomial Curve Fit Integration into IADS RCC-DR&CG & MSG Conference
- Presentation of “IADS The INTERACTIVE ANALYSIS and DISPLAY SYSTEM” at SFTE 2004.
- Presentation of “IADS® REAL-TIME OPERATING DEFLECTION SHAPES DISPLAY AN ADVANCEMENT IN REAL-TIME FLIGHT TEST ANALYSIS” at SFTE 2007.
- Presentation of “The Evolution of IADS Analysis – The Path To Credibility And Acceptance” Paper at ITEA, ITC and SFTE 2013 Conferences
- Presentation of “Can We Migrate Our Analysis Routines To Python?” Paper at ITEA, DATT and SFTE 2015 Conferences
- Presentation of “Progress in the Migration of Flight Test Analysis Routines to Python” Paper at ITEA and ITC Conferences
Nomination #1 (Sebastien Burwitz):
Guy Gratton was one of the first flight test professionals I've met in my career, just shortly after graduating from NTPS' Light Aircraft Flight Test Course.
We met at the 2013 SFTE-EC symposium in Braunschweig, Germany and again at the 2014 SFTE-EC symposium in Lulea, Sweden. There, he held an interesting and unconventional talk about a giant British Airship. It also included a giant British cow, for some reason. Guy has been a longtime SFTE member and I think his senior member status must be way older than mine.
He is a friendly, very experienced flight tester with a unique history, having spent time at ETPS, working as leading manager at British FAAM with it's unique BAe 146 research aircraft, as lecturer / associate professor at Cranfield and Brunel university and flight testing mostly small and light aircraft, partly in the context of his teaching, partly on a private basis. He also was one of the first pioneers to first-fly a fully electric driven aircraft in 2022, Cranfield's eKub, of course presenting his experience to the flight test community.
Guy did not leave it to presenting at multiple symposia on multiple subjects and active flight testing, he also published a superb book: Initial Airworthiness - Determining the Acceptability of New Airborne Systems in 2018.
Guy has done an excellent and outstanding job in not only educating the seasoned flight testers in an interesting way by his symposia contributions, but also the next generations of aeronautical engineers.
He has a good sense of humour and is an ideal role model when it comes to flight testing and flight safety. He also immediately knew the only WWII RAF legend, test pilot, engineer, holder of more FAI world records than I'd have wall space to put them and James Bond stunt pilot I ever personally met in my life: wingman Ken Wallis.
This nomination was quickly written from the top of my head, due to the last chance e-mail. It is surely missing many more aspects that I either forgot or don't even know about. To research them would surely be possible, should you decide to select him.
Nomination #2 (Jim Fawcett):
Dr. Guy Gratton is a UK Chartered Engineer also holding current flying instructor, commercial pilot and test pilot qualifications with over 2300 flying hours, who has an international reputation for his research work on a various aspects of aviation related to safety, low emissions aircraft, and to climate change. He has extensive print and broadcast media experience. He has worked across military and civil aviation, including airborne research, airworthiness (including writing a standard textbook on initial airworthiness), and has published 31 papers in peer reviewed journals. He has taught aerospace engineering subjects at all levels, including PhD supervision, taken various roles in the creation of new undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and acted as an expert witness in 17 legal cases related to air accidents. Dr Gratton has managed research projects in the UK and overseas, and also two high profile research facilities - FAAM at Cranfield for 6 years, and MoD Environmental Test Facilities at Boscombe Down for 1 year, with teams of up to 40 people, and budgets up to £6m.pa.
His current role is Associate Professor of Aviation and the Environment. Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Cranfield University, UK, where he is developing and leading new research directions mainly in electric aircraft and climate change; aviation relationships; media outreach; teaching on MScs as required; flying as test and research pilot; Flight Test and Certification Group Head within Centre for Aeronautics; Deputy Director for multi-university Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Aviation; Director for new MSc in Flight Test Engineering.
Dr. Gratton's academic qualifications include a PhD in Aerospace Engineering "An Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation of Airworthiness Evaluation Techniques for Small Light Aeroplanes", University of Southampton and a BEng(Hons) Aeronautics and Astronautics, also from the University of Southampton. His professional memberships include
- Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society (2006);
- Fellow, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (2010);
- Associate Fellow, Society of Experimental Test Pilots (2016);
- Senior Member, Society of Flight Test Engineers (2023);
- Member, Society of Authors (2020).
Guy has been a consistent supporter of the SFTE (the European Chapter in particular) and the FTSW, submitting and presenting papers at multiple symposia over the years (see attached).
There is no doubt in my mind that Dr Gratton is a worthy candidate for election as Fellow of the SFTE, espousing as he does the academic and professional aspects of the profession of flight test engineering, whilst ensuring the promotion of the discipline and the Society through his frequent and eloquent media engagements.
SFTE Publications
- G Gratton, Lessons from Project EnabEl, Proceedings of the 2024 European
Symposium of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, Vienna May 2024 - G Gratton, & S Daniels, Creating an MSc in Flight Test Engineering – a snapshot of
work in progress, Proceedings of the 2024 European Symposium of the Society of Flight
Test Engineers, Vienna, May 2024 - Steven Daniels, Guy Gratton, Identifying best practices in the use of flying
classrooms, European Symposium of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, Rome, May
2023 - GB Gratton, Flight Testing the Titanic: re-visiting the loss of His Majesty’s Airship R101,
Proceedings of the European 46th SETP and 25th SFTE Symposium, 15-18 June 2014,
Luleå, Sweden - M Bromfield, G Gratton, T Watson, Flight Testing in a University Environment,
proceedings of the 24th European Symposium of the Society of Flight Test Engineers,
June 2013. - GB Gratton, Planning And Execution Of Atmospheric Research Flight Operations in the
United Kingdom Following the 2010 Icelandic Volcano Eruption, Proceedings of the 41st
International Symposium of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, Washington DC Sep
2010 - M Bromfield & GB Gratton, Loss of Control Testing of Light Aircraft and a Cost Effective
Approach To Flight Test, Proceedings of the 41st International Symposium of the Society
of Flight Test Engineers, Washington DC Sep 2010 - M Bromfield & GB Gratton, Supporting the investigation of factors affecting loss of
control of light aircraft, Proceedings of the 40th Annual International Symposium -
Society of Flight Test Engineers, Linkoping, Sweden, Sept 2009 - GB Gratton & TC Porteous, Protecting the Flight Test Programme, Proceedings of the
first European Flight Test Safety Workshop, London, 2007 - GB Gratton & SJ Newman, The tumble mode, where Test Pilots fear to tread,
proceedings of the Joint European Symposium of Society of Experimental Test Pilots
and Society of Flight Test Engineers, London Jun 2004 - Non-SFTE publications too numerous to list...
Nomination:
George was a non-rated aircrew member USAFTPS graduate holding a PhD with many years experience in the "Black World" developing aircraft and systems.
In addition, George was selected and served as a USAF TPS Commander and went on to serve as the SES AFFTC Technical Advisor.
In my opinion, he is an FTE's FTE!
Nomination:
I would like to nominate Ben "Lex" Luther to become a Fellow within the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE). Over his distinguished career as a Flight Test Engineer, Lex has spanned three continents over numerous projects and specialized in the field of Flight Test Safety.
Lex is a Distinguished Graduate of National Test Pilot School earning a Master of Science (Flight Test Engineering). After graduation, Lex returned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a Flight Test Systems Specialist. He led flight test teams at the Royal Australian Air Force's, Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU), RAAF Base Edinburgh, conducting sensor detection and GPS jamming trials for Defence Science & Technology and the United States Air Force, conducted at the Woomera Range Complex using ground and air assets, including an RC-135.
Other flight trials Lex conducted involved Flight Management Systems, Terrain Collision Avoidance System, communications, electronic warfare aircraft modifications and unmanned aerial vehicle assessments. Upon completing his posting at ARDU, Lex was selected as part the KC-30A Resident Acquisition Project Team embedded within Airbus Military (Spain) as the customer's Flight Test Engineer. Lex was part of the systems development team for air-to-air refuelling (AAR) boom flight controls, synthetic 3D vision systems and wider Airbus A330 modifications. Lex conducted development and acceptance testing on the KC-30A and established flight test standards for AAR receiver clearances.
After four years in Spain, Lex returned to ARDU as the Senior Flight Test Systems Specialist and Flight Test Safety Officer. Lex provided direction and supervision of flight test operations as a squadron executive officer. As a Standardisation Officer he provided assurance of deliverable outcomes of flight test and authorised hazardous flight test.
Upon completion of his posting, he left the RAAF to join Gulfstream as the Test and Evaluation Safety Manager where he provided Research & Development safety assurance to the accountable executive for developmental flight test. Lex was responsible for the establishment of the flight test safety management system (SMS) inside Gulfstream, responding to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) direction in the wake of the G650 DT&E accident.
Creation and operation of a SMS in a developmental context was the body of work that was awarded the international LeVier Trophy (Flight Test Safety Committee). Lex then transitioned to be a Gulfstream Flight Test Lead on the G500, G600 & G700 programs to achieve Part 25 Program Certification. Lex led the planning and conduct of flight test to achieve civil certification (FAA Part 25, EASA CS-25 and others) for avionics (synthetic vision, navigation, EGPWS, TCAS), Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) and mechanical systems across all three platforms. While working at Gulfstream, Lex earned a Master of Science (Aviation Safety) from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Upon returning to Australia, Lex joined Nova Systems as the Emerging Markets Team Lead (Senior T&E Engineer) where he established and managed digital modeling capabilities, across physical and RF domains, to enable rapid technical system prototyping in research and operational environments. Lex is also developing socio-technical system risk, and complex safety policy and has led a team establishing a regulatory sandbox within the Australian civil aviation regulatory framework for experimental UAV operations.
Lex has supported SFTE through his presentations at International and European symposiums on complex systems and the assurance framework for flight test. Lex has also been on the SFTE Board of Directors as the International Secretary where he championed amendments to the Constitution to make it gender neutral and provide longevity through references to the identity of the organization to preserve corporate memory.
A third amendment that Lex continues to champion is for the Constitution to permit internationals such as Europe, India, and Australia to freely associate with SFTE while remaining compliant with local laws. Within Australia, Lex is the Vice President of the Flight Test Society of Australia (FTSA) in which he works to bring SFTE and FTSA to a close working association. Lex has also been a driving force in resuscitating FTSA as an active association for the flight test community within Australia post COVID.
His most recent contribution to the flight test community was through his doctoral research into the unique risk management framework of experimental flight where hazards are catastrophic and systems are complex. He has provided the academic basis behind standard flight test practice. While the intent and greatest value is in sharing this outside of flight test, this research articulates the argument as to why internal investment in flight test safety is the way it is, and remains necessary.
AWARDS:
- Australian Safety Critical Systems Association, Research Award 2023
- FTSC (SETP / SFTE / AIAA), Tony LeVier Award 2021
- Flight Test Safety Committee, Best Paper & Presentation 2019
- American Australian Association, Veteran Scholar 2018
- Australian Defence Force, National Safety Commendation 2015
- Australian Defence Force, Flight Test Award for Excellence 2005
- National Test Pilot School, Distinguished Graduate 2003
Finally, Lex would make an outstanding choice as the first Australian (Southern Hemisphere?) SFTE Fellow.
Nomination:
Jeffery W. Stanley graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1999. He started as a Flight Test Engineer at Textron Aviation, previously Cessna Aircraft Company, after graduating college. In 2003, Jeffery received his Master’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University and then a Master’s of Engineering in Engineering Management from the University of Colorado in 2014. Jeffery is currently responsible for managing all performance related testing, certification and other sustaining efforts of all single engine high wing airplanes, all Part 23 jet aircraft and some of the out of production Part 25 jets.
SFTE Service:
- International Board of Directors, Secretary, September 2008 – September 2010
- International Board of Directors, Director, September 2006 – September 2008
- Wichita Chapter, President, 2002-2006
- Wichita Chapter, Secretary/Treasurer, 2011- 2018
- 2004 SFTE International Symposium Committee: Corporate Sponsorship Lead
- 2016 SFTE International Symposium Committee: Treasurer
Publications:
- “An Overview of Field Performance on Gravel Runways,” Stanley, SFTE 37th Annual International Symposium, 2006
- SAE 2004-01-1806, “Climb Performance Analysis Using a GPS Reference Method;” Stanley, Dockery, and Werner; Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas.
Major Flight Test Programs as Performance FTE:
- Model 560 Encore initial Type Certification (TC) – Performance engineer responsible for takeoff and climb reduction.
- Model 560XL XLS initial TC – Performance engineer assisting on all aspects of the program.
- Model 525B CJ3 initial TC – Lead Performance engineer, oversaw coordination of other performance FTE’s and directly responsible for Rejected Takeoff (RTO) reduction.
- Model 560XL XLS+ initial TC – Designated Engineer Representative (DER) responsibility for all performance aspects.
- Model 525C CJ4 initial TC – Organization Designation Authorization (ODA)/ Unit Member (UM) responsibility for all performance aspects of initial certification.
- Model 750 Citation X+/TEN TC – Flight test program coordinator, arranged for NASA F-18 chase for dive testing as well as program schedule coordination.
- Scorpion – Lead performance FTE responsible for development of performance data used for flight demonstration during USAF LAE program.
- Model 220 Denali – ODA/UM responsible for all performance aspects of initial certification.
- Model 525C CJ4 Gen 3 – ODA/UM responsible for performance aspects of initial certification.
Significant Flight Test Programs as Performance FTE:
- Model 560 Encore gravel runway certification.
- Model 560XL Excel and XLS gravel runway certification.
- Model 560XL Excel and XLS+ gross weight increases.
- Model 560 Ultra AFM modernization – ODA UM.
- Model G36 Bonanza gross weight increase and POH modernization.
- Model 680 Sovereign main landing gear tire replacement – Lead FTE and ODA UM.
- Model 525C CJ4 Brake obsolescence program (sponge iron) – Lead FTE and ODA UM.
- Model 525B CJ3 Brake obsolescence program (sponge iron) – Lead FTE and ODA UM.
Other:
Jeffery has had experience in nearly all of Textron Aviation’s current production aircraft either on the certification side and/or operational data.
Nomination #1 (Joshua Bosire):
Jeffery is a dedicated and hardworking engineer who I have had the pleasure of working with at Textron Aviation for many years. His mentorship, leadership and steadfast guidance have enriched his coworkers at Textron Aviation as well as members of the SFTE Wichita Chapter. He continues to counsel the Wichita SFTE board using his knowledge and past experiences.
Nomination #2 (Bob Brock):
I started working with Mr. Jeffery Stanley when he joined Cessna Aircraft (now Textron Aviation), fresh out of the University of Colorado. He was eager to learn with a quick wit and hearty laugh. Jeffery knew when to be serious and quickly became part of a core group within Cessna to modernize the performance data reduction and expansion code.
Mr. Stanley continued to grow technically with the multitude of projects offered by Cessna and Beechcraft and succeeded in positions of additional responsibility and leadership. All while maintaining that hearty laugh.
I was the Chair of the 47th International SFTE Symposium and Jeffery was an indispensable component of the Symposium Planning Committee. He was one of most reliable members on the planning Committee – any task that I gave Jeffery was completed on time and within budget. All as a volunteer.
Nomination #3 (Bill Dolejsi):
I've had the good fortune of working with Mr. Stanley for the last 26 years. During that time, I've witnessed firsthand his eagerness to learn, his knack for problem-solving, and his willingness to accept any challenge or task. He consistently brings a positive attitude and readily volunteers his time and effort in various organizations - both in the community and within the aviation industry - including extensive involvement over the years with SFTE. Throughout his career, Mr. Stanley has repeatedly demonstrated high ethical standards, keeping the wellbeing of our customers in focus, and has served as an FAA Designee, first as a Flight Analyst Company DER and DOA AR and later as an ODA Unit Member, for over 18 years. With his experience and industry knowledge, he has been a very effective mentor for other flight test team members and has been instrumental in building a cohesive and highly competent team of performance FTEs. Mr. Stanley is an invaluable resource, with an indepth understanding of performance topics as they apply to virtually our entire product line and is someone I depend on daily.
Nomination #4 (Benjamin Hirsh):
Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to work with Jeffery on multiple projects at Textron Aviation. Jeffery’s knowledge, patience and mentorship make him an indispensable member of our Engineering Flight Test Team as well as the Flight Test community as a role.
Jeffery has been consistent and welcome presence at SFTE Wichita events. In 2024, I was elected President of the Wichita SFTE Chapter. Since assuming office, Jeff has become a go-to person for me to discuss any of my concerns. As our chapter considers hosting another International Symposium, Jeffery has eagerly provided his past knowledge that I’m sure will make the next Wichita symposium a huge success. The flight test community needs more people like Jeffery Stanley.