Message from the President

Greetings, flight testers!

Something truly exciting unfolded in Prague at the European SFTE Symposium. Huge congratulations to the European Chapter planning committee for delivering yet another superb event! The theme, centered on interactions between humans and Artificial Intelligence, introduced attendees to bold initiatives and sparked dynamic conversations about how Artificial Intelligence and autonomy are reshaping flight test engineering.

From autonomous drones to onboard AI systems, this symposium offered a glimpse of a major paradigm shift—what we test and how we test. I'm confident AI will stay an important part of every future SFTE gathering.

My subsequent trip to California to visit with Antelope Valley flight testers, National Test Pilot School, Scaled Composites, and the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB reinforced the breadth and scope of this revolution. I learned from TPS Deputy Director and SFTE Fellow, Dave VanHoy, that the TPS is undergoing a sweeping revision to weave AI and machine learning into the core of their academic training, flights, and data analysis. This is being accomplished with the help of GPTs.

Yet, traditional flight test disciplines are still evolving in powerful ways. Leonardo Helicopter’s best symposium paper, “Level Acceleration Flight Test Methodologies for Helicopter Performance Evaluation”, presented by Andrea Castelli and Irene Salmoiraghi, is a case in point. Leonardo’s innovative flight test technique cuts time dramatically—a testament to innovation balancing old-school rigor with new-age efficiency.

Together, all the symposium presenters validated my keynote message that as flight testing evolves and grows in complexity, flight test methods and FTE expertise must evolve and reach a higher standard to meet the challenges.  This is the impetus for SFTE's new Recommended Practices program. A program that will require active support from all flight testers.

The true highlight, though, remains the networking. Connecting with flight testers from around the globe—sharing insights, challenges, meals, and laughs—underscored the enduring value of in-person connection. Amid Prague’s rich history, culture, and cuisine, these human moments elevated the symposium beyond the technical. Visit the European Chapter SFTE LinkedIn group for more highlights from this symposium.

I’m already energized and looking forward to the next EC Symposium in Berlin 2026. But before that,  I look forward to sharing more with you in October at the International Symposium in Savannah. Remember to invite someone who is not currently an SFTE member.  SFTE's growth is vital to increase our influence, provide more benefits, and advocate for the professional development every flight tester needs. If you're not an SFTE member, please join today! https://www.sfte.org/join.php

Warm Regards,

Jeff