SFTE Recognizes the 412th Test Wing as the First Organization to Receive the FTE Recommended Practices Endorsement

SFTE is pleased to announce the 412th Test Wing, United States Air Force, as the first organization to receive SFTE’s Flight Test Engineer Recommended Practices Endorsement.

Launched earlier this year, SFTE’s Recommended Practices program is a new professional development and organizational recognition initiative designed to strengthen the global flight-test community. The program establishes clear, rigorous standards that promote safer, more effective, and more efficient flight-test operations while elevating the professional standing of Flight Test Engineers worldwide.

The 412th Test Wing submitted the inaugural application for endorsement, which was evaluated by the SFTE Recommended Practices Committee. Three highly experienced flight-test professionals were selected to conduct an independent review of the Wing’s training, qualification progression, and professional development framework. The review team determined that the 412th Test Wing’s program fully meets SFTE’s Recommended Practices criteria, demonstrating a robust qualification progression system and sustained proficiency assurance across its flight-test workforce.

“The 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base continues to set the standard for flight-test excellence,” said SFTE President Jeff Canclini. “Their commitment to disciplined training, professional development, and leadership enables their engineers and aircrew not just to execute demanding missions—but to excel in them.”

The endorsement was formally announced during the SFTE Awards Banquet at the SFTE International Symposium in Savannah, Georgia, earlier this fall.

Earlier this month, SFTE President Jeff Canclini visited the Air Force Test Center, where he presented the framed Recommended Practices Certificate of Recognition to 412th Test Wing Commander Colonel Thomas M. Tauer and the Wing’s Test and Evaluation leadership team, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of professional standards for flight-test organizations.

The SFTE Recommended Practices program is open to qualified flight-test organizations worldwide. It represents an important step toward a shared, internationally recognized framework for Flight Test Engineer development and organizational excellence.