Flight Testing is a discipline often overlooked by the operational requirements of companies and organizations and sometimes seen as an unnecessary expense. Behind the scenes, Flight Testing forms the backbone of any type of flying operation.

When an aircraft is built, it undergoes a series of development flight tests. Thereafter follows a series of certification testing to determine if it meets the standards. After completion of manufacturing follows a series of acceptance tests before it is sold to the operators or the general public. Then maintenance flight tests are performed on a regular basis to ensure ongoing serviceability.

The Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers in South Africa were trained at Internationally recognised Test Pilot Schools which includes EPNER, ETPS, ITPS, NTPS. They participated in building and upgrading aircraft from as early as the 1960′s in programmes like the Bosbok, Kudu, Impala aircraft. Later on came the Oryx Medium Transport Helicopter, the Cheetah fighter aircraft and the Rooivalk Attack helicopter. Various other civilian programmes have been developed over the years.

The Flight Test Society of SA is a non-profit organization for the benefit of everybody who is involved or interested in Flight Testing. The members of the society represents all phases of Flight Testing both in the Military and Civilian Aviation.

The society is steered by an elected comittee which currently consists of:

PRESIDENT
Des Barker
CSIR

VICE-PRESIDENT
Ivan Pentz
Denel Aviation

SECRETARY
GRAHAM ROUGHTON
Incomar

TREASURER
Charl Coetzee
SAAF

MEMBERSHIP
EVAN JONES
ATE

ECSA
Johannes Joubert
Incomar

WEBSITE
Petri van Zyl
Test Flying Academy of SA 

LEGAL
James O’Connell
SAAF

SYMPOSIUM
DERICK MATTHEE
CSIR