- From 4 May – 1 June 2026 (4 Weeks, 8 Classes, 16 Total Hours)
- Every Monday and Wednesday at 1–3 p.m. Eastern Time (all sessions will be recorded and available for replay; course notes will be available for download)
- No class on U.S. Memorial Day, Monday 25 May
- This unique course on Flight Testing specific to UAS provides participants with overview, objectives, theory, techniques, software, and analysis methods for development, qualification, and acceptance tests of UAS.
- All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
OVERVIEW
Flight Test Techniques for UAS provides participants with overview, objectives, theory, techniques, software, and analysis methods for development, qualification, and acceptance tests of UAS. The course is a practical guide to the flight test methods needed to assess the performance and characteristics of experimental UAS. Flight control software is provided to the participants that can be used directly on Pixhawk hardware or adapted to any other flight control system. The software, written for the open-source PX4 flight stack, provides a mechanism to perform flight test maneuvers using manual control, augmented control, or automatic control.The various methods of performing the flight test maneuvers distinguish UAS flight testing from the techniques used for conventional, piloted aircraft. Flight test maneuvers for UAS include performance, flight dynamics, flight controls, handling qualities, structures, flight envelope, and payload tests.- Participants will understand the fundamental types of flight test techniques used for aircraft
- Participants will identify how UAS flight test techniques differ from methods for manned aircraft
- Participants will use open-source flight control software to design flight tests using manual, augmented, and autonomous control
- Participants will use MATLAB analysis software to reduce the flight data generated from the UAS flight tests
- Participants will identify aircraft performance metrics such as maximum range, maximum endurance, maximum climb rate, best glide ratio, and the associated airspeeds
- Participants will develop dynamic models to represent the lateral and longitudinal dynamics of the aircraft
- Participants will identify the aerodynamic, structural, and airspeed flight envelope limits of the aircraft
Flight Test Techniques for UAS is intended for students, engineers, pilots, remote pilots, and others who are involved in the development and testing of fixed-wing and rotary-wing uncrewed aircraft. Participants will see flight data from academic and industry flight tests for practical exposure to methods that will help them conduct tests faster, more efficiently, and with better results.
COURSE FEES (Sign-In To Register) It's not too late to register! Catch up by watching recorded lectures.
- AIAA Member Price: $945 USD
- Non-Member Price: $1145 USD
- AIAA Student Member Price: $595 USD
OUTLINE
1. Introduction to Flight Testing
1.1. The goal of flight testing
1.2. Classical flight test techniques
1.3. Modern flight test techniques
1.4. Adapting flight test methods to UAS
2. Types of Flight Tests
2.1. Level, Climb, and Glide Performance
2.2. Takeoff, Landing, and Transition Performance
2.3. Flight Dynamics
2.4. Flight Controls, Guidance, and Autopilot
2.5. Handling Qualities
2.6. Structures
2.7. Flight Envelope
2.8. Payload (Fixed, Deployable, Sensing)
2.9. Robustness
3. Flight Test Methods for UAS
3.1. Manual Control
3.2. Augmented Control
3.3. Autonomous Control
4. Flight Test Maneuvers
4.1. Level Acceleration and Deceleration
4.2. Stall and Aerodynamic Limits
4.3. Airspeed Limits
4.4. Wind-Up Turns
4.5. Programmed Test Inputs
4.6. Control Responses
4.7. Climbs and Descents
5. Real-Time Data Telemetry and Monitoring
6. Data Recovery, Extraction, and Conversion
7. Flight Data Analysis & Reporting
CLASSROOM HOURS / CEUs: 16 classroom hours / 1.6 CEU/PDH
COURSE DELIVERY AND MATERIALS
- The course lectures will be delivered via Zoom. Access to the Zoom classroom will be provided to registrants near to the course start date.
- All sessions will be available on-demand within 1-2 days of the lecture. Once available, you can stream the replay video anytime, 24/7.
- All slides will be available for download after each lecture. No part of these materials may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted, unless for course participants. All rights reserved.
- Between lectures during the course, the instructor(s) will be available via email for technical questions and comments.
Cancellation Policy: A refund less a $50.00 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations made in writing prior to 5 days before the start of the event. After that time, no refunds will be provided.
CONTACT: Please contact Lisa Le or Customer Service if you have any questions about the course or group discounts (for 5+ individuals).
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