Category: Courses

We are thrilled to announce the successful graduation of the CAT2 Class of 2024-A! This milestone event was highlighted by an inspiring keynote speech from Didier Delsalle, the legendary former Airbus Helicopters test pilot and the first man to reach Mt. Everest by helicopter.

The ceremony was a heartfelt occasion attended by our students, esteemed instructors, supportive family members, and close friends. The evening included a formal dinner, where the class presented the remarkable “Top Fun” video and where Céline Bonnefous and Wouter Plaetinck delivered humorous speeches, celebrating their journey and special moments.

A special thank you to Dieter Reisinger, our exceptional Head of Training, who skillfully guided us through the program with his typical enthusiasm.

We are proud to present the Best of Class award to Guillaume Remigi for his outstanding performance and commitment, while the student test pilot Anton Dilcher and the instructor Martin Hinterwaldner received the safety award.

Congratulations to all our graduates from Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V., Lilium, H55, Daher and Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces)! We look forward to follow your career steps in your future endeavors.

After successful completion of negotiations and site surveys EFT proudly announces that it has signed a framework agreement for flight test training services with the premier European manufacturer of eVTOL aircraft, LILIUM.

During the first batch the Munich based company will send one Flight Test Engineer to EFT for EASA CAT2 training. As with that engineer the upcoming CAT2 course is fully booked, EFT will execute a second CAT2 course starting July 15 this year, where additional 2 test pilot students from LILIUM will join.

EFT thanks LILIUM for its trust and confidence in the training capabilities of EFT and is looking forward to a longterm cooperation.

Christophe Hommet, Head of Flight Test at LILIUM and Rolf Hellbutsch, Managing Director at EURO FLIGHT TEST

Eventucation = event + education. You can do academics in a conventional classroom. Or, if you want to offer your employees a unique experience, choose a special environment. A defense contractor approached EFT with the wish to combine a 2-days “Aircraft System Safety” course with a team event, as they operate 2 dispersed teams within their Design Organisation and intend to foster the team spirit.

Located in the Rhine area, the obvious solution was a cruise ship tour. EFT rented a ship which can accommodate up to around 40 students and performed the course in a relaxed atmosphere on 2 warm and sunny September days. The large sun deck, the elaborate lunch buffet, stunning vistas over medieval castles and the famous Loreley, and a glass of regional wine completed the wonderful days.

After completion of a competitive tender EFT has won a contract from DLR (German Aerospace Center) for EASA Category 2 Fixed Wing training for one test pilot and one lead flight test engineer. The training will commence in spring of 2023. With the two students from DLR the CAT2 course is already fully booked for 2023. Registration for the spring 2024 course starts now.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. At 30 locations the DLR employs more than 9,800 people. The DLR maintains offices in Brussels, Paris, Tokyo and Washington D.C.
DLR operates the largest fleet of research aircraft in Europe.

Foto: Dr. Dieter Reisinger, Head of Training, EFT & Ingmar Mayerbuch, Head of Flight Test, DLR

EFT won a contract from Air Astana, Kazakhstan, who asked for a maintenance check flight (MCF) course for a selected group of their Boeing 767 pilots. This very first group of airline pilots successfully passed the course and were awarded the MCF-training certificate. EFT´s course was designed to meet the stringent EASA requirements and included upset prevention training (UPRT). 

A highly specialised training is required whenever an airline plans to conduct “Level A” MCFs after heavy maintenance. Airlines typically schedule their most experienced pilots to get the job done. Depending on the nature of the maintenance task, a variety of system checks has to be performed on ground and in flight before the aircraft is allowed to re-enter scheduled service.

The course was held by our Chief Flight Test Pilot Dr. Dieter Reisinger, a 737, 777 and former 767 technical pilot. Dieter was supported by Capt. Dave Carbaugh, a retired Boeing flight test pilot and winner of the “European Flight Test Safety Award”. Dave is rated on all Boeing models. He is a former U.S. Air Force and Boeing instructor pilot. Dave´s 30 years of flight test experience on all Boeing models definitely added great value to this very first MCF course. The five days of academic training in our school were complemented by practical training in a 767 Level D Full Flight Simulator at our partner Lufthansa Aviation Training in Frankfurt. The students successfully passed an oral exam.

We thank Air Astana for trusting EFT. We provide competence in flight test training. EFT is looking forward to adding value to airline pilot training in this segment. Congratulations to the three KC pilots!

With delivery drones, new e-VTOL concepts and military UAVs to enter the European airspace, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) needs to develop new certification standards which reflect the specific aspects of unmanned aircraft.

With its unique team of UAS experts and located just a one-hour drive from its premises in Cologne, EASA chose EFT as its UAS training supplier. EFT’s instructors, who formerly worked in prominent positions in major UAS programs like Barracuda, EURO HAWK and NATO AGS, provided a holistic overview of UAV history, concepts, design, certification, flight test, electrical propulsion and safety. The topics were highlighted from a manufacturer’s view as well as from a civil and military operational view. Although rather young in history, several lessons-learned could already be drawn, which will be incorporated into certification guidelines and will help to avoid future design flaws. Due to COVID restrictions the training was delivered as a one-week webinar.

EFT thanks EASA for its trust and stands by for further support in order to make UAS as safe and efficient as possible.

Source: FAZ.net