Flight Test Safety Committee

The Flight Test Safety Committee (FTSC) was formed jointly in November 1994 by members of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). These and numerous additional organizations presently comprise the FTSC. The purpose of the FTSC is to initiate and sustain a flight test related safety organization intended to promote flight safety, reduce the risk of mishap, promote risk reduction management and continually improve the profession's communication and coordination.
About FTSC

Flight Test Safety Fact 26-01

Just in time for the seventh day of the new year—or whenever you get this—this edition contains inspiration and information, something to help you build momentum in the new year.

The new year is also time to make decisions about what kind of behaviors and habits you will continue, and this year, I encourage you to continue to help us “reach everyone” with three simple steps.

  1. Print out the newsletter and put it in your breakroom or on the office bulletin board.
  2. Forward the newsletter to someone in your office.
  3. Forward the newsletter to someone who is not in your office.

Oh and be sure to read it.

Please feel free to send questions or comments to the editor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sincerely,
Mark Jones Jr.
Editor

P.S. For added security and convenience, you can download the newsletter here.

New Podcast Episode EP 72 - Batten Down the Hatches...and Boot up the AI


In this episode we will hear about a harrowing adventure on the high seas and get a sneak peak at a new research tool coming soon from the Flight Test Safety Committee.

Listen Now

LtGen, Mark Wise USMC (Ret) Bio – Direct Download 

If you are interested in watching the video of this episode you can find "On Condition" on YouTube HERE 

Flight Test Safety Fact Newsletter  

Available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Pocket Casts, and Amazon Music: FTSCChannel

This Podcast is sponsored by Time2climb Training and Consulting

LeVier Flight Test Safety Award & Dryden Flight Test Safety Lifetime Achievement Award

The Flight Test Safety Committee is soliciting nominations for the Tony LeVier Flight Test Safety Award & the Hugh Dryden Flight Test Safety Lifetime Achievement Award

Criteria and nomination information for the Tony LeVier Award can be found HERE. 

The deadline to submit a nomination is 2 March 2026.

Criteria and nomination information for the Hugh Dryden Flight Test Safety Lifetime Achievement Award can be found HERE. 

The deadline to submit a nomination is 2 March 2026.

Flight Test Safety Fact 25-12

What does Pike’s Peak have to do with Thanksgiving, Flight Test Safety, and flooding? “Flooding,” you wonder aloud?  Yes, flooding...

We are drowning in data and facts, pixels and posts.  It’s a flood of biblical proportions.  The answer isn’t more compute, better dashboards, or even safety management systems.  In an attempt to convince you of the answer, I want to spend a few minutes looking back at what got us here.

The “here” in the sentence above just so happens to be a beautiful photo of Pike’s Peak, but to really understand what connects them all, you’ll have to read “What Got Us Here.”

Thence, in this issue, you will find...
Award-winning Flight Test History - Martin Shubert and Dave Sizoo at the intersection of Flight Test Safety, History, and eVTOL
Two Things about Oral History: 1) An Oral History of the FTSC - Tom “Sally” Fields, a new member of the FTSC Board of Directors starts work on his story, and 2) The Second Thing about Oral History, a revitalized SETP project that will promote Flight Test Safety, how you can and should get involved, and a random interjection that uses the word “history” in a familiar context
Three Things from the SFTE Symposium (two are quick and one isn’t) - a flight test safety paper you should read, a note from the SFTE President, and Guy Gratton spends time remembering and how it relates to being an SFTE Fellow and flight test safety


After you finish reading and remembering, maybe send an email to the Editor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and share your memories and musings.

 
Sincerely,
Mark Jones Jr.
Editor

For added security and convenience, you can download the pdf here.