International Test Pilots School

Dave Lohse and Williams Grac take on the SU-29: teamwork in every manoeuvre.

Flying the SU-29 demands precision, discipline, and trust. This high-performance aerobatic aircraft challenges pilots to communicate clearly, coordinate effectively, and make sound flight test decisions in a dynamic flight environment.

Every flight strengthens advanced aircraft handling and brings two of the International Test Pilots School’s values into action: collaboration and safety. These values are essential in how we train, operate, and prepare flight test professionals to support advanced aerospace programs with sound judgment and safe ex*****on.

A new space for connection, collaboration, and community at ITPS!

We’re excited to introduce the new ITPS Student Hub, a dedicated space designed for students to recharge, refocus, and connect between training activities.

The Hub offers tables and chairs for meals or a quick snack, study carrels for quiet work on coursework and reports, and comfortable seating where students can share successes, challenges, and conversations with their peers.

To celebrate the opening, we brought the ITPS community together for our first BBQ of the season, featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, and vegetarian options served from a local food truck at ITPS.

A great space, great food, and a great opportunity to celebrate the students who are at the heart of our training community.

Girls in Aviation Day 2026 at London International Airport was an inspiring celebration of the many career pathways available to girls and young women in aviation.

ITPS Canada was proud to return once again in support of this important event, with students and staff sharing their own aviation journeys and helping demonstrate that a career in flight test is within reach.

Calaya Corneli, a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering student at ITPS, spoke with media and students about her path from Queen’s University, where she completed a four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree, to ITPS, where she is now completing her Master of Science program. Graduates from ITPS have gone on to careers with many of the world’s leading civil aircraft manufacturers.

Daniele Trozzi, an EASA Category 1 student, also represented ITPS and did an outstanding job explaining the S-76 helicopter on display.

Our growing UAS fleet was also represented, complete with our newly developed Ground Control Station. Displays included the SYPAQ Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System and the Freespace Operations Callisto-50 heavy-lift multirotor RPAS.

Aircraft on display included the L-39 jet trainer and S-76 helicopter.

We are proud of our students and staff volunteers for stepping up, sharing their knowledge, and inspiring the next generation. Through our Master of Science program and EASA Category 1/2 compliant courses, ITPS continues to help open the door to meaningful careers in flight test and aerospace.

Great day at The Society of Experimental Test Pilots Canadian Section Symposium last Friday in Ottawa.

Events like this are a reminder of how valuable the flight test community really is. The opportunity to learn from so many experienced flight test professionals, hear such a wide range of thoughtful and technically interesting presentations, and connect with both familiar faces and new colleagues is something we never take for granted.

A special congratulations to our own Bennett Leong, who received the award for Best Presentation for his presentation on ITPS Canada’s Advanced Controls Evaluator, ACE. ACE represents an important step forward in advanced flight test training, combining variable stability, active inceptors, modern avionics, programmable cockpit interfaces, and advanced flight control law evaluation into a unique in-flight laboratory for future test pilots and flight test engineers.

More than an aircraft upgrade, ACE reflects ITPS Canada’s broader commitment to staying at the forefront of flight test training and applied R&D. It is designed to give students hands-on exposure to advanced flying qualities, Fly-By-Wire concepts, control law evaluation, pilot-vehicle interface design, and the technologies shaping the future of aviation.

Thank you to the SETP Canadian Section for hosting a strong symposium and for continuing to bring together a community built on experience, professionalism, curiosity, and a shared commitment to advancing flight test.

Proud of Bennett, proud of the team, and grateful to be part of this community.

ITPS welcomes Peter Scheidler to the team!

Peter brings more than four decades of aerospace engineering, flight test, and operational experience to the International Test Pilots School. His career spans senior leadership roles across the civil and military aviation industries, including Vertical Aerospace, Leonardo Helicopters, Textron, and Bell. He also served as a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot and flight instructor with the UH-1N operational training squadron.

With thousands of flight hours and hands-on involvement in the development and testing of advanced aircraft, including tiltrotor and eVTOL platforms, Peter brings a disciplined, safety-focused approach grounded in flight test operations, systems engineering, and risk management.

He is looking forward to sharing lessons learned from his work in powered lift and eVTOL development and certification, particularly as many of today’s flight-testing programs face complex regulatory and technological challenges, often within organizations that lack decades of development experience. “My goal is to help the pilots and flight test engineers supporting these programs apply those lessons in ways that make their work safer, more effective and more productive,” said Scheidler.

Peter will be expanding ITPS eVTOL courseware and training programmes to support our growing UAS capability and our mission to enhance global security through innovative aerospace solutions.

In a field where precision, judgment, and experience are critical, Peter’s contribution strengthens ITPS’s commitment to delivering world-class flight test education and leading the future of aerospace training through operational excellence.

The future of flight test training is taking shape in Ottawa tomorrow.

The International Test Pilots School is looking forward to connecting with Canada’s flight test community and global attendees at The Society of Experimental Test Pilots Canadian Flight Test Symposium tomorrow.

Members of our leadership team and expert instructors will be on-site to discuss how we integrate rigorous academics, advanced flight test technology, and operationally focused instruction to develop test pilots and flight test engineers for increasingly complex aerospace programs.

Bennett Leong, Project Lead at ITPS, will also be presenting “Flight Test Preparation for the ACE Aircraft,” highlighting work on the Advanced Controls Evaluator (ACE) and its role in the evolution of ITPS Canada’s Variable Stability Simulator jet program.

Meet with us to learn how ITPS Canada’s 5th Gen Surrogate Training Aircraft (5STA), advanced simulation capabilities, and flight test training programs support safety, innovation and collaboration across the aerospace community as we help lead the future of aerospace training through operational excellence.

SFTE

The future of tactical aviation training starts now.

ITTC announced today that we have signed an agreement as the worldwide launch customer of the Leonardo Company M-346 Block 20 AJT, marking a significant milestone in the continued growth of Canada’s sovereign tactical training capability. This acquisition, expected to begin service at our new North Bay training facility in 2029, will supplement our growing fleet of L-39 AUP jet trainer aircraft to meet the current and future tactical training needs of NATO, Five Eyes and allied air arms.

Designed to support modern operational requirements, the aircraft will enhance ITTC’s ability to deliver integrated, operationally relevant training for the next generation of fighter pilots.

At ITTC, we are committed to advancing world-class tactical aviation training through innovation, operational excellence, and strong allied collaboration. This partnership reflects our long-term vision of building scalable, future-focused training capability in Canada that strengthens interoperability, supports mission readiness, and prepares allied pilots for increasingly complex operational environments.

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eT97gte8

ITPS Canada is looking forward to connecting with defence and security leaders at 2026, Canada’s premier defence industry event.

Visit us at Booth 1028 to meet the ITPS Canada team and learn how we are advancing sovereign, mission-ready aerospace training solutions through operational excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

Our team will be on site May 27-28 at the Cohere Centre in Ottawa, including Dave Lohse, CEO; Brendan Pierce, VP Tactical Training; Michael K Mulquiney, Head of UAS and Operations; Billie Flynn, SME 5th Generation; Dave Wheeler, MGen ret., ITTC Consultant; Paul Fortin, ITPS Government Relations; and Matthew Jacobs, Business Development Manager.

Stop by to discuss advanced tactical training, UAS operations, flight test, and how ITPS Canada is helping prepare aerospace professionals for increasingly complex operational environments.

Not yet on our meeting schedule? Reach out to Matthew Jacobs at [email protected] to explore opportunities to connect with our team during CANSEC. We look forward to seeing you in Ottawa!