Society of Experimental Test Pilots

08/05/2026

The recent SETP European Symposium in Edinburgh, Scotland was a great success thanks to Committee Members, Dave Mackay, Clark Childers, Paul Edwards, Tim Below, Geoff Connolly, Terry Parker & Rhys Williams.

Congratulations to the winners of the Best Presentation: “C-130 Landing Loads Testing” by Andrew White (AF) & Mark Sasscer (M) of Lockheed Martin.

These are just a couple of photos from the event and more will be available on our website’s photo gallery soon. Thanks to Karen & Mike Carriker (3rd photo) for going all out and dressing up to attend the Royal Yacht Britannia Reception!

07/30/2026

NEW Episode of "On Condition"
EP 79 - Wide Right at Night and a VTO that's a NO GO! What would you have done?

This month I am again asking what would you have done. But this time I share not only what I would have done, but what I actually did.

Listen Now: https://flighttestsafety.org/ftsc-news/flight-test-safety-podcast-channel

Check out the video version of the podcast HERE: https://youtu.be/2-NZwdcr808

SETP 70th Annual Symposium & Banquet: https://www.setp.org/symposium/meetings/annual-symposium-banquet/

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

This Podcast is sponsored by Time2climb Training and Consulting https://www.time2climb.com/

07/24/2026

Martin-Baker generously hosted a social event for SETP members and guests at the Farnborough International Airshow on Thursday, 23 July. Thank you, Martin-Baker for this networking opportunity!

07/01/2026

NEW Episode of "On Condition"
EP 78 - On Condition What Would I have Done?
This month I start a new segment "What Would I Have done?". In this segment we look at two scenarios and imagine ourselves in those situations. Share what YOU would have done in the comments.
Listen Now: https://flighttestsafety.org/ftsc-news/flight-test-safety-podcast-channel
Available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Pocket Casts, and Amazon Music: FTSCChannel
This Podcast is sponsored by Time2climb Training and Consulting

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).

07/01/2026

SETP Headquarters received the following letter from the Indian Air Force Test Pilot School.

06/25/2026

On 24 June 2026, the SETP simulator was used to demonstrate flight test maneuvers as part of Flight Test Day Camp conducted by Roy Martin (F) at the Western Museum of Flight, Torrance Airport, CA. Seventeen Jr High and High Schoolers participated in learning about the exciting world of Flight Test.

06/25/2026

It was a great privilege and a honor to organize and be the Chairman, on behalf of the The Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Society of Flight Test Engineers, for the Flight Test Summit “From Surfline to Skyline”, hosted by Joby Aviation in Santa Cruz.
The distinguished speakers who attended the event included:
- Douglas “Wheels” Wheelock (NASA Astronaut);
- Luca Parmitano (ESA Astronaut, recently appointed as the Pilot for Artemis III);
- Jack Heneghan (FTE at Virgin Galactic);
- Benjamin Judelson and Parth Kumar (FTEs at Joby Aviation);
- Oli Payne FRAeS (Test Pilot at Royal Air Force and Instructor at USAF Test Pilot School);
- Dani B (Aerospace Mental Fitness Coach at My Steady Mind);
- Kevin LaRosa II (Aerial Coordinator at XBrand).
- Jameel Janjua (Test Pilot at Virgin Galactic and SETP West Coast Chairman).

A special thanks goes to the sponsors: The Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Society of Flight Test Engineers, Joby Aviation, Wisk, International Test Pilots School, Santa Cruz Works, National Test Pilot School, Flight Level Engineering, Jump Aero Incorporated and City of Marina.

The skyline ahead is changing, and Flight Test is once again at the center of that change!

-Andrea Pingitore (AF)

06/18/2026

SETP Headquarters received the following letter from the Flight Test Society of Australia.

06/18/2026

Once again, I’d like to thank everyone that ran on the ballot. The next step in our procedure is to elect section leadership. I encourage all our Members to consider serving SETP locally. Section Chairpersons will then appoint Section Representatives who, along with Officer-appointed Technical Advisers, will complete the 19-member Board of Directors to be installed during our Annual Business Meeting in Anaheim on 26 September 2026.

Congratulations,
William Koyama
Chair, Nominating Committee and
President-Elect 2025-2026

06/16/2026