EXPLORE SOME OF OUR CAPABILITIES
Test Flight Solutions has assisted several Aviators with the entire life cycle of their dream projects. We are busy expanding on our in house Composite Manufacturing and Aircraft Maintenance capabilities in order to further expand our offerings.
Air to Air Photography Operations
Whether you need someone to fly the photo subject or the camera ship we have experience in both positions. To add to that, we've flown with the best known photographers from the major magazines in the country and have left them with many a good impression so they are also onboard!
Aircraft Maintenance Management
Whether piston or turbine, certified or NTCA we have looked after many a pride and joy reducing unnecessary shop visits and associated downtimes for Private Owners, Flight Schools and Charter Companies.
Aircraft Systems Fault Finding and Troubleshooting
Imagine that for once you can use an engineer's attention to detail and systematic approach to problems in your favour rather that just have it drive you insane! Well with Test Flight Solutions we will help you find the root cause of your problem rather than just a bandage fix that is left to haunt you later! We strongly believe in thorough understanding and knowledge of the aircraft systems and strive to understand them as well as the manufacturer prior to addressing the offending systems and initiate the fault finding process.
Avionics Suite Selection, Qualification and Training
Whilst we are not installers of such equipment, we are first hand users of the vast majority of the avionics systems on the market over the many applicable roles whether basic flight training or for revenue flights in all sorts of weather. This uniquely equips us with first hand experience into what actually works rather than sell you a dream of what the OEM prefers to sell you where half the features don't even work in this region.
CAA Application Submissions, Liaison and Process Support
We at Test Flight Solutions have first-hand experience with various types of applications and interactions with the local regulator. We are usually the official point of contact and organisation/company representative during various applications, audits and meetings. This involvement covers the initial literature study of the applicable regulations prior to the submission; all the way through to the appeal to the Department of Transport against decisions by the regulator where required. This includes Parts 11, 12, 21, 24, 47, 61, 62, 66, 67, 91, 94, 135, 139, 141, 149 and 185 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations and their applicable Technical Standards. Furthermore we have been involved as members of the ASO Sub-committee and several workgroups involved in the Making of Regulations and Technical Standards. Additionally we have been used as technical advisors on several accident and incident investigations by the South African Civil Aviation Authority Accident and Incident Investigation Department.
CAA Manual Development and Approval
With our experience with all sorts of different types of applications with the regulator, we couldn't help but develop an ability to develop manuals that comply to the CAA requirements whilst still remaining implementable for the operator/user by remaining within their operating philosophy rather than forcing a generic manual onto them.
So far we've developed many a Pilot Operating Handbook, Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Aircraft Maintenance Schedule, Aircraft Maintenance Program's, Training Procedures Manual, Quality System, Safety Management System, Flight Operations Manual and Standard Operating Procedures for all sorts of aircraft. We are more than open to see how we can help you with yours!
Engine Installation Cooling Optimisation
We've all heard that the engine is the heart of the airplane but why do pilots continue to torture them? We at Test Flight Solutions have developed a taste for optimising engine cooling installations to either sort cooling issues or better balance the Cylinder Head Temperatures within an engine so that you can have countless hours of fun without ever meeting the dragon that is the unscheduled top overhaul.
We start off by evaluating your original installation for leaks and bad practices based on our experience. Thereafter we do a few test runs and test flights in order to evaluate the improvement. Rather than butcher your cowling from the get go, we've used methods that are completely reversible (as can be seen below) until we are sure that we've achieved our goals with your project where we then finalise the changes at a production standard.
Engineering Design, Development, Prototyping, Testing and Commissioning
Whether it's a modification, a redesign or a bespoke system we are here to help. We've designed adjustable rudder pedals, canopy mechanisms, dual aft body strakes, flap systems, fuel systems, jet pumps, water cooling systems and even new wings for our customers.
Flight Instruction
With combined flight instruction experience spanning over several decades our in house instructors have taken the flying club aura to a completely new level! We focus on the fundamentals and provide you with a great foundation whether for an upcoming career or the start of a lifelong hobby. This is achieved through constant practical application of Aeronautical Decision Making with the use of Career Instructors who are teachers at heart.
From single seaters to jets or warbirds; certified aircraft or a one of a kind dream machine, our in house instructors are familiar with it all and can assist with training on over 100 different aircraft. Additionally we have helped many an owner with getting comfortable on their machine, on their newly built private strips and well on their way with their Instrument Rating resulting in the maximum freedom achievable for a PPL Holder.
Flight Test, Support and Evaluation
Whilst we are not yet graduates of any of the Long Course Programs from any of the Flight Test Pilot Schools, we developed our capabilities over the past decade under the guidance of several Class 1 and Class 2 Test Pilots and through the guidance of the EASA regulations where we slowly expanded our envelope within the 2000kg category of aircraft. Our journey started off with our involvement in the Falcon 402 Certification Evaluation Flight Test Program within the role of certification and flight test engineers. As time progressed we developed the our Flight Testing Capabilities to gradually include a greater extent of flying capabilities. To date we have completed several successful flight test campaigns that cover Post Maintenance, Post Production, Developmental/Evaluation and to an extent Experimental flight testing. Furthermore we've developed a reputation for our piston engine break-in knowledge and procedures throughout the majority of the Continental and Lycoming range of engines.
Test Flight Solutions offers Flight Test Plans, Test Cards, Safety Review Boards, Flight Test Instrumentation, Flight Test and Evaluation Techniques, Flight Test Data Reduction and Flight Test Reporting Services. Contact us for your Flight Test needs whether it be an engine upgrade, modifications, your freshly built kit or a clean sheet design, we will most definitely be interested.