Aspects Of Altitude Testing

When an aircraft, drone or satellite is design and manufactured it has to enter a rigorous testing phase, generally referred to as altitude testing. This type of testing is usually simulated first in a pressurized hangar or depending on the craft is live tested in the open air, usually in remote test facilities. Again, depending on the flight craft and its intended purpose, altitude testing can take a few months to a couple years. Altitude Testing This test is designed to assure government regulators, company backers and other safety organizations that the flight craft is safe for its intended use. This is especially important for any manned flight, but can be just as important for flights or launches of large industrial or military equipment that costs millions or billions of dollars. This testing provides proof that the craft in question will be able to not only meet its government and safety regulations but also meet its specific tasks safely. This testing is usually broken into two categories, civil or commercial and military. Commercial testing is very rigorous on the safety of flight and that the pilot manual accurately portrays the crafts capabilities for pilots that will be flying it. Military specifications for their craft often times can be mission specific and therefore altitude testing for military craft is usually custom designed for specific parameters. Testing Process The actual process for altitude and aircraft testing can be broken down into three stages: preparation, execution, and analysis. The preparation portion sets the actual testing procedures, what needs to be tested and how and where the testing will be completed. There are a number of testing procedures that take place before even the altitude and flight testing portion is done. These are called test points, and for a commercial aircraft could consist of more than 10,000 of these specific tests. The full testing document is considered the test card. The preparation also ensures that the proper analysis and telemetry equipment is installed to be able to record the necessary data for later analysis. These tests include: atmospheric and temperature, dynamic pressure, structural loads and vibration levels, the crafts angle of attack, acceleration response, noise levels, internal temperatures, aircraft control, and engine performance. The execution of these tests starts with an assembled craft. With unmanned, most of these tests can be performed within a closed and pressurized hangar and most except the final test flight can be completed in these specialized testing facilities. However, with manned air craft there are a number of ground testing procedures that can be done in order to test various running aspects of the engine and structural integrity of the craft. The flight and altitude tests specifically test the flight capabilities of the aircraft in a live testing procedure. These tests include the flying handling capabilities, performance ranges such as speed, power, and drag on the craft, its flutter or stability and aerodynamic response, avionics testing, and any other testing need for mission specific craft.

The data collection, reporting and analysis is the last phase of altitude testing that ensures all the projected estimates and actual reporting fall within acceptable levels for final certification. The testing phase is the most important part of the development of an aircraft because it signifies success or failure in design and execution.