News

We are pleased to announce the establishment of a strategic partnership with ILA, representing a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to supporting the advancement of the global aerospace sector.

This collaboration brings together complementary expertise, a shared vision for innovation, and a strong alignment in driving industry progress. As a globally recognised platform for aerospace innovation, dialogue, and leadership, ILA plays a central role in convening key stakeholders across the international aviation ecosystem.

Through this partnership, both organisations will work collaboratively to foster knowledge exchange, strengthen industry connections, and support initiatives that contribute to the sustainable growth and evolution of aerospace. The agreement reflects a mutual ambition to not only align strategic objectives, but also to actively enable innovation, promote best practices, and deliver long-term value to the community.

We look forward to a productive collaboration and to unlocking new opportunities that will help shape the future of aviation.

🔗 Learn more about ILA:

https://www.ila-berlin.de/en

SFTE European Chapter is proud to welcome the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) as the sixth sponsor of the 37th Symposium.

This milestone marks the continuation of a long-standing partnership built on shared values: advancing aerospace knowledge, fostering innovation, and supporting the global flight test community.

For over a century, NLR has been at the forefront of aerospace research and development, bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and real-world application across aviation and space domains. From advanced simulation and testing to certification and operational support, NLR embodies the spirit of rigorous engineering and forward-thinking that defines flight test excellence.

Their continued support reinforces a common mission: to push boundaries, enable safer and more sustainable aviation, and empower the next generation of flight test professionals.

As we look ahead to the 37th Symposium, this renewed collaboration stands as a testament to what can be achieved when expertise, passion, and vision come together.

We are honored to continue this journey alongside NLR.

🔗 Learn more about NLR:

https://www.nlr.org/

The SFTE European Chapter is pleased to welcome ITPS as the fifth sponsor of the 37th SFTE European Chapter Symposium ✈️

This announcement marks the continuation of a long-standing partnership that has developed and strengthened over the years 🤝 ITPS has been a reliable presence within the flight test community, providing high-quality training and practical expertise that support the growth of both current and future flight test professionals. Their contribution has consistently aligned with the values of technical excellence and knowledge sharing that the Symposium aims to promote.

The continued support from ITPS reflects a shared commitment to advancing flight test engineering, encouraging collaboration across organizations, and helping deliver a technically rich and engaging event 🚀 It is through partnerships like this that the Symposium is able to bring together engineers, pilots, and specialists from across the industry to exchange insights and best practices.

The SFTE European Chapter greatly values this ongoing relationship and looks forward to building on it in the years ahead, both through the Symposium and other initiatives that support the wider flight test community.

🔗 Learn more about ITPS: https://itpscanada.com/

The abstract selection process for the 37th SFTE European Chapter Symposium is officially closed — and the response from the flight test community has been nothing short of outstanding.

All selected authors have now been notified by email. If you submitted an abstract and have not yet received a communication from us, please check your spam folder or reach out directly at ec.symposium@sfte.org.

Authors whose abstracts were not selected this time will receive a personal communication from the Technical Committee in the coming weeks. No submission will go without a response.

To everyone who submitted — thank you. The quality and diversity of ideas we received is a true reflection of what makes this community so exceptional. Your passion, your discoveries, and your willingness to share them are what drive this Symposium forward year after year.

Whether or not your abstract was selected, we warmly invite you to join us in Berlin this June. The Symposium is where the community meets — for the presentations, the technical debates, the hallway conversations, and everything in between.

Your presence matters.

Register now!

A word on our sponsors

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors — your support makes this event possible and ensures the SFTE European Chapter continues to grow, connect, and inspire the flight test community across Europe and beyond.

We are still welcoming new sponsors. If your organisation shares our commitment to flight test excellence and wishes to be part of one of the most prestigious gatherings in the industry, we would love to hear from you!

Together, we keep flight test moving forward. See you in Berlin. ✈️

We’re excited to announce an exclusive Pilatus Aircraft Company Tour on Friday, 8 May 2026, from 13:00 to 17:00 in Stans, Switzerland.

Founded in 1939, Pilatus Aircraft is a world leader in high-performance turboprop and jet aircraft for both military training and civil operations. From the PC-7, PC-9, and PC-21 trainer family used by over 30 air forces, to the PC-12 and the innovative PC-24 “Super Versatile Jet,” Pilatus sets the benchmark for advanced pilot training and operational excellence.

This tour is a unique opportunity to see Swiss aerospace engineering in action and to explore flight-testing practices at one of the industry’s most respected manufacturers.

📍 Location: Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG, Pilatusstrasse 1, 6371 Stans, Switzerland

📧 Contact: Alessandro Lurgo – lurgo.alessandro@gmail.com

⚠️ Note: An active SFTE membership is required to attend

⏳ Registration closes: Friday, 1 May 2026

Spaces are limited – don’t miss the chance to experience Pilatus’ legendary aircraft up close!

The SFTE European Chapter is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity sponsored by the Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS), continuing the strong partnership between SFTE and the test pilot schools in support of professional development within the flight test community.

This scholarship will allow one SFTE member to attend an ETPS short course, tuition-free, at one of the world’s leading institutions for flight test training. It represents a valuable opportunity to enhance technical skills, broaden professional perspective, and engage with top-level flight test professionals.

In addition, SFTE will reimburse up to USD 1,000 to cover travel and accommodation expenses, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Eligibility and Key Dates:

• Current SFTE members in good standing

• Affiliate and Student Members are not eligible

• Newly approved members may apply

• Application deadline: 30 April 2026

The recipient will be selected through a random draw among eligible applicants.

The scholarship award will be announced at the 2026 SFTE European Chapter Symposium in Berlin, where recipients are strongly encouraged to attend.

This ETPS scholarship directly supports SFTE’s mission to raise Flight Test Engineer standards across the aerospace community, in alignment with the SFTE Recommended Practices program, and serves as a model for industry–academic collaboration.

👉 Learn more and apply via the SFTE website.