Prague 2025

Jeff Canclini, the President of SFTE International

Flight Testing in the Age of AI: Highlights from the 36th SFTE European Chapter Symposium in Prague

The 36th Annual Symposium of the Society of Flight Test Engineers – European Chapter was held from June 3rd to 6th, 2025, in the heart of Prague, Czech Republic. This year’s theme, “Human Factors and AI in Flight Testing,” sparked dynamic conversation among test professionals, engineers, researchers, and students from across Europe, the U.S., and beyond — highlighting how emerging technologies and human-centred design are reshaping the world of flight test.

The event, hosted at the Grand Hotel International, opened with a keynote by Aero Vodochody, followed by two full days of technical sessions, networking, and community-building. On the final day, participants were invited to visit Aero Vodochody’s facilities, where they explored the company’s production lines and its flagship trainer aircraft, the L-39NG, now officially renamed L-39 SkyFox. While the new name hasn’t yet been fully embraced internally, it marks the next chapter in the aircraft’s evolution.

European Chapter BoD and Aero Vodochody rapresentatives.

Dan Leedham presenting the first paper of the symposium.

Paul Koks and Seb Rommel while are managing the good outcome of the technical sessions.

This year’s symposium welcomed a diverse and highly engaged international audience, with notable representation from key organizations. The largest delegations included:

Airbus (9 participants, including 4 from Defence and Space)
Leonardo (9 participants across three divisions)
ETPS – Empire Test Pilots' School (8 participants)
Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) (4 participants)
Akaflieg/Idaflieg (4 participants)
Royal Air Force (4 participants)

The Royal Air Force marked a welcome return to the programme, presenting on user-centered design for onboard AI systems. Leonardo made a particularly strong impact with three technical papers, demonstrating its leadership and innovation across both fixed-wing and rotary domains.

A special mention goes to Prof. Lorenzo Trainelli of Politecnico di Milano, who presented a paper on distributed electric propulsion demonstrators. In addition, four papers were presented by his former students—alumni of his Flight Testing course at Politecnico—who are now active professionals in leading flight test organizations across Europe. Their work showcased the long-term educational influence of the university and its commitment to nurturing talent for the aerospace sector.

Group picture for the attendees in Prague.

Two major recognitions were awarded during the event:

The Jesualdo Martinez Award for Excellence in Flight Testing went to Dr. Guy Gratton, in honour of his decades-long contribution to advancing the discipline, both in academia and in practical flight testing.

The Best Paper Award was presented to Irene Salmoiraghi and Andrea Castelli of Leonardo Helicopters for their work on a novel level-acceleration flight test method for helicopters, designed to optimize efficiency and reduce certification timelines.

The Symposium Gala Dinner, held at Restaurant Mlýnec overlooking Prague’s iconic Charles Bridge, provided a picturesque setting for networking and celebration. The following evening, the Campfire Session at Na Slamníku, hosted by SFTE EC President Nick Caccavo, offered a more informal and reflective space for shared stories and dialogue.

The featured Campfire Speaker, Jaromír Lang, brought thoughtful insight and experience from a long career in aerospace leadership, connecting generations through storytelling and professional wisdom.

The 36th SFTE European Chapter Symposium demonstrated once again the essential role of flight test engineers in adapting to rapid technological change while maintaining rigorous safety and operational standards. With AI, autonomy, and human-machine integration accelerating across platforms, the symposium underscored the need for both technical innovation and human insight.

SFTE remains a cornerstone for the international flight test community—connecting professionals, sharing knowledge, and shaping the future of aerospace testing.

The girl component of flight test professional during the symposium.

Best paper winners.

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