The Advanced Flight Control Systems (AFCS) Short Course is designed to provide a focused refresher for test pilots and flight test engineers with prior education or experience in flying qualities or flight control systems. The aim of the course is to revisit key concepts and testing methodologies related to both longitudinal and lateral/directional flight control systems, with particular emphasis on modern Fly-By-Wire design approaches, certification standards (FARs, ACs, and guidance documents), and ground and in-flight flight test techniques (FTT’s).

This course leverages the multi-decade flight test and instructional expertise of the National Test Pilot School and Flight Level Engineering faculty. Students will benefit from the use of custom-built Variable Stability ground Simulators (VSS), which feature high-fidelity visual systems, a suite of programmable control system features, and a catalogue of feel system demonstrations. Additionally, practical flight testing is conducted in the 6-DOF variable stability Ryan Navion—the only aircraft flying of its kind.

Course Options

The course is offered in two versions: 

• Sim Only: Lectures and Simulators
• Full: Lectures, Simulator and Aircraft.

All participants will reinforce and apply course concepts through a combination of lectures, hands-on laboratory exercises using representative SIMULINK models, practical group projects, immersive simulator sessions. Students taking the full version will additionally receive 3.4 flight hours of  targeted flight training. Preparatory study materials will be provided to help students reengage with key foundational topics and maximize the course’s value, regardless of time away from formal study.

Lectures

1. Overview of the evolution of flight control systems and the current state-of-the-art.
2. Introduction to key certification standards, gaps and limitations in regulations, identification AFCS certification regulations.

3. Explain FBW Design Certification, review of design decisions, comparison of typical flight control architectures and feel systems in irreversible flight controls.4
4. Feel system components and characteristics and analysis of passive vs. active feel systems for various cockpit flight control types

5. Fly-By-Wire (FBW): terminology, design objectives, FBW design approaches and augmentation strategies and Limitations and challenges in current FBW designs
6. Envelope Protection
7. Flight Control System – Requirements and objectives for future automation
8. Flight Control System Testing.
9. Case Studies and Examples

Practical Group Projects:

Longitudinal Control Laws: prediction project & control law test project

Lateral and Directional Control Laws: prediction project & control law test project

Ground Simulators:

• One 2-hour session on the VSS Simulator – Longitudinal
• One 2-hour session on the VSS Simulator – Lateral/Directional

In this course NTPS uses two high-fidelity ground variable stability simulators, equipped with an electric active force feedback controls and with graphics monitors that display the same information that is available in the aircraft. For an Out-The-Window (OTW) view, three 55” high definition, curved displays are used. The OTW view is also equipped with a Heads-Up Display (HUD) to perform tracking tasks.

Flight on 6-DOF variable stability – Ryan Navion aircraft:

• One 1.7-hour flight – Longitudinal
• One 1.7-hour flight – Lateral/Directional

Ryan Navion piston-powered aircraft equipped with digital Variable Stability Systems (VSS). As with other legacy VSS aircraft, the aircraft are equipped with active force-feedback control loading inceptors, custom display panels, and redundant safety features. As with other legacy VSS aircraft, these elements are fully reconfigurable in real-time, allowing for a wide range of training to occur on a single flight.

See https://www.youtube.com/@variable_stability for representative examples of some of the demos experienced in-flight using the variable stability in-flight simulator aircraft.