Research & Development
Peter Dawson
May 2025
The Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund Grant recipient, Peter Dawson, a Systems Engineer based in Adelaide, had the opportunity to attend the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) Operational Test and Evaluation Course, held at Mojave Air and Spaceport in April 2025.
What is the course about?
The course was attended by twelve students from the USA, Germany, Italy, and Australia, representing diverse backgrounds from Eurofighter Typhoon and A400M pilots, Luftwaffe CH-53G helicopter crews, and even a European astronaut. We were divided into teams of four (one pilot and three engineers), with each student rotating through the roles of Test Director and Flight Test Engineer ensuring broad exposure to the complete OT&E process.
What does the training look like?
Training combined classroom instruction, simulator rehearsals, and three progressive flight test sorties (“crawl–walk–run”), each requiring increasing independence in test design, execution and reporting. Key subjects covered out of the 15 classroom lectures included acquisition processes, test planning, risk management, workload assessment, and integrated systems testing.
What did you learn?
I learnt how to apply structured OT&E processes in a practical environment and the importance of disciplined test planning, data collection, and reporting. The “crawl–walk–run” progression highlighted how quickly skills develop when feedback is immediate and constructive. I also learnt how to adapt to new test environments, work in diverse multinational teams, and communicate effectively across technical and cultural boundaries. Improvement areas identified included refining briefing and debriefing skills to ensure concise communication and developing greater confidence in directing flight test activities.
Did you experience any unexpected / surprising event?
Near the Mojave Air and Space port is the Mojave Sonic Corridor which is a section of controlled airspace over the Mojave Desert where supersonic flight is permitted. During classroom lessons, frequent sonic booms would shake the building as aircraft would be conducting activities within the corridor. This was an incredible experience.
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Some other noteworthy experiences: A Luftwaffe A400M arrived and allowed the class to have a tour of the aircraft. Boom XB-1 supersonic aircraft tour prior to disassembly and transport to storage facilities. Palm Springs Air Museum and B-29 Superfortress tour onboard ‘Doc’. B-17 Flying Fortress Tour on ‘Memphis Bell’. Sequoia national park, seeing the ‘General Sherman’ which is the largest living tree by volume in the world.
How did this training impact your career development and future direction?
The credibility of having completed the NTPS OT&E course with the support of the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund has already enhanced my professional standing. This has created opportunities to support ADF test activities that would not otherwise have been available, particularly within the aircrew life support realm. Going forwards I intend to use this experience to seek further professional
development opportunities and potentially contribute to collaborative test projects within South Australia’s defence sector, with an emphasis on flight test.
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