EPNER

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EPNER, (École du Personnel Navigant d’Essais et de Réception) is the French test pilot school, based at the Istres Le Tube Airbase, France. One of the four main test pilot schools in the western hemisphere, EPNER maintains close links with the other three schools; The Empire Test Pilot's School (ETPS); The United States Air Force Test Pilot School (USAFTPS) and The Unites States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS).

1 History
2 Training
3 Aircraft
4 References
5 See also

[edit] History

EPNER was established in 1946 at the French flight test centre in Brétigny-sur-Orge, to train specialist crews involved in test flying. They underwent theoretical and practical training to allow flight testing of aircraft to conducted in the safest possible conditions.

Based at Istres since 1962, EPNER is a division of the CEV reporting directly to the Direction des Centres d’expertise et d’Essais (DCE) under the control of the the procurement agency of the French Ministry of Defense, the DGA (Délégation Générale pour l’Armement). This gives the school a unique position between the armed forces and industry on the one hand and between the activities of testing military and civilian sectors on the other.

[edit] Training

EPNER provides training for Test Pilots, Flight Test Engineers, Flight Engineers and Technicians involved in Flight Testing and Air Traffic Controllers involved in Control of Flight Tests.

Aircrew training include Class A (Experimental and Acceptance Testing) or the shorter Class B (Acceptance Testing) courses on either fixed or rotary wing aircraft. A Light Aircraft test pilot course is also offered.