Testing aircraft requires time and meticulous attention to detail. Students work long days with few breaks. They typically spend the first half of the day in academic labs, developing the technical background that will support the flight program. The second half of the day is devoted to flying. Students work late writing reports, studying and filing paperwork.
Success demands that students be very interested in what they're doing.
You have to really like what you do, otherwise you get frustrated with it and don't want to do it anymore. The typical student at TPS has a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, mathematics or physical science, and at least 1,000 flight hours. A selection board evaluates applicants based on academic background, piloting skills and the needs of the service. Qualities such as the applicant's professionalism and motivation are also considered. The school receives 120 to 140 applications for each class and accepts about 36 students per class for this highly competitive program.