Captive Flight Tests

Our company was founded on an expertise in airborne testing and data acquisition. We provide reliable, cost effective, and responsive airborne testing services with platforms and capabilities tailored to customer requirements. L-3 Aeromet has extensive experience operating at U.S. military bases, test ranges and other operating areas.
To support captive carry flight-testing, L-3 Aeromet literally creates a “flying laboratory” to allow airborne testing of equipment and systems. L-3 Aeromet can support airborne testing of projects at all levels, ranging from consultations to turnkey solutions. Our capabilities include planning, test requirements definition, logistics, coordination with federal agencies, aircraft selection, aircraft modifications, and the provisions of experienced flight crews and test support team. This support can be tailored to satisfy specific testing needs. Our in house shops and modification expertise allow us to manufacture or acquire any modification components that may be required.

Test Requirements Definition (Planning)
L-3 Aeromet can assist in defining the parameters of the flight-testing required. By being involved early in the process, we can help ensure the most cost-effective path is selected to achieve the customer’s goals.

Aircraft Selection
Typically, there are competing test requirements levied on aircraft selection. L-3 Aeromet works with the client to determine the optimum aircraft to perform the required mission. Below is a brief list of requirements typically considered:

• Mission Speed and Altitude requirements
• Payload
• Range and Endurance
• Cost – operating, aircraft, and modification costs
• Suitability for modification

Aircraft Modification
In order to facilitate captive carry flight-testing, modifications are typically required to the test aircraft. L-3 Aeromet has extensive experience modifying aircraft. This experience includes:

• Equipment racks and operator stations
• Project power electrical system that provides dedicated power with automatic load shedding in the event of an aircraft anomaly
• Exterior mounting or “hard point” to install test equipment outside the cabin of the aircraft, under the wing or the fuselage
• Externally mounted cameras to view the payload

Our extensive history in captive carry flight-testing enables cost savings by utilizing our knowledge base of existing designs and equipment to minimize non-recurring engineering and fabrication costs.

Aircraft Certification
Significant issues are involved with aircraft certification for flight-testing. L-3 Aeromet can address the required civil or military certifications requirements and can provide guidance on the appropriate type and level of certification required.

Aircraft/Mission Operations
Aircraft/Mission Operations are critical to successful captive carry flight testing and L-3 Aeromet can provide very experienced test flight crews, test engineers, maintenance personnel, and all field support required.

We have extensive experience supporting flight-testing in the field or out of our Tulsa facility.

Aircraft Experience