South Korea’s Air Force Trains at Elite UK Empire Test Pilots’ School: What to Expect?

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[The Dguru=Reporter Gil So-yeon] The Republic of Korea Air Force will send personnel to train at the United Kingdom’s Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS), one of the world’s leading test-pilot institutions. Training at Britain’s oldest test-pilot school will equip the air force with advanced skills and the international perspective required for modern flight-test operations. Officials say the program is expected to deepen bilateral exchanges and produce new cooperation models.

According to the UK Defence Journal on April 15, the Republic of Korea Air Force signed a training agreement on April 8 (local time) with ETPS, which operates under British defense firm QinetiQ.

Under the agreement, two test pilots and two flight-test engineers — four airmen in total — will complete one year of foundational training in Korea, then travel to Boscombe Down, a UK Ministry of Defence base, for an additional six months of instruction. Boscombe Down is regularly used by the Ministry of Defence as part of its test-pilot training program.

The air force will fly a range of modern aircraft and train alongside pilots from the U.K., NATO and other partner nations. ETPS’s tailored curriculum allows trainees to practice more sophisticated, high-risk flight tests than programs such as the U.S. National Test Pilot School (NTPS) or Canada’s International Test Pilots School (ITPS), and exposes them to new aircraft types and design philosophies.

Maj. Seo Young-yeop of the Republic of Korea Air Force said, “With its long-standing reputation, broad mix of aircraft and proven record in mission-focused training, ETPS provides an ideal environment to develop future test professionals. Training in this internationally recognized program will give our team the advanced skills and global outlook necessary to meet the demands of modern flight-test operations.”

Lt. Cdr. Andrew Johnston, commander of ETPS and an officer of the Royal Navy, said, “We are committed to delivering top-tier flight-test training that combines expertise, innovation and international cooperation. We are pleased to welcome the Republic of Korea Air Force’s first cohort of test pilots and flight-test engineers.”

Since 1943, ETPS has trained military test pilots. Based at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England, the school prepares both fixed-wing and rotary-wing test pilots and flight-test engineers. It operates exchange programs that provide students with hands-on flight-test experience.