Capt John ArmbrustFlight Test Pilot at Aircraft Certification Service-FAA
Greater New York City Area Aviation & Aerospace
Current
Flight Test Pilot at FAA
Past
Experimental Test Pilot at Independent Consultant
Engineering Test Pilot at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Chief Army Test Pilot, Comanche Combined Test Team at US Army Comanche Combined Test Team
see all
Education
CAL Southern
US Army Instrument Examiners Course
US Naval Test Pilot School
Summary
Fixed and rotary wing test pilot with more than 6,100 flight hours, of which more than 2000 hours in airplanes over 1800 hours of which are in twin turbine and jet powered airplanes. I have flown U-21A, T-34C, T-38A, T/A-4J, TA-7D, P3 Orion, T-2 Buckeye, Lear 35, UH-1, OH-58, RAH-66, AH-64A, UH-60 A/L and many more fixed and rotary wing aircraft. I am a former US Army (21 years) standardization instructor pilot and instrument flight examiner in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. I attended a 3 month course at the National Test Pilot School (Mojave, California) in 1988, and graduated the US Naval Test Pilot School (NAS Patuxent River, Maryland) in 1989, and have been actively engaged in flight test since. I have over 11 years with Sikorsky Aircraft. In 1996 I was designated the chief army test pilot for the RAH-66 Comanche Combined Test Team While at Sikorsky I was the chief program pilot for the CH148, a fly by wire, marinized version of the Sikorsky S-92. I have over 600 hours of actual instruments, 2,800 of night flying with over 650 hours under NVG or FLIR.
Specialties
Crewstation and Human Interface, Fly By Wire flight control systems testing, ADS-33 testing, Icing certification testing, handling qualities and performance testing, advanced cockpit, night vision systems and operations, test pilot and flight engineer instruction.
Experience
Flight Test Pilot
FAA
Government Agency; 10,001+ employees; Airlines/Aviation industry
September 2011 – Present (9 months) Aircraft Certification Service New York
Conduct flight test to determine compliance. Office is responsible for the certification of US domestic applicants in the New England Region, and validation efforts for all of Canada and EASA.
Experimental Test Pilot
Independent Consultant
August 2010 – September 2011 (1 year 2 months)
Consultant and Instructor in the field of flight test and development
Consulted and instructed at the International Test Pilots School, Canada, Ltd, where I taught avionics systems flight engineer course and rotary wing test pilot course. Also consulted with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Aircraft flown include AS-355, Do-328T Sim, Cirrus SR-22.
Engineering Test Pilot
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
August 1999 – August 2010 (11 years 1 month)
I planned and conducted engineering and development flight test in prototype aircraft. I was the chief program pilot for the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program, a six-year program valued at 3.8 billion dollars. I presented program status and technical papers at many professional forums. I worked directly with engineering design groups to design and develop the man-machine interface, and worked directly with US Army and Canadian customer representatives and organizations to define and illuminate their requirements. I was responsible for the organization and development of the operational team assigned to produce the Canadian naval helicopter. Pilot in Command of S-76A,B,C+, S-92A and Fly By Wire (FBW), UH-60A,L.
John has 5 recommendations (4 co-workers, 1 partner) including:
3rd Robert H., President/CEO, Heads Up Technologies, Inc.
3rd Randy M., System Safety Engineer, Sikorsky
Chief Army Test Pilot, Comanche Combined Test Team
US Army Comanche Combined Test Team
August 1996 – August 1999 (3 years 1 month)
I was the chief Army test pilot on the Comanche Combined Test Team, representing the US Army technical and developmental test communities. I flew the eighth flight in prototype number one. I presented numerous papers and oral presentations to several professional forums. I was a member of the American Helicopter Society Crew Stations and Human Factors Technical Committee. I provided direct testimony as a Comanche subject matter expert to the US House of Representatives. I also represented the Comanche program at the Paris and Farnborough Air shows. My overall responsibility was as team leader, organizing the Army’s test assets on this program. Pilot in Command of RAH-66 Comanche, AH-64A, T-34C, U-21A, UH-1H, UH-60A,L and OH-58A,C
Test Director and Experimental Test Pilot
US Army Airworthiness Qualification Test Directorate
March 1994 – August 1996 (2 years 6 months)
I planned and conducted engineering and development flight test in production and prototype aircraft. I was a project pilot for numerous AH-64A engine control programs, and jettison envelope expansion and Aeronautical Design Standard (ADS) –33 certification programs. I represented the US Army at professional forums. Pilot in Command of T-34C, AH-64A, UH-1H, OH-58A, C, U-21
John has 1 recommendation (1 manager) including:
2nd Dave Downey, Chief, Flight Test, AEFA, Edwards AFB, CA, US Army Engineering Flt Test Activiey
Engineering Test Pilot/Instructor Pilot
US Army Aviation Technical Test Center
January 1990 – March 1994 (4 years 3 months)
I planned and conducted engineering and development flight test in fielded aircraft. I was the project director for many AH-64 Programs including; Hellfire Air to Air Employment Test, Advanced Night Vision Sensor Program, AH-64A Lead the fleet Supportability Program, Handling Qualities and Jettison Evaluation of the AH64A with the Firedrake Pod, and the AH-64A Cold Weather Qualification Test. I was also project director on many other programs including the New Training Helicopter (NTH) fly-off competition. In all, I have managed program budget assets totaling over 4 million dollars. I provided direct testimony at official GAO hearings in Washington D.C. I have made numerous presentations at professional forums. Pilot in Command of T-34C, AH-64A, UH-1H, OH-58A, C
Test Pilot Under Instruction
US Naval Test Pilot School at NAS
October 1988 – December 1989 (1 year 3 months)
I attended the 11 month-long USNTPS, and a three-month course at the National Test Pilot School at Mojave, California for a Pre-USNTPS preparation course.
Instructor Pilot/Instrument Examiner/Soldier
US Army
Government Agency; 10,001+ employees; Military industry
September 1978 – October 1988 (10 years 2 months)
I enlisted as an Armored Reconnaissance Specialist in Sep 78. I attended US Army Flight School in 1980. I was assigned to the Eighth Infantry Division in West Germany from 1980 to 1983. I then served as an Aeroscout Instructor pilot from 1983 until 1986 teaching Night Vision Device flight training to initial entry students. During this time I was briefing Officer conducting daily platform instruction. I was the section head; Night Vision Device Instructor Pilot Training Course qualifying rated aviators to become Night Vision Device Flight Instructors. Pilot in Command of U-21A, OH-58A, C AH-64A, and UH-1H.
Skills & Expertise
Airworthiness Testing Flight Test Flight Safety Flight Operations Aircraft Performance Program Management Systems Engineering Engineering Risk Assessment Human Factors Aeronautics Research
Certifications
Airline Transport Pilot- Fixed Wing Multi-engine Land
US FAALicense On File
Commercial Pilot- Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing Single-engine Land
US FAALicense On File
Certified Flight Instructor- Rotary Wing
US FAALicense On File
Instrument- Rotorcraft Helicopter and Airplane Single-engine
US FAALicense On File
Education
CAL Southern
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
1999 – 2000
US Army Instrument Examiners Course
NA
1992 – 1992
US Naval Test Pilot School
NA
1989 – 1990
Enterprise State
Associate of Science, Mathematics and Engineering
1987 – 1988
Activities and Societies: Deans List
Most Outstanding Student Award- Mathematics
US Army Flight School
1979 – 1980
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