Chapter 28 - Post Flight Operations

After each test flight there are a number of actions that must be taken to assure that the objectives of the flight were met, no unexpected results were encountered (or if they were encountered to ensure that they are accounted for prior to the next flight), and to determine when the next flight can be conducted. The immediate results of test flying are seldom simple to express because of the multitude of specific data collected during each flight, and the great number of specialists interested in those data. However, the cost of test flying requires that tests progress as fast as possible and this in turn dictates that test data be verified and issued in the most timely and efficient manner. The comments of the test crew are part of the test data base and are invaluable even if they relate only to the specific test condition of one flight. Their comments can often serve to identify conditions that are not obvious in the recorded data but deserve further evaluation. The final step, assuming that there are no serious reasons for not continuing, is to launch the preparations for the next test flight.

Therefore, it is necessary to set up an organization which can efficiently ensure after each flight:
• Collection and dissemination of all information necessary to lead the program day after day
• Collection and dissemination of all information to prepare and process the data of flight data
recorders
• Collection, comparison, collation, summarization, and formatting all data from all flights
concerning a specific test objective into an unders tandable and usable form to better define any
anomalies and/or ensure that data gathered is consistent with that previously gathered
• Identification and correction of the test vehicle malfunctions and malfunctions of any supporting
equipment such as an instrumentation parameter, ground-based equipment including telemetry
room, space positioning equipment, etc.
• That the next flight can be safely and efficiently conducted.

As noted in Sections 3 and/or 8, it is vital that the test methods, procedures, and conventions are common to all the units and/or personnel involved in the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the flight test data. Since the prime purpose of this section is to describe the overall post-test plan of action, this point is not covered in detail here. It is important that the rules and procedures of the parent organization always take precedence over the procedures noted here. This section will cover the actions, such as post-flight de-briefing, data analysis, data evaluation, reporting, and briefly, the planning that must be completed before the next test flight.