RLV Flight Crew TrainingRLV Flight Crew Training

Preview

• OCP

• Costs to RLV operators who self train

• Advantages of using schools

• Guidelines / regulations questions

• Possible solutions

Orbital Commerce Project, Inc.

• Training company– Based on CFR part 141– Suborbital pilot– Payload specialist

• To be located in Mojave, California

• Dedicated facility will house all training devices and students

Suborbital Pilot• 21 days• 3 different vehicles

– Unpowered landing training• 14 hours flight time• 21 hours in simulator

– Rocket power training• 10 flights• 15 hours simulator time

– RLV training• 4 flights• 16 hours simulator time

Training devices

• Nominal & Non-nominal Training– Centrifuge– Hypobaric chamber– Flight simulators– Ejection system simulator

G-LAB Human Centrifuge

Courtesy ETC

Cost• Training aids

– Build and/or purchase– Use existing equipment

• Wear and tear• Equipment is unavailable

for core business or underutilized.

– Non-nominal situations Cyberdome flight simulator

Courtesy Cyberdome

Cost

• Time– Diverting of personnel– Disruption to schedules– Delay to market– Wasted on washouts– Dealing with the FAA

Cost• Safety

– What is enough?– Consistency training

• Start / stop• Re-acquire / refurbish

training devices

– Uniformity among pilots

Benefit

• Cost– Capital costs passed on to

school– Use when needed– Wear and tear on

equipment is reduced

Benefit• Time

– Only qualified candidates– Documentation– Disruptions to core business is eliminated– Quicker to market

• Safety– Consistent training– Training aides are continuously updated

• Liability is shared with the school

Guidelines / regulations• How is a suborbital flight school licensed?• How are courses and training devices approved?• How are RLV flight crew licensed?

– Third party training– Changes employer

• How much?– Time per flight mode– Number of suborbital flights– Time in a simulator

Possible solutions• Flight school

– Training defined as launch services in CSLAA 2004

– Permit / license as an RLV operator

• Flight crew– Part of safety system– Safety certification

Wrap up

• Suborbital flight schools are a good idea

• Guidelines / regulations need to be developed for suborbital flight schools

• Current law provides a mechanism to regulate training and schools

More Information• Orbital Commerce Project, Inc. (OCP)

– www.orbitalcommerceproject.com– Phone: 407-579-7783

• References:– XCOR Aerospace www.xcor.com– Cyberdome www.cyberdome.com– Environment Tectonics Corporation (ETC)

www.etcusa.com