RLV 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) – –Phone: References: –XCOR Aerospace –Cyberdomewww.cyberdome.com –Environment Tectonics Corporation (ETC)