http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #367 OCTOBER 2018 // 31n the aftermath of
World War Two, the
French aviation industry
rapidly began rebuilding its
strength following the devastation
of the previous six years. A test
pilot and flight test engineer school
was urgently needed as new, high-
performance aircraft about to enter
service required different scientific
and unified testing procedures to those
before. The creation of the École du
Personnel Navigant d’Essais et de Réception
(EPNER) in 1946 was perfectly timed and the
unit was initially based in Brétigny-sur-Orge,
south of Paris – in an old wooden shack.
The development of the school rapidly gained
momentum and featured a course in which
the unit’s director, instructors and students
all learned their craft together. Its progress
soon gained worldwide attention, and in 1953
foreign crews began to arrive from countries
including Spain and Italy. Five years later
the school added rotary-wing training to the
syllabus, teaching test and acceptance pilots.
By this time EPNER mirrored well-known
and long-established training centres, such
as the UK’s Empire Test Pilots’ School at
Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. It was rapidly
outgrowing its operating base, so a move
south to Istres was suggested in 1958
and, although the transfer took four years,
the school’s fleet continued to evolve.Continuing to innovate
“The school continues to innovate to stay
in the lead worldwide,” commented
its former director, Colonel David
Caroff, who stood down in
summer last year. “EPNER is
an aeronautical engineering
practice school applied toCompeting with the best
The French academy for test pilots, the École du Personnel Navigant
d’Essais et de Réception continues to develop in a fast-paced world.
Frédéric Lert profiles this fascinating unit.strength following the devastationpilot and flight test engineer school
was urgently needed as new, high-
performance aircraft about to enter
service required different scientific
and unified testing procedures to those
before. The creation of the École du
Personnel Navigant d’Essais et de Réception
(EPNER) in 1946 was perfectly timed and theflight testing. We deliver technical flight test
training in three distinct sectors – [fixed-wing]
aircraft, helicopters and air traffic controllers.”
On July 4, 2016 the school was awarded
Approved Training Organisation (ATO) status
by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
This endorsement meant EPNER was
recognised at a European level for the
specific activity of flight testing, and
has reinforced its position in the
global top five test pilot units.
The ATO rating resulted in
two different qualifications – Flight Test
Rating Category 1 and Category 2. These
correspond to the class A and B system already
used in France – class A qualified pilots can
practise flight envelope testing, while those
of class B are limited to acceptance flights
within an already open flight envelope.
EPNER trains two student intakes per year- class A trainees from September to July
and class B from January to July. Each pupil
in the first category accumulates a hundred
flight hours, roughly twice the volume of those
studying in class B. Throughout their year
of training, pupils can experience a variety
of different aircraft or helicopters during type
familiarisation and instruction. The course begins
with some basic handling flights and continues
with test flights where the trainee applies
methods used during a typical trials programme.
Easy access to prototypes
The school primarily uses the Direction
Générale de l’Armement (DGA, the French
defence procurement agency) flight test fleet.
This consists of the Pilatus PC-7, Alpha Jet,
Mirage 2000 and Mystère XX. The bulk of
the rotary-wing fleet comprises examples
of the Dauphin, Fennec and Puma.
EPNER also works with a few large French
aerospace companies and has access toI
Right: Colonel David Caroff,
former director of the EPNER,
ready to leave for a test fl ight.
Frédéric Lert Left: For the centenary
of Dassault Aviation, the French
Air Force’s Rafale Solo Display
joined the Falcon 8X for a fl ight over the
Mediterranean. Dassault makes good use of
test pilots – all former EPNER students. For this
promotional shoot, Philippe Deleume and Eric
Gérard were fl ying the Falcon, with Capitaine
Benoit ‘Tao’ Planche in the Rafale. Anthony Pecchi
Right: The Spanish Tiger HAD was also test
fl own by EPNER pilots. Serial 5001 (French
test registration F-ZWBZ) is the HAD
prototype, subsequently HA.28-24. In
common with all the major test
pilot schools, EPNER crews
maintain dual qualifi cations
on fi xed- and rotary-
wing types.
Anthony
Pecchi30-33 EPNER AFM Oct2018.indd 31 9/7/2018 2:55:04 PM