SFTE European Chapter

We are delighted to share with you the agenda for the 2024 EC Symposium May 8-10 hosted in Vienna, Austria! An undisclosed surprise will be awaiting you upon the technical tour, please don't forget to register for it!

Files are available for download:

• Symposium Agenda
• Social Agenda for Partners & Kids - upon registration/reservation
• Flyer for posting at your workplace

Also, be sure to reserve your hotel room before April 6th:
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=17053...

Additional information and registration for the event here:
https://members.sfte.org/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=114053&org_id=SFTE

Dear flight testers,
Dear members of the European Chapter,

We are nearing the end of 2023, so I would like to reflect on the past year, on our accomplishments and on all the items still remaining on our Check list.

It is not often you get an opportunity to organize a symposium together with an Air Force which celebrates its 100-year anniversary. In 2023 the Italian Air Force provided an excellent podium and the location was Rome. A report with all the details has been published on our website for your convenience. Your support to the SFTE EC by attending the symposium is very much appreciated and keeps us motivated to do well the next year. Early this year we also received the sad news that one of our most respected member Mrs. Barbara Wood passed away. We honour her legacy by granting her the Jesualdo Martinez award 2023.

We also saw some changes in the team. The board has been re-elected during the Annual Business Meeting in May. But we had to say goodbye to Massimo Longo who has been part of our Director at Large (DaL) team from 2010 onwards. His recent career change is no longer allowing him to follow up constantly and effectively the activities of the SFTE EC, as Director at large, but he is dedicated as always to share his knowledge and vision to our growing and dynamic community. A big thank you to Massimo for all his work for the Society!

At the same time, we welcome a new Director at Large team member: Alessandro Ramazzotti. Alessandro is already involved in the organisation of our next symposium and a great addition to the team.

2023 was a year of a record participation and commitment in our activity and at Chapter's annual symposium. I am grateful for the lively and valuable contribution of all the members of the SFTE community. You brought us the joy and the challenge of a renew wind beneath our wings! As you already know, the 2024 symposium will be organized together with Diamond Aircraft Industries in Austria. The venue will be Vienna and I expect to see a lot of you there, to make it another success.

For all of you, your family and friend’s safe landings and Happy Holidays!

Until we meet, next year.
Greetings,
Paul Koks
President SFTE EC

Dear members,

In the link below is the SFTE European Chapter 2023 report.

SFTE EC 2023 report

Respectfully submitte by,
Paul Koks
European Chapter President

IT'S AGAIN THAT TIME OF THE YEAR...

...to start writing your abstracts for the next SFTE-EC Symposium!

Dear friends, at the European Chapter we're warming up the engines to launch the 2024 SFTE-EC Symposium.
This year we're heading to Vienna: between a slice of Sacher cake and a look at Klimt masterpieces, we will discuss our latest news during a rich two-days conference followed by the traditional Technical Tour at Diamond Aircraft facilities!
Please don't miss this great opportunity to share your flight testing works and learn from our best colleagues...

Call for papers

Abstract details and draft programme

Papers from the 34^th Annual SFTE EC Symposium are now available on the Papers section.

JESUALDO MARTINEZ Award, 2023

Mrs. Barbara Wood

The board is pleased to accept the nomination for Barbara Wood and grant her this special In Memoriam Jesualdo Martinez Award 2023. Unfortunately we recently received the sad news that she has passed away January 16th of this year.
We dedicate this special In Memoriam JM Award to our colleague and friend Barbara Wood, a fundamental pillar in the development and evolution of the Society of Flight Test Engineers and in our profession in general. She was a highly considered professional, a pioneer in her work and for her time.
She was a force and an inspiration throughout her career and she was one of the few female Flight Test Engineers at a time and place when this was still primarily a men’s world.

Complete presentation of the award 2023

Overview of all the Jesualdo Martinez Awards In Flight Testing

Barbara Wood in memoriam

In great sorrow, we have learnt about the passing of our dear colleague and friend Barbara Wood.
Barbara has been a fundamental pillar in the development and evolution of the Society of Flight Test Engineers and our profession in general, not only in Europe but at a global level as well.
Since the late 1980s she was involved in the Society, holding almost every possible position and making great contributions for the development and improvements of our community. She delivered great support and confidence to the common objectives, using her own time and more stolen from her family, always with a kind smile for everyone.
Amongst many activities, for the European Chapter she was Secretary from 1991 until 1995 and again from 2007 until 2009, Vice President from 1995 until 1999 and President from 1999 until 2003. In 2008 was elected to the main Board of Directors, serving until 2012. In 2008 she was elected as Fellow of the Society. She was also very active in the NATO STO Flight Test Technical Team, promoting several Agardographs and contributing to the dissemination of knowledge in Flight Testing across the community.
She retired some years ago from her work at Boscombe Down for Qinetiq. She is an example for everyone, because we could consider her as a real pioneer in this profession. She had to work harder than anyone and bear the load of being a female Flight Test Engineer at a time and in places when this was not as normal as today.
She was a highly considered professional and hard worker, no matter what task she was involved in. The European Chapter and the Society as a whole would not be the same without her support along all these years.
We would like to share our condolences with her husband, son, and siblings for their loss.
We will miss her a lot.

Jesús Javier Fernández Orio
Board of Directors - Fellow
Society of Flight Test Engineers

PDF version of this In Memoriam

Dear friends, dear colleagues,

The 2023 SFTE-EC Symposium in Rome is getting closer and closer!

We have some updates for the speakers (you see them in the latest schedule) and we would like to remind you that the negotiated hotel fares will not be available after the 24th of April. After such a date the room fees will be much higher...

If you are planning to join and you have not yet reserved your hotel room, that's the right moment to do it!

We can't wait to welcoming you in Rome, don't wait until the last minute!
The SFTE-EC Board

Symposium Schedule

Dear Flight Testers,

The Board of the SFTE-EC is pleased to share with you the schedule of the 34th Symposium of the SFTE-EC.
The program looks already rich, but to make it exceptional we definitely need your presence!
Please join us and bring your experience to add interest and value to this excellent moment of professional exchange!

We look forward to welcome you in Rome,
The SFTE-EC Board

Symposium Schedule