The Republic of Korea Air Force has signed an agreement with QinetiQ to train its aviators at the Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) in the UK.
Established in the 1940s, ETPS is a UK Ministry of Defence institution providing specialized training for military test pilots and flight test aircrews across fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms.
The school is operated by QinetiQ at its Wiltshire, England, site and has trained more than 1,500 students from 32 partner nations.
Advanced Training Program
Under the agreement, two pilots and two engineers from South Korea will undergo a six-month training program covering experimental, development, and systems testing.
The syllabus will blend classroom and practical approaches to mature “flying and engineering skills, practising critical thinking and learning to take a broad perspective to distill and communicate useful findings.”
“We are committed to delivering exceptional flight test training that brings together expertise, innovation, and international collaboration,” said Royal Navy Cdr. Andrew Johnston, commanding officer at ETPS.
QinetiQ said the program may also include additional training on new aircraft, as well as opportunities to train alongside UK forces, NATO personnel, and other international partners.
All four South Korean aviators will undertake initial lessons in the East Asian country before accepting courses in the UK.
“With its long-standing reputation for excellence, access to a diverse fleet of platforms and its proven track record of delivering mission-focused training, ETPS provides the ideal environment for our future test professionals to thrive,” Republic of Korea Air Force’s Major Seo Young Yeop stated.
“The opportunity to learn within such an internationally respected programme will equip our teams with the advanced skills and global perspective they need, to meet the demands of modern flight test operations.”
