Course detail: Operational Test and Evaluation: Customer-Focused Testing

The end user will inherit a system that is safe, but has latent deficiencies, has been mostly tested against system specifications and has undergone limited "real world" integrated systems testing. Total system performance is of primary importance to the end user, and this is the primary responsibility of Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) - to test an operationally representative system, in an operationally representative environment, using typical operators and maintainers against user requirements.

This OT&E course is designed to introduce students to the language, processes and assorted tools to estimate, plan, accomplish risk assessment, provision, conduct, analyze and report on operational tests. It focuses on the challenges of safe and effective OT&E of ground support elements, aerospace vehicles, on-board systems, human-system interaction issues and logistics suitability.

The course focuses mainly on military systems, but is equally applicable to commercial systems.

Learning Objectives
  • Where Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) and OT&E fall in a generic acquisition cycle.
  • The linkages with and differences between DT&E and OT&E.
  • How operational requirements and capabilities are developed.
  • How top level user (customer) requirements are dissected into specific operational test objectives, test conditions, test methods, and data collection.
  • How to conduct and document an OT&E risk assessment and how to minimize identified risks during testing.
  • How to safely, effectively, and efficiently conduct operational effectiveness and suitability tests
  • How to convert OT&E test data and observations into information-the "So What?" for an operator, maintainer, and user.
  • Why today's systems development and test programs typically cost too much, are late on schedules, and do not test the complete system.
  • The challenges of testing highly integrated systems in a net-centric setting.
  • "Truths" of operational flight test (lessons learned).

Who Should Attend?
This class is designed specifically for operators, maintainers, engineers and other support personnel. It is also appropriate for those personnel involved in planning, provisioning, conducting, reporting and supporting operational test activities. The course is applicable for military and civilian students as well as academic researchers. It may also be beneficial to those involved in writing user requirements or those involved with defining new system concepts based on market analysis.

Course Fees
Early registration course fee: $2,595 if you register and pay by the early registration deadline (45 days prior to the first day of class).
Regular registration course fee: $2,795 if you register and pay after the early registration deadline.

Course Materials
Course materials, including outlines, presentation copies, and supplementary materials, will be accessible through Canvas, KU's online learning system. Instructions to access Canvas will be provided upon completed registration. Students are required to bring a computer or other electronic device with PDF-viewing capabilities with them to class each day. If you require accommodation contact us at professionalprograms@ku.edu and we will work with you on an accessible solution.

U.S. Federal Employee Discount
This course is available to U.S. federal employees at 10% off the registration fee. To receive the federal employee discount, you must enter the code FGVT116 during the checkout process. Please note that you must validate your eligibility to receive this discount by entering your U.S. government email address (ending in .gov or .mil) when creating your online registration profile. This discount is available for both the early registration and regular registration fees.

Certificate Track
Flight Tests and Aircraft Performance

Classroom hours / CEUs
35 classroom hours
3.5 CEUs

Course Accessibility
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in University of Kansas educational offerings. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in our Aerospace Short Courses, please email jayhawkglobal@ku.edu or call 785-864-6779 at least three weeks before the first day of the event.
Please note: If you are attending an Aerospace Short Course onsite at your place of employment, please contact your company's training coordinator for accommodation requests.


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Course Resources
AERO0531 Course Information and Outline (PDF Document)

Available sessions