Instructor: William Norton

William Norton
 Biography: William J. Norton is retired from a flight test engineering career that spanned 40 years, including 20 as a US Air Force officer. He has held numerous positions in many organizations on dozens of aerospace programs spanning all aircraft types. He has penned scores of technical papers, 20 books, and a multitude of magazine articles. Bill holds a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering and has taught courses at the college-level. He is a civil pilot with numerous ratings, restored and operated a DHC-1 Chipmunk, and built and flight-tested a Rutan Long-EZ. Bill is married to the lovely and talented Anya Victoria Eriksson.

Classes by this instructor


Aircraft Avionics Test and Evaluation Fundamentals

This course provides an overview of basic avionics systems flight test to include the understanding of test planning and risk management, as well as the necessity and complexity of flight test instrumentation and data collection. Students will understand the challenges of testing integrated systems, as well as understanding the importance of time, space and position information (TSPI), sources of TSPI and its use for data acquisition, reduction and analysis. They will review causes and methods of testing software and for identifying electromagnetic interference. Students will also receive a basic understanding of aerospace data bus architectures, communications and radio navigation systems, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, RADAR systems and electro-optical and infrared systems to help understand required flight test techniques. Students will also gain understanding in the challenges of human-machine interfaces which require crew station and workload evaluations as part of the aircraft and systems certification process.

Course preview webinar: Will Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Drive Changes to Avionics Systems Flight Testing?

April 13-17, 2026, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport Southcenter

Aircraft Structures Flight Testing

The course will provide the students with a foundation for understanding structures flight testing to the extent that they can plan and participate in structures flight trials of air vehicles of all kinds. One half will consist of academics, building knowledge of aircraft structures and how they behave. The second half will transition this knowledge into flight test planning and execution techniques used in gathering data to validate predictions and demonstrate flight safety.
November 2-6, 2026, Renaissance Orlando Resort

Flight Testing Unmanned Aircraft Systems - Unique Challenges

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are comprised of an unmanned vehicle (UAV), a manned control element(s), and various data and control links. Although unmanned, the vehicle is still an aircraft and must be tested with the same rigor and precision as manned systems. However, being "unmanned" and being part of an integrated system, UAVs demand unique flight test approaches that present corresponding challenges.

Course preview webinar: Taking the Pilot out of the Cockpit is a Big Deal!
September 14-16, 2026, San Diego Marriott Mission Valley