Introduction to Aircraft Operations provides students, engineers, mechanics and other professionals with exposure to aircraft systems, flight testing, operations and piloting. The course is intended to be a stand-alone program focused on helping attendees understand the theory, regulations and practical methods of testing and operating aircraft. It can also be used as a pre-cursor to flight training for private pilot certification. Classroom discussions focus on aerodynamics, aircraft design, flight testing, certification and piloting skills. Students will receive a pilot logbook and 2.5 hours of instruction in the FAA-approved AATD flight simulator and 2.5 hours of instruction in Piper Cherokee or Cessna 172 aircraft with a certified flight instructor.
Participants can apply the 5 total flight hours toward their private pilot certification, instrument rating, or flight review.
$1,500
Additional hours of flight simulator rental available for $50/hour (simulator only) or $100/hour (simulator with certified flight instructor)
Flight Simulator Rental with Instructor
|
Meeting |
Topic |
Details |
|
1 |
Aerodynamics |
Airflow, dynamic pressure, airfoils, angle of attack, camber, lift, drag, Bernoulli, and Newton |
|
2 |
Wings and Tails |
Wing span, chord, sweep, taper, twist, dihedral. Wing-tail configurations, pitching moment, and center of gravity |
|
3 |
Aircraft Design & Structures |
Conceptual design, sizing, configuration, and requirements. Wing spars, ribs, skins. Control surfaces, fuselage, and landing gear |
|
4 |
Propulsion System |
Propellers, internal combustion engines, gas turbine engines, turbojets, turbofans, and gliders |
|
5 |
Stability and Control |
Longitudinal and lateral static stability, dynamic stability, modes, and maneuvering |
|
6 |
Flight Testing I |
Flight test methods, flight cards, maneuvers, data analysis, and reporting |
|
7 |
Flight Testing II |
Flight tests for aircraft performance, longitudinal stability, lateral stability, and autopilots |
|
8 |
Aircraft Certification & Maintenance |
Part 23 aircraft certification for certified aircraft. Experimental amateur built requirement |
The classroom instruction is designed to give participants a broad, technical overview of aircraft systems and operations. Participants can explore topics in greater depth using the included reference material.
The flight instruction in both the simulator and aircraft can be tailored to the interests of the participants. Participants can choose from a list of flight experiences, or can work with the flight instructor to design a specific flight test.
Flight 1: Basic aircraft control. Introductory experience in aircraft, including aircraft controls and instruments. Students will use ailerons, elevator, rudder, and throttle inputs to track roll angle, pitch angle, turn rate, altitude, airspeed, and heading.
Flight 2: Intermediate aircraft control. Students will use aircraft controls to perform climbs, descents, turns, and combined maneuvers at a range of airspeeds.
Flight 3: Basic instrument flying. Students will fly in simulated instrument conditions and learn to fly climbs, descents, and turns solely by reference to instruments.
Flight 4: Intermediate instrument flying. Students will fly instrument procedures, including holds, navigation, instrument approaches, and instrument departures using full and partial panels.
Flight 5: Evaluation of stall and spin characteristics. Students will conduct a flight test to identify the stall speeds and characteristics during level stalls at various flap settings. Students will also perform spins to evaluate entry conditions, spin modes, and spin recovery methods.
Flight 6: Evaluation of longitudinal flight stability. Students will conduct a flight test using step, doublet, and frequency sweeps to identify the static and dynamic longitudinal stability of the aircraft.
Flight 7: Evaluation of lateral flight stability. Students will conduct a flight test using step, doublet, and frequency sweeps to identify the static and dynamic lateral-directional stability of the aircraft.
Flight 8: Evaluation of aircraft flight performance. Students will conduct a flight test using level acceleration, level deceleration, and sawtooth climbs to determine the cruise, climb, and glider performance of the aircraft.
Plaster Center P305 – UMKC Flight Simulator Room
ATD Flight Systems - MKC Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport
Engineers, scientists, educators, students, and other technically-minded professionals interested in understanding more about aircraft flight operations. The course can be used to satisfy curiosity, as continuing professional education, in support of employee roles, or as a precursor to flight training and earning an FAA Private Pilot Certificate. No requirements for successful completion of the course.
This course is focused on providing a transition between the engineering thought process and the pilot training thought process. It helps attendees understand why airplane design engineers made specific design choices and provides a foundation for how aircraft achieve and maintain flight. The insight gained in this course will allow engineers to viscerally experience the vehicles they design.
The Introduction to Flight Operations course can be customized to your organization's needs and can be scheduled at other times upon request and subject to instructor availability. Fee is dependent on location, duration and schedule, number of participants and materials needed.
Email ssecontinuinged@umkc.edu for more information.
About the instructor
Mujahid Abdulrahim, PhD, CFI, CFI-I, MEI is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Science and Engineering at UMKC. He is a Fellow at the United States Air Force Test Pilot School, supporting curriculum modernization, integration of UAS flight test modules, and glider instruction. His research areas focus on novel aircraft design, flight control systems, pilot behavior modeling, and autonomous robotics. Mujahid is a certified flight instructor in single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument aircraft with more than 1000 hours of flying experience in 30 different aircraft types.
Mujahid earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida. His graduate work focused on using biological inspiration to improve the agility and performance of micro air vehicles and included elements of aircraft design, fabrication, flight testing, data analysis, and control design.
Mujahid regularly maintains and flies a Thorp S-18 experimental aircraft and has rented aircraft from more 20 different flight schools. He teaches primary, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and tailwheel flight students in a variety of aircraft. Mujahid teaches Aircraft Design and Flight and Road Vehicle Test Engineering courses at UMKC.