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, or as a continued training for current pilots. 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. Students receive a 5% discount on aircraft rentals through ATD Flight Training that can be used toward pilot certification.
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 |
How do wings create lift? How can lift be explained using the Bernoulli Principle and Newtonian momentum theory? Class covers airflow, dynamic pressure, airfoil shape, angle of attack, and the resulting aerodynamic forces and moments. |
|
2 |
Wings and Tails |
How does wing geometry affect aerodynamic performance and stability? How is the tail used to control the wing? Class covers wing geometric parameters, including span, chord, sweep, taper, twist, and dihedral. Includes a discussion on various wing-tail configurations and how stability and performance change with center of gravity. |
|
3 |
Aircraft Design & Structures |
How is an aircraft designed to meet requirements? Class covers conceptual design, aircraft sizing, and configuration analysis. Includes an overview of airframe structure, including wing spars, ribs, skins, control surfaces, fuselage, and landing gear. |
|
4 |
Propulsion System |
How does the choice of propulsion system affect speed, climb rate, and efficiency? Class covers propeller theory, internal combustion engines, gas turbine engines, turbojets, turbofans, and gliders. |
|
5 |
Stability and Control |
How does the aircraft configuration affect stability? Class covers longitudinal and lateral static stability, dynamic stability, dynamic modes, and maneuvering. Includes an introduction to system theory and stability derivatives. |
|
6 |
Flight Testing I |
How are aircraft tested to ensure they meet performance requirements? Class covers flight test techniques and methods, flight card design, flight test maneuvers, and data analysis. Includes a discussion on different types of flight test objectives and output deliverables. |
|
7 |
Flight Testing II |
How can test pilots measure aircraft performance and stability? Class covers flight card design and data review for several types of flight tests, including evaluations of aircraft performance, longitudinal stability, lateral stability, and autopilot flight control systems. |
|
8 |
Aircraft Certification & Maintenance |
How is an aircraft certified by the FAA? Class covers Part 23 aircraft certification for certified aircraft, including requirements and flight test methods. Includes a discussion of requirements for experimental, amateur-built aircraft. |
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.
See the Flight Guide for a complete description of the flight training, testing, and experiences option here.
Flight Training
|
A.1 |
Basic Aircraft Control |
|
A.2 |
Intermediate Aircraft Control |
|
A.3 |
Basic Instrument Flying |
|
A.4 |
Intermediate Instrument Flying |
|
A.5 |
Commercial Maneuvers |
|
A.6 |
Multi-Engine Maneuvers |
Flight Testing
|
B.1 |
Takeoff and Landing Performance |
|
B.2 |
Cruise and Climb Performance |
|
B.3 |
Lateral-Directional Stability |
|
B.4 |
Longitudinal Stability |
|
B.5 |
Flight Envelope Testing |
|
B.6 |
20-Minute Flight Test |
|
B.7 |
EAA Flight Test Guide |
Flight Experiences & Endorsements
|
C.1 |
Aerobatics Adventure Flight |
|
C.2 |
KC Airport Tour |
|
C.3 |
Skywriting |
|
C.4 |
Flight Review (61.56) |
|
C.5 |
CFI Spin Endorsement (61.183) |
|
C.6 |
Instrument Proficiency Check |
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, GFI-G is an associate 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.