A professional who pilots new, prototype, experimental, modified, and production aircraft to evaluate factors such as aircraft's airworthiness, performance, systems operation, and design. Responsibilities include:

• Inspects or oversees inspection of aircraft prior to flight to ensure aircraft's readiness for flight.
• Starts and warms engine, listens to engine sounds at various speeds, and monitors instruments to detect malfunctions.
• Taxies aircraft to test controls, brakes, and shock absorbers.
• Radios control tower for takeoff instructions, releases brakes, and moves throttles and hand and foot controls to take off and control aircraft in flight.
• Operates aircraft controls to perform maneuvers, such as stalls, dives, loops, rolls, turns, and speed runs, to test and evaluate stability, control characteristics, and aerodynamic design.
• Observes recording, measuring, and operating instruments and equipment during test flight to evaluate aircraft's performance.
• Prepares report of test results and collaborates with engineering personnel to analyze test data.
• Assists engineers in preparing master flight plans for testing purposes.
• May provide instructions for adjustments or replacement of parts.
• May deliver aircraft to designated receiving point.
• May train customer in operation of aircraft.