A professional who operates airplane equipped with special radio, radar, and other electronic equipment to conduct in-flight testing of air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment, and to evaluate sites of proposed equipment installation. Responsibilities include:

• Plans flight activities in accordance with test schedule.
• Plots flight pattern and files flight plan.
• Informs crewmembers of flight and test procedures.
• Coordinates flight activities with ground-support crews and air-traffic control.
• Operates aircraft over designated area at specified altitudes in all types of weather to determine receptivity and other characteristics of airport-control signal and navigation and communications equipment and systems, such as racon, tacan, scater, and atis.
• Prepares evaluation reports of each flight.
• Conducts periodic preflight checks of aircraft to ensure proper maintenance and safe operation.