The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified US-based National Test Pilot School (NTPS) as the first part-ORA approved training organisation (ATO) to conduct part-FCL flight test training.

The certification has allowed NTPS to provide flight test training as an ATO for EASA member state test pilot ratings.

"The students and customers can rest assured that the quality and standardisation of NTPS training is completely verified."

With the approval, pilots will be able to get or upgrade their test pilot ratings in Europe for the first time since the EASA regulations came into effect in 2014.

National Test Pilot School president and CEO Allen Peterson said: “Since our training has been independently evaluated and certified by one of the world’s premiere aviation organisations, the students and customers can rest assured that the quality and standardisation of NTPS training is completely verified.

“Adding the EASA certification to our existing academic accreditations, our selection as the flight test training provider for the FAA, and our test pilot school recognition by SETP further proves what we at NTPS have been saying for years; that our programme and our graduates are on par with the best in the world.”

Since 1981, NTPS has been providing flight test training and involving in various research activities.

The organisation has so far trained thousands of test pilots and flight test engineers.

Last September, NTPS submitted phases four and five of the six-phase EASA certification requirements, which include the recently granted EASA certification.