Effective Date: 15 June 98
<The sequencing discussion is intended to illustrate the testing flow so that the basic test data is available during the development analysis. Within the airfield testing the applicant would be expected to have a data base of estimated airfield performance. This also provides the flight testing with a beginning point for tests such as stall speeds, maximum and normal rate rotation speeds, ground and air minimum control speed, landing speed and possibly the minimum unstick speed. Each type of these tests usually consists of a series of runs, generally, four to six that progressively work toward the desired goal. Buildup (Down) to the more critical condition such as ground minimum control speed, minimum unstick speed and maximum energy braking speed would be anticipated with safety being of the utmost concern.
An example would be having completely analyzed both ground and air minimum control speed prior to performing one-engine-inoperative minimum unstick speed tests. Even though the test is performed to determine the lowest airspeed the airplane can takeoff, you must show satisfactory controllability.
Once these test data have been analyzed and combined into a preliminary airplane flight manual (AFM), the demonstration tests, including abuse tests are performed. This is to confirm the AFM is accurate. In practice, the AFM may not have to physically be prepared. Once the speeds are established and the demonstrations performed to these speeds, the distance comparison can be done analytically.