2024 - Seattle, WA
Symposium starts in:
This year's Symposium is proudly hosted by the Seattle Chapter of SFTE! Come visit us for several days of technical presentations from experts all around the flight test industry, plus: tutorials, dinners, mixers, flight test center tours, an awards banquet, and much more! A full agenda will be posted soon.
Join fellow flight testers from around the world at the premiere SFTE event of the year!
Registration is open!
Flexible Attendance Options
Options are available for virtual attendance, both for individuals or for companies hosting a watch party in a conference room. Single day registrations are also available for those who can't stay the whole week.
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Space is filling up fast, but there are still exhibitor tables and sponsorship opportunities available! Contact symposium2024@sfte.org if you are interested.
Self-Funded Discounts
Attendees who are self-funding their visit to the Symposium may be eligible for a significant discount on their registration--historically this has been known as "iPay." The SFTE Board of Directors has set aside some funds specifically for this purpose, and will be prioritizing SFTE members who are actively engaged in flight testing and must self-fund their travel to the Symposium. Contact symposium2024@sfte.org if you would like to be considered.
Student Sponsorship
The SFTE Seattle Chapter has invited high school and university students from local schools to attend the Symposium and interact with you, the flight test professionals. These students are all interested in aviation or flight testing as a career and are excited to be a part of this prestigious industry event.
Help the next generation of flight testers get excited about the industry by contributing funds toward student attendance!
Hotel Information
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Seattle Marriott Waterfront
2100 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA 98121
+1 (206) 443-5000
The block of rooms at the Marriott is now full.
Situated on Elliott Bay, across from the cruise terminals and a quick stroll from the world-famous Pike Place Market, the Seattle Marriott Waterfront is the only downtown Seattle hotel offering views of both the mountains and water from our guest rooms. Enjoy the proximity to the downtown business district and some of Seattle's most beloved attractions, including The Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Seattle Art Museum. Take advantage of the hotel's modern gym, then head outside for a run on the waterfront or enjoy delicious cuisines at a variety of local restaurants, all within easy reach. Retreat to your new nautical guest room to find the comforts of home and water views. Experience the Pacific Northwest at Seattle Marriott Waterfront.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors
Featuring Our Distinguished Exhibitors
Tutorials
The Seattle Chapter is proud to offer two excellent tutorials, both on Monday October 14:
CRM Escape Room
2 hours per session
Instructor: SFTE Seattle Chapter Members
Various sessions throughout the day
Can you escape?
This unique class on Crew Resource Management developed by the Seattle Chapter of SFTE puts your teamwork skills to the test! Participants are given classroom instruction on CRM principles and best practices, and then a team of 4-8 people are locked in a flight test-themed escape room and must use their wit, skill, and the principles of CRM to escape.
Each session will take 2 hours:
- Classroom instruction on CRM skills (30 minutes)
- Escape room scenario (60 minutes)
- Debrief and discussion (30 minutes)
There are 8 slots available for each session. Attendees are encouraged to sign up for a session without coordinating with other people attending the symposium; solving a room with people you don't know provides excellent CRM instruction.
Space is limited, so sign up early!
Mastering Flight Test Data: Modern Solutions for Test Pilots and Engineers
4 hours
Instructor: Jesus Pindado
8:00am - Noon
In today’s rapidly evolving aerospace industry, managing the vast amounts of complex data generated during flight testing is more critical than ever. This course is specifically designed for Test Pilots, Flight Test Engineers, and Flight Test Instrumentation Experts who are seeking advanced insights into the lifecycle of flight test data—from pre-flight modeling and test preparation to post-flight analysis. Participants will explore modern tools, techniques, and challenges unique to flight test data, with a focus on IRIG106-23 standards, TMATS, real-time monitoring, and exploitation of data post-flight.
The course delves into efficient data management, covering everything from telemetry attributes to secure storage and access, while addressing key issues such as data conversion, mining, and visualization. Whether dealing with pre-flight ICD management or post-flight data analysis, attendees will leave with a comprehensive understanding of how to optimize flight test data for operational excellence. Additionally, the course covers crucial cybersecurity considerations, ensuring that all sensitive flight data remains protected in today’s increasingly digital environment.
Events
Innovate & Elevate: Gulfstream's SFTE Welcome Reception
Monday Evening
FREE with registration!
Join us at the Seattle Aquarium (a short walk from the Marriott Waterfront) for an evening of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres! Registration comes with one adult ticket, and additional tickets are available for purchase.
Each ticket comes with 2 hours of hosted bar and hors d'oeuvres, and participation in a scavenger hunt! Cash bar will be available for the remainder of the evening. Child tickets (ages 6-21) are also available and include hors d'oeuvres and the scavenger hunt.
SFTE Annual Awards Banquet
Thursday Evening
The capstone event of the Symposium will celebrate the week and present awards to those who represent the best of the industry!
The SFTE Awards Banquet on features a menu of Pacific Northwest cuisine and a special keynote address. The awards portion of the evening will celebrate the Best Paper and Best Presentation award winners, induct new Fellows to the Society, announce our Barbara Wood Scholarship winners supported by the SFTE Foundation, and announce the winners of the annual SFTE Awards: The Kelly Johnson Award for outstanding individual achievement, the James S. McDonnell Award for outstanding team achievement, and the Director's Award for outstanding service to the Society.
Tickets must be purchased as part of registration, but this event is not to be missed. Spouses, partners, and kids are welcome to join us!
Museum of Flight Visit and Tour
Friday Morning
The Museum of Flight in Seattle, located at the south end of King County International Airport, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. With over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, tens of thousands of artifacts, millions of rare photographs, dozens of exhibits and experiences and a world-class library, the museum and its people bring mankind's incredible history of flight to life. Don't miss your chance to see this world-class air & space museum.
The museum is offering us deeply discounted tickets for exclusive access and private tours! $10/person will be collected at check-in when you arrive at the Symposium.
A bus is available for transportation from/to the hotel (for an extra fee).
Registration Cost Summary
Registration
In-Person (Member) | $840 |
In-Person (Non-Member) | $895 |
Single Day | $295 |
Virtual - Attendee | $200 |
Virtual - Conf Rm | $1000 |
Optional Add-Ons
| Monday Mixer Cocktail Reception | Included |
| Thursday Awards Banquet | $95 Spouses and children welcome |
| Tutorial - CRM Escape Room 2 hours | $100 |
| Tutorial - Stats for FTEs 2 hours | $200 |
| Boeing Flight Test Center Tour | Included |
| Sponsor student attendance | Starts at $50 |
Resources for Paper Authors
The Tech Council provides the following resources:
- A Paper Template with formatting and layout guidelines
- A set of Presentation Slides Guidelines for formatting a presentation
- The Presentation Scoring Rubric (the 2023 version is available, but it may change slightly for 2024)
2024 Symposium Announcement Video
The 2024 SFTE Symposium is proudly hosted by the Seattle Chapter