For over six decades, pilots in Dryden’s Flight Crew Branch have flown everything from light aircraft to high-speed jets and rocket-powered airplanes.
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Points of Contact
Jim Smolka
Director for Flight Operations
661.276.3210
jim.smolka-1@nasa.gov
Eric Becker
Deputy Director for Flight Operations
661.276.5681
eric.n.becker@nasa.gov
Mariaelena A. Nichols
Flight Operations Business Analyst
661.276.3099
Mariaelena.A.Nichols@nasa.gov
Capabilities Brochure
Spinoff 2011
For over 50 years, NASA has created new technologies with direct benefit to the private sector, supporting global competition and the economy
Flight Operations Mission and Overview
DFRC's Flight Operations team members and (l to r) an F-18, G-III, and F-15. (NASA Photo).Mission Statement
The Dryden Flight Operations Directorate fabricates, maintains, modifies, and instruments aircraft and flight test articles, ensures their airworthiness/flight readiness, and safely flies them in a precise manner to required test points in order to deliver the highest quality flight research, flight test, or science data to the customer in the most efficient manner possible. The Flight Operations Directorate also manages readiness for launch, on-orbit, landing, recovery, turnaround, and return ferry operations in support of impending Space Shuttle landings at Edwards AFB.
Overview
The Flight Operations Directorate manages and provides technical direction for all Dryden flight operations and flight support activities. There are five specialized disciplines that keep Dryden’s crew and aircraft functioning safely and efficiently. › Read more
Flight Operations Core Components
Flight Crew Branch
Maintenance Division
Dryden’s Maintenance Division is one of five specialized disciplines that keep Dryden’s crew and aircraft functioning safely and efficiently.
Operations Engineering Branch
The Operations Engineers' responsibilities include aircraft technical and configuration management; ensuring vehicle airworthiness; performing systems design and integration; supporting system safety ...
Shuttle and Flight Operations Support Office
The Shuttle and Flight Operations Support Office provides management and coordination of the facilities, systems, ground servicing equipment in support of Space Shuttle launch, on-orbit, landing, ...
Life Support
Dryden Aircrew Life Support Systems provides its customers with total quality Life Support and Emergency Escape Systems that sets the standards for the Worldwide Life Support Community.
Maintenance Division
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Avionics & Instrumentation
The Dryden Avionics & Instrumentation Branch has avionics technicians that provide technical support of avionics and instrumentation systems for Dryden’s research and Airborne Science aircraft.
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Aircraft Maintenance
Dryden’s Aircraft Maintenance Branch provides maintenance and modification of all Center, research, and test bed aircraft.
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Engineering Support Branch
The Engineering Support Branch provides para-engineering and technical services that include telemetry support (system development, programming, troubleshooting to data decommutation and display); pressure and electronic calibration; environmental testing; and fabricating electronic assemblies.
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Experimental Fabrication Branch
The Dryden Experimental Fabrication Branch is a one-stop fabrication and manufacturing center.
Multimedia
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Harrier Reconstruction Project
Dryden personnel discuss AV-8A Harrier cutting and retrieval challenges at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake where the former Marine Corps aircraft had been a weapons survivability test aircraft.
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Experimental Fabrication Branch Photo Gallery
Photos of the manufacturing assets of the Dryden Experimental Fabrication Branch.