Luigi Coda

Luigi Coda – Napoli Italy, 1949. He is a former flight test engineer (FTE), aviator and manager specialized in flight test, operations, quality systems, and certification. After the Aeronautics engineering diploma at the Enrico Fermi Institute of Naples in 1970, he joined Aeritalia-Caselle where, after training under Mr. Vittorio Sanseverino, Chief Test Pilot, he soon qualified as FTE experimental crew (one of the first post-war civilians to obtain that status in Italy). Training was later enhanced at the ITPS – International Test Pilots School in Cranfield (UK). After attending duties on G91 (Y, T, R), F104S and G222 prototypes, in 1974 he joined Panavia Tornado Flight Test Management Group in Warton, England, under the directorate of Msrs. Roland P. Beamont O.B.E. and Jimmy Dell O.B.E. later. His role was essential for the Management of the Overall Flight Test Programme and for the successful Weapon System integration and accuracy performance. On the achievement of the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and after his participation of the Eurofighter Typhoon definition phase through the EAP technology demonstrator, in 1983, he returned to Italy. Based at Capodichino airfield he managed flight tests and flight operations. Specialized in heavy ice flight testing Luigi Coda played a pivotal role in the icing certification of the Alenia G 222 (C-27 A/J Spartan). The activity highlighted the “need” to revise old icing regulations (FAR 25 appendix C) as a consequence of two ATR 42 accidents (Italian Alps and Roselawn-USA). He documented and presented flight tests conducted in "Heavy Ice" conditions between Naples and Cagliari, specifically G222 NC 4003 aircraft, flight number 34 in 1988 with the Reparto Sperimentale di Volo (RSV) of the Italian Air Force (AMI). This led to the confirmation that “ice on the aircraft can form even while flying at ambient temperatures above freezing point, undetected by instrumentation (pV=RT). He attended the ATR 42 Certification Flight Tests based in Toulouse under the guidance of Mrs. Henry Perrier FTE (Concorde). Luigi was instrumental to the Qualification and Release to Service of the first ever Italian Air Refuelling Tanker, a modified B 707 prototype was used in an exemplary, compact and money saving Flight Test Programme of which a paper was presented at the Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE). Current Status: Retired, active in flight safety issues