C-17 TPS development strategy

This paper describes key elements and issues commonly associated with test program set (TPS) development. The information is intended to provide guidelines for successful implementation and management of a TPS development project. This topic has been divided into two major categories: development environment and engineering implementation. The development environment section focuses on the goals and tasks that need to be addressed when planning a TPS project. These include strategic planning, staffing, scheduling, identifying the necessary engineering development tools, and establishing development procedures for commonality among TPSs. The engineering implementation section addresses the development processes that produce the required products. These include derivation of the test requirements for the unit under test (UUT), development of a UUT test strategy, hardware and software design and integration, product delivery, and customer support. The information presented is based upon experience with numerous TPS programs, including the successes achieved by McDonnell Douglas in concurrent aircraft/TPS development for the United States Air Force's new C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.