FAA Designated Pilot Examiner — Rotorcraft
I'm an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner authorized to conduct practical tests in Robinson, MD 500, Bell, and Schweizer 300 helicopters, serving pilots and flight schools across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Florida, with other regions available by arrangement.
Credentials
Helicopter flight hours
Years as a professional pilot
Designated Pilot Examiner
I've spent 20 years as a professional helicopter pilot, logging 12,000 flight hours across some of the most demanding work in the industry: power line construction, agricultural application, Forest Service-rated fire and utility work, corporate flying, and Part 135 operations as Chief Pilot and check airman. That range of experience is what I bring to the examiner's seat.
I hold an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner appointment (Rotorcraft), an ATP — Rotorcraft rating, and I'm a Certificated Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFII). I conduct practical tests in Robinson, MD 500, Bell, and Schweizer 300 helicopters, with additional authority as a Foreign Pilot Examiner, Military Competency Examiner, and Basic Administrative Examiner — handling SIC/SOE and ATP limitation removals, Remote Pilot Certificate issuance, and Night Flight limitation removals.
I'm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, and travel regularly throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Florida, with other regions available on a case-by-case basis.
Aviation has been my passion for my entire career, and it still is. I want to see safe, competent aviators entering this industry, and I take that responsibility seriously on every checkride. A checkride shouldn't feel adversarial — it's a professional evaluation, conducted fairly, thoroughly, and strictly to the FAA's Airman Certification Standards, no more and no less. I look forward to working with you.
Operational background
Longline and precision hover work stringing and servicing high-voltage transmission.
Low-level aerial spraying and application work over row crops and orchards.
Bucket work and utility flying rated to Forest Service fire and land-management standards.
Point-to-point passenger transport for corporate and executive clients.
CFII-rated dual instruction, from primary training through instrument proficiency.
Oversight of a Part 135 operation, standardizing and evaluating other line pilots.
Aircraft examined
Private, Commercial, and Instrument practical tests in piston and turbine Robinson types.
Private, Commercial, and Instrument practical tests for MD 500 series aircraft.
Private, Commercial, and Instrument practical tests for Bell light turbine helicopters.
Private, Commercial, and Instrument practical tests in Schweizer 300 series aircraft.
Checkrides offered
Initial private certificate practical test, oral and flight portions, conducted at your base or mine.
Commercial certificate practical test including required maneuvers and precision autorotations.
Instrument rating add-on, including approach and holding evaluation.
Practical tests for pilots holding a foreign license seeking an FAA certificate.
Competency exams for military rotorcraft pilots transitioning to a civil certificate.
SIC and SOE limitation removal, Remote Pilot Certificate issuance, Night Flight limitation removal, and ATP limitation removal.
Beyond the checkride
Primary, instrument, and commercial dual instruction as a CFII, in Robinson, MD 500, Bell, and Schweizer 300 helicopters.
Flight review satisfying 14 CFR 61.56, tailored to your aircraft and typical mission.
Regain or maintain instrument currency under 14 CFR 61.57(d).
Acting safety pilot for instrument practice under simulated instrument conditions.
Ferry and repositioning flights between operating locations.
Scheduling
Submit a request below with your preferred dates and the test you need. This isn't an automatic booking — every request is confirmed personally.