David Sizoo Flight Test Pilot & Program Manager FAA

Dave has been with the FAA for 11 years.  He is currently an FAA Test Pilot in Aircraft Certification. He is an avid general aviation pilot with a passion for enabling the certification of advanced technologies to improve safety.

Currently, he is leading the FAA in collaborating with industry and NASA to develop regulations and certifications standards for fly-by-wire in general aviation and simplified handling qualities. Additional general aviation research areas he is pursuing are automatic air and ground collision avoidance certification and machine learning algorithms for optimum pilot – system teaming.

Dave graduated from M.I.T. with M.S. and B.S. Degrees in Aeronautical Engineering.

He is a fighter pilot veteran (A-10, F-16, F-35), having served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School.  In 2003 he was assigned as the first USAF Test Pilot on the F-35 development program.  This duty involved development and qualification of new technologies including powered lift, head mounted displays and advanced fly-by wire.

He has logged more than 7500 hours in over 175 different jets, piston airplanes, electric aircraft, helicopters, gliders, seaplanes, and airships.  In addition he is a flight instructor and pilot examiner.