Dark Star Aviation | Flight Test Consulting
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Part 23 Flight Test Engineering and Certification Support

15+ years flight test experience

1300+ experimental flight hours 

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Helping aircraft developers, STC applicants, and certification teams plan, execute, and document flight test programs with less rework, clearer FAA alignment, and better technical discipline.

  • ​​Part 23 aircraft systems and avionics programs

  • Test planning, execution, and compliance documentation

  • STC and certification support

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Image by Mike Petrucci
Powerplane Flight Analyst

Who We Are

Our founder is a flight test engineer and pilot with deep FAA Part 23 turbojet certification expertise, hands-on aircraft systems and avionics flight test experience, and over 1,300 flight hours in experimental aircraft.

 

He also brings graduate study in system architecture, systems engineering, and complex engineering program management through MIT’s System Design and Management program, along with a Master’s in Business Analytics from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

 

Dark Star provides experienced flight test engineering support for aircraft developers facing complex test, certification, and program execution challenges.

Services

Helping aircraft developers, STC applicants, and certification teams plan, execute, and document flight test programs with less rework, clearer FAA alignment, and better technical discipline.

Test Plan Writing

Test Planning

  • Develop certification-aligned test plans and test cards

  • Define Means of Compliance and overall test strategy

  • Plan for risk, safety, and resource management

  • Establish data requirements and success criteria

Certification Flight Testing

Test Execution

  • Provide on-site flight test engineering support

  • Test aircraft systems, avionics, and AFCS functionality

  • Conduct envelope expansion and performance testing

  • Monitor real-time data and telemetry

Flight Test Analytics

Data-Driven Test &
Program Strategy

  • Apply structured problem-solving to optimize flight test programs

  • Use analytics to improve efficiency and reduce program risk

  • Develop custom flight test engineering tools for data management and analysis

  • Review and optimize program schedules to meet certification milestones

  • Develop policies and procedures

Connect With Us

Need flight test, certification, or STC support?
Send a short description of your program, aircraft, system, and timeline. We’ll follow up to discuss where Dark Star can help.

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