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Dave Messina

FPVFC President, CEO, and Board Member
Interim CEO, Flite Test

We created the FPV Freedom Coalition in early 2019. Since that time we have actively participated in 12 FAA Drone Advisory Committee (later Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee) Taskings, the FAA’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aviation Rulemaking Committee, joined the ASTM as a member of the Remote ID working group, joined the Drone Safety Team and recently, with Jon Hegranes leadership we launched the new Drone Advisory Council.

I also worked closely with Flite Test to develop and release the Flite Test EZ ID remote ID broadcast module.

At this time, FPV Freedom Coalition remains one of the very few voices advocating the FAA for the rights of recreational small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the USA. Through the work we have done with the DAC and AAAC as well as the ASTM, we have met governmental affairs professionals from the manned and unmanned aircraft industry. We have learned a lot about aviation regulations and have become experts in recreational regulations (e.g. 44809) as well as the commercial side of sUAS, part 107.

I have been flying, building and designing fixed wing RC model airplanes for decades. I started building and flying FPV quadcopters in early 2016. I’m a mechanical engineer and my nearly four decades of experience at IBM has provided me with business and technical knowledge which transfers to the RC and drone industries.

In November 2023, I was appointed the Interim CEO of Flite Test. This means that the Flite Test Community Association is under my leadership as well as all of Flite Test. This appointment is a dream assignment for me as I have the opportunity to work with the Flite Test team to expand their business in RC model airplanes, newcomer drones, FTCA as a Community Based Organization, STEM programs and their massive online content. Josh Bixler, the President of Flite Test is a brilliant aircraft designer and visionary for what we can accomplish to educate young people and build personal relationships using aviation. My business experience provides me the skills to team with Josh to accelerate Flite Test’s impact in aviation. Before accepting this appointment, I considered any impact my work at Flite Test would have on FPV Freedom Coalition in both time to get work done as well as any conflict. I’m confident I can make both jobs complementary. Much of our work with FPV Freedom Coalition has been focused on government affairs. That is, the work with the FAA and to the extent permissible within a 501(c)3 charter, with Congress. We have also worked to educate the sUAS community on safety and regulations and remote ID technology. These are areas where Flite Test benefits from the work of FPV Freedom Coalition.

dmessina@fpvfc.org