Dave Messina
FPVFC President, CEO, and Board Member
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.
From November 2023 through July 2024 I was the Interim CEO of Flite Test. This included the Community Based Organization, Flite Test Community Association. I led all aspects of Flite Test and helped bring experience in developing, releasing, marketing and selling product to Flite Test. I will continue a role with FTCA and ensure that FPV Freedom Coalition shares it's work in governmental affairs with FTCA.
