Dave Messina
FPVFC President, CEO, and Board Member
We created the FPV Freedom Coalition in early 2019. Since then, 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 and joined the Drone Safety Team. We also work regularly to read, research and comment on FAA, FCC and Department of Commerce rules and regulations.
In 2019 through 2021, I also worked closely with Ewing Aerospace to develop and release the Flite Test EZ ID remote ID broadcast module.
Today, FPV Freedom Coalition is one of two active FAA-recognized Community Based Organizations.
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. I led all aspects of Flite Test and helped bring experience in developing, releasing, marketing and selling products to Flite Test.
With my technical, regulatory, FPV and business skills, I have also worked with military drone manufacturers.
