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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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Dark Star Flight Test Consulting specializes in Part 23 flight test engineering and certification support for aircraft systems and avionics. We help clients with:

  • ​​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

Dark Star Flight Test Consulting brings over 15 years of experimental flight test engineering experience and 1300+ flight hours in experimental aircraft. Our founder combines deep FAA Part 23 certification expertise, hands-on eVTOL flight test and development experience, a pilot background, and a Master’s in Business Analytics from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. The result is practical insight into aircraft systems and avionics grounded in engineering and informed by real-world business needs.

Services

Dark Star Flight Test delivers hands-on support for certification planning, flight test execution, and program strategy. We help clients develop compliant test plans, evaluate aircraft systems and avionics, and use data to reduce program risk and improve efficiency.

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

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