Christopher Hartman

Christopher Hartman is a prominent FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and academic leader based in Salisbury, Maryland. Serving the Baltimore FSDO, he brings extensive expertise to the cockpit as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and a veteran flight instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI). In addition to his role as an examiner, Hartman serves as the Associate Professor and Acting Chair of Aviation Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), where he has been instrumental in shaping the professional pilot and aviation management curriculum.

With a career dedicated to both flight instruction and academic research, Hartman’s background is deeply rooted in aviation safety and human factors. He has overseen the training of hundreds of students and was a key figure in UMES obtaining the FAA’s Restricted-ATP approval, allowing graduates to enter the airline industry with reduced flight hour requirements. His areas of specialization include conducting practical tests for Private, Instrument, Commercial, and ATP certificates, as well as Flight Instructor renewals and multi-engine ratings.

Hartman is widely respected for his meticulous safety mindset and his contributions to aviation safety data analytics and Safety Management Systems (SMS). By combining a scholarly approach with thousands of hours of practical flight experience, he ensures that every applicant he evaluates meets the highest standards of professional airmanship. His commitment to mentorship and his clean safety record make him a pillar of the Mid-Atlantic aviation community, dedicated to fostering the next generation of safe, professional pilots.