Daron Roche

Daron Roche is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner based at North County Airport (F45) in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he conducts private, commercial, and instrument helicopter checkrides. Outside of his role as an examiner, Roche has served as an Air Rescue helicopter pilot for the Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services since 2019. Over his career, he has accumulated 4,035 total flight hours, including 3,895 hours in helicopters and 3,750 hours as pilot-in-command. Roche holds flight instructor and instrument flight instructor ratings for helicopters. In August 2023, Roche survived a major in-flight emergency while piloting a Broward Sheriff's Office Airbus EC135 helicopter, during which a FADEC failure led to an un-alerted engine fire. A 2025 National Transportation Safety Board report determined that Roche's decision to attempt a return to the airport rather than performing a risky off-airport landing in a congested residential area was reasonable and appropriate.