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Edilberto "Ed" Benjamin Valdez is a highly seasoned FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and aviation educator based in Huntington Beach, California. With an extensive career spanning over four decades, Valdez has served as a Captain for United Airlines, Skywest, and Champion Air, as well as a Corporate Chief Pilot and Boeing 727 Training Director. He currently serves as a full-time Professor of Aviation at Cypress College, where he has influenced countless aspiring pilots through his specialized focus on simulator-based training and technical proficiency.
Valdez holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and is a vastly experienced flight instructor (CFI/CFII/MEI) with thousands of flight hours in both transport-category and general aviation aircraft. As a DPE, he conducts practical tests for Private, Commercial, and Instrument ratings in single and multi-engine aircraft. He is widely recognized in the Southern California flight training community for his safety-first mindset and a "strict but fair" evaluation style. By emphasizing real-world aeronautical decision-making and rigorous regulatory compliance, Valdez ensures that every pilot he certifies meets the highest standards of safety and professional excellence.