Gary Garavaglia

Gary Garavaglia is a veteran aviator and FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) based at the Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) in North Carolina. With an aviation career spanning over five decades, Garavaglia began instructing in 1972 and has since amassed more than 22,500 total flight hours, including 14,000 hours in jets and 1,300 hours in turboprops. His distinguished background includes serving as a retired Airline Training Captain and Boeing Fleet Captain, where he spent ten years as a B737 Type Rating Examiner and managed complex merger integration projects.

As an ATP-rated pilot and multi-engine instructor (CFI/CFII), Garavaglia currently serves as a FAASTeam Lead Representative. He is a recognized subject matter expert in standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and emergency maneuvers, drawing on extensive experience in Level D simulators and Pilatus PC-12 contract flying. Known for his rigorous adherence to FAA standards, he focuses on cultivating a strong safety mindset in every candidate. Throughout his long tenure in general and commercial aviation, he has remained committed to mentoring the next generation of pilots through fair and thorough practical examinations.