Gregory Bettis

Gregory Bettis is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner based in Billings, Montana, who serves as a Specialty Aircraft Examiner in the Northwest Mountain Region. Because his FAA records list only private and CFI certificates in the helicopter category, Bettis is a rotorcraft-only examiner and does not conduct airplane checkrides. His examining authority is specifically for Robinson R-22 and R-44 helicopter models, requiring SFAR 73 qualification. Professionally, Bettis is the Chief Pilot for the heavy-lift Boeing CH-47 Chinook fleet at Billings Flying Service, overseeing utility, vertical lift, and aerial firefighting helicopter operations. He also serves as an instructor pilot for Volo Mission, teaching external cargo, sling-load, and vertical reference operations utilizing the Robinson R44. Previously, Bettis operated flights in Puerto Rico, where he served in leadership, instructional, or management roles at Vertical Solutions Helicopter Company at San Juan's Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport. Following a 2015 training accident involving a Robinson R-22 Beta in San Juan Bay, he acted as the designated operator representative to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation.