Henry Lee Joyner

Henry Lee Joyner Jr. is a distinguished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and a central figure in the aviation community of Aulander, North Carolina. His aviation journey began at age 16 when he surreptitiously used his earnings from a peanut factory to fund flight lessons. Over the following five decades, Joyner built a prolific career that ranges from precision crop-dusting operations in eastern North Carolina to piloting Cessna Citation corporate jets across the Mid-Atlantic. In 1976, he founded Tri-Air Inc. at the Tri-County Airport (ASJ), establishing a long-standing legacy of flight instruction and aircraft rental in the region.

Joyner holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with ratings for single-engine land, multi-engine land, and single-engine sea aircraft, supplemented by a CE-500 type rating. Since his appointment as a Designated Examiner in 1989, he has licensed thousands of pilots and specialized in amphibious training through his venture, Chowan River Rats, which has produced over 200 seaplane pilots. Known for his calm, professional demeanor and a clean safety record, Joyner remains a highly sought-after examiner within the Greensboro FSDO, where he is respected for his emphasis on practical proficiency and sound aeronautical decision-making.