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Matthew Angelo Taggard is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) for rotorcraft who operates out of Ballston Spa, New York, as the Assistant Chief Pilot and Operations Manager for Independent Helicopters, LLC. Registered under the Albany Flight Standards District Office (FSDO EA-01), Taggard is authorized as a Private Pilot Examiner (Rotorcraft) and Competency Examiner (Rotorcraft). He holds helicopter-only ratings and does not conduct airplane checkrides. He is SFAR 73 qualified to provide instruction and checkrides in Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters. Taggard began flying helicopters in 2002 and became a Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) around 2012. He received his examiner designation in 2023. Based at Saratoga County Airport (5B2) and Stewart International Airport (SWF), he frequently co-hosts regional aviation safety seminars. Taggard also serves as an FAASTeam Representative and resides in Lake Katrine, New York.