Matthew James Skinner

Matthew James Skinner is an accomplished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and rotorcraft specialist based in Titusville, Florida. Primarily serving the Orlando Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), he is a prominent figure within the Space Coast aviation community, largely through his affiliation with U.S. Aviation Training Solutions (USATS). Skinner’s career is defined by a rigorous commitment to helicopter pilot certification and safety standards. He has successfully transitioned from a high-level flight instructor and training lead into a senior examiner role, trusted by the FAA to conduct practical tests for a wide range of certifications.

Skinner holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and is a veteran Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) with several thousand hours of flight time, predominantly in helicopters. His previous background includes significant tenures at elite training institutions like Bristow Academy, where he gained extensive experience training international, commercial, and military-contracted students. His specialized expertise covers Private, Commercial, Instrument, and ATP ratings, as well as initial and renewal Flight Instructor evaluations. Throughout his decades in the cockpit, Skinner has maintained an impeccable safety record, emphasizing a mindset of risk management and sound aeronautical decision-making in every checkride he administers.