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Max Peter Gurgew is a highly distinguished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and the principal of Gurgew Aeronautics, LLC, based in Huntsville, Alabama. With over 40 years of aviation experience, Gurgew possesses a robust background that bridges aeronautical engineering, professional flight instruction, and corporate operations. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has served as an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor since 1982. Throughout his career, he has provided expert technical services in aircraft system design, airworthiness assessments, and flight testing for both manned and unmanned platforms.
As an elite multi-rated pilot, Gurgew holds Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates for single and multi-engine land airplanes, complemented by Cessna Citation CE-500 and CE-525 jet type ratings. His technical mastery is further evidenced by his credentials as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI) and an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic. Having trained hundreds of pilots and logged thousands of flight hours, he specializes in conducting practical exams for Private, Commercial, and ATP certificates. Gurgew remains a cornerstone of the North Alabama aviation community through his leadership in the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), where he promotes a rigorous safety culture and accident prevention strategies.