Michael Raymond Granek

Michael Raymond Granek is a highly distinguished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) based in Long Beach, California, with a professional aviation career spanning over three decades. He is a recently retired veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Aero Bureau, where he served for more than 25 years as a fixed-wing pilot and flight instructor. Operating in the high-stakes environment of law enforcement aviation within the complex Southern California airspace, he developed an expert-level proficiency in tactical operations and precision flight, which he now applies to his role as a civilian examiner.

Holding an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and being a multi-engine rated flight instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI), Granek has logged thousands of flight hours in a wide array of aircraft. In his capacity as a DPE for the Long Beach Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), he specializes in conducting practical tests for Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Multi-Engine certificates. He is highly regarded within the flight training community for his thoroughness and emphasis on aeronautical decision-making. Granek’s evaluation style is deeply influenced by his professional background, focusing on safety, risk management, and the high standards of professionalism required for the next generation of aviators.