Randal Rowles

Randal Rowles is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) based in Fort Worth, Texas, who serves under the Fort Worth Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). Because his FAA aircraft category on record is helicopter, he acts strictly as a rotorcraft examiner and does not conduct airplane checkrides. He holds ATP and CFI certificates, including the FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor rating, and was the first aviation educator globally to achieve the Master CFI–Helicopter designation in 2005. Over a career spanning more than 25 years as an examiner, Rowles has accumulated over 15,000 total flight hours as of 2021.

Rowles first became a DPE in 1996 in South Florida, where he initially focused on foreign pilot certification. While examining in Florida, he conducted Harrison Ford's private pilot helicopter added-rating practical test in December 1997. In 2009, Rowles co-founded Helicopter Institute, Inc. at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport with his wife, Samantha, and currently serves as its President. His professional history in commercial helicopter aviation includes holding executive and training roles with ERA Group, Era Training Center, Silver State Helicopters, Palm Beach Helicopters, the Bell Helicopter Textron Training Academy, FlightSafety International, and flying as an air medical pilot in Palm Beach County.

Active in industry leadership, Rowles served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Vertical Aviation International (formerly HAI) for the 2021–2022 term and was recognized as the 2013 HAI Certified Flight Instructor of the Year. He has also served on several FAA advisory groups and regularly contributes training and safety columns to Rotor Pro Magazine. Rowles holds an MBA from Texas Christian University.