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Robert Alan Norman, who operates as Robert A. Norman, is an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) based at Parr Airport (42I) in Zanesville, Ohio. Appointed to serve southeastern Ohio in August 2026, Norman conducts pilot examinations exclusively for airplane single-engine land (ASEL) ratings. His own FAA certifications include private, commercial, instrument, and flight instructor privileges.
Norman's aviation background spans several decades, starting with his first solo flight on his 16th birthday on July 5, 1977. He became a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in the early 1980s and currently serves as the Senior Flight Instructor at Y-City Flying Service. In addition to flight training, Norman is the Airport Manager of Parr Airport and the founder of Norman Aviation, LLC, established in 1984. As an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA), he specializes in vintage aircraft and small piston engines, and he maintains a personal fleet that includes a restored 1966 Cessna 150F, a Piper J-3 Cub, and a Taylorcraft BC-12D.
Norman belongs to a four-generation family of Ohio aviators. His grandfather, Earl Norman, began flying in 1927, and his father, Charles "Chuck" Norman, co-founded Parr Airport. His children, Ashton and Aeriel, are also active pilots. This family heritage connects Norman's flight instruction lineage directly back to Orville Wright through a consecutive chain of five instructors: Orville Wright, Bernard Wayland, Ralph Charles, Earl Norman, and Chuck Norman.