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Scott Bruce Tinnesand is a highly distinguished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and Experimental Test Pilot based in the Chandler/Mesa area of Arizona. His aviation career began at the University of North Dakota, which led to an eight-year tenure in the U.S. Army as an AH-1 Cobra and AH-64 Apache pilot with the 101st Airborne Division. Currently, he serves as a lead experimental test pilot for The Boeing Company, where he conducts high-stakes flight testing on advanced systems for the AH-64E Apache and AH-6 Little Bird. His diverse background spans military combat aviation, emergency medical services (EMS), and specialized civilian gyroplane testing.
With over 33 years of accident-free flying, Tinnesand is widely recognized for his unwavering commitment to aviation safety, receiving the prestigious 2022 HAI Salute to Excellence Flight Instructor of the Year Award. As a DPE, he specializes in rotorcraft certifications ranging from Private Pilot to initial CFI, alongside authorizations for special medical flight tests and military competency evaluations. He further contributes to the industry as an FAA Safety Team representative and an expert witness in accident litigation. Tinnesand’s technical proficiency and meticulous approach to risk management make him one of the most respected evaluators in the Southwest aviation community.