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Stewart Douglas Stewart, better known in the aviation community as Doug Stewart, is a highly esteemed FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and master educator based at Columbia County Airport (1B1) in Ghent, New York. With a career spanning over three decades, Stewart has logged more than 16,000 total flight hours, including an impressive 13,500 hours of dual instruction and 5,700 hours of instrument time. His exceptional commitment to flight education was nationally recognized in 2004 when he was named the National Flight Instructor of the Year, and he was subsequently inducted into the NAFI Flight Instructor Hall of Fame in 2024.
Operating DS Flight Solutions, Stewart is a 13-time Master CFI and a founding member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), where he serves as Executive Director Emeritus. His safety-centric mindset is informed by his extensive experience in general aviation, where he has successfully navigated and learned from past incidents to advocate for superior aeronautical decision-making. Specializing in single-pilot IFR, tailwheel operations, and multi-day training missions, he is renowned for his rigorous yet conversational examination style that prioritizes airmanship and foundational knowledge over rote memorization.