Troy Thomas Townsend

Troy Thomas Townsend is a highly accomplished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and Specialty Aircraft Examiner (SAE) based at Marion County Airport (X35) in Dunnellon, Florida. With decades of experience in the aviation industry, Townsend has established himself as a cornerstone of the Central Florida flight training community through his professional service, FliteChek. He holds a distinguished background as a Master Flight Instructor (MCFI) and Master Ground Instructor, titles that reflect his deep commitment to educational excellence and the mastery of aeronautical knowledge.

Townsend’s expertise is remarkably broad, encompassing Airplane Single Engine Land (ASEL) and Sea (ASES), Instrument, and Commercial certifications. Notably, he is one of the few examiners specialized in Powered Parachutes (PPC), providing certification for Sport, Private, and CFI applicants in this unique category. Known for a thorough and fair evaluation style, he emphasizes the "freedom to fly" while maintaining a rigorous focus on safety and regulatory compliance. Throughout his career, which includes thousands of hours of instruction and hundreds of checkrides, Townsend has maintained an exemplary safety record, focusing his mentorship on developing sound pilot judgment and technical proficiency.