Tom McDonald

Senior Aviation Analyst

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Bachelor of Science, Professional Aeronautics, 2012

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Master of Science, Unmanned Systems, 2020

Certifications and Ratings
AMT Certificate
FAA Mechanic A&P Certificate
FAA Commercial Pilot Privileges: Single-Engine, Land
FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License
FAA Aircraft Repairmen Certificate (expired)
FAA Airline Transport Certificate: MEL
DA50 w/ DA900B and DA900EX differences training type rating
DA2000 type rating
GV w/ G450 and G550 differences training type rating
GVI type rating
FAA Inspection Authorization Certificate
FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with small unmanned aircraft systems rating
Satcom Direct aeroCNCT (expired)

Mr. McDonald has over 44 years of experience in the aviation industry, serving as a Corporate Flight Operational Quality Assurance (C–FOQA) gatekeeper, a pilot, an airframe and powerplant (A&P)/avionics technician, an authorized aircraft Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and a senior aviation analyst at PAI Consulting (PAI). As a senior aviation analyst at PAI, he uses his aviation expertise and analytical and statistical skills to research, analyze, and categorize client data. Mr. McDonald performs aviation directed studies by researching historical accident and incident reports to identify trends and safety issues, evaluating data, organizing findings, and presenting the results in written and graphical format. He also develops and writes reports, manuals, rulemaking documents, evaluation reports, records of meeting, white papers, and other similar documents to support Government and industry clients. In addition, Mr. McDonald uses his organizational skills and experience to support PAI’s clients by tracking and organizing records and other supplemental information.

Mr. McDonald holds an FAA Airline Transport (ATP) certificate with FAA type ratings for the following aircraft: Gulfstream G650 (GVI), Gulfstream GV (GV), Dassault Falcon (DA) 50, and DA2000. Furthermore, through special differences training under his listed type ratings, Mr. McDonald is qualified to serve as pilot in command (PIC) on the Gulfstream G450, Gulfstream G550, DA900B, and DA900EX. As an FAA type-rated pilot on the above aircraft, he operated high performance turbine aircraft with state-of-the art advanced airframe, powerplant, and avionics systems, including fly-by-wire flight controls on the GVI in all kinds of weather and in diverse national and international airspace and operational environments. Mr. McDonald’s training included FAA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements for operations in reduced vertical minimum separation (RVSM) airspace, enhanced ground proximity warning systems (GPWS), traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS), worldwide oceanic airspace operations, international flight operations and procedures, polar operations, required navigation performance (RNP) approaches, enhanced vision system (EVS) approaches, heads-up display (HUD) operations, pilot-controller data link (CPDLC) operations, and other performance-based navigation (PBN) and performance based communications and surveillance aeronautical operations (PBCS). Through his employment as a pilot, he applied this knowledge on a routine basis in his day to day activities.

In March 1975, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) presented Mr. McDonald with a certificate in Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) after he completed its 18-month AMT curriculum. He then obtained his FAA mechanic A&P certificate after successfully passing the tests required by Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 65. Mr. McDonald has remained actively engaged in aviation maintenance–related activities since.

Mr. McDonald entered the aviation industry working as an A&P technician at Hamilton Aviation in June 1975. He worked on various aircraft, including converting Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft from reciprocating engines to turbo-prop power and implementing other modifications necessary for cargo operations. Under Hamilton Aviation’s contract with American Airlines, Mr. McDonald performed contracted flight-line airframe, powerplant, and avionics maintenance on Boeing 727 and Boeing 707 aircraft. He also performed maintenance, repairs, modifications, and testing of airframe and powerplant systems necessary for the military to civilian recertification of various aircraft, including the de Havilland DHC–2 Beaver, Douglas DC–4, Douglas DC–6, and Convair CV–240. Mr. McDonald also supervised and performed extensive remote airframe and powerplant repairs of turbine-powered Beech 18s.

In addition to his A&P technician duties, Mr. McDonald occasionally flew as co-pilot on Hamilton Aviation maintenance check and ferry flights of the DC–4 and DC–6; this included ferrying the aircraft from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, to Tucson International Airport in Tucson, Arizona, after participating in a maintenance crew that took the aircraft out of military storage, inspected, and operationally checked the aircraft to obtain approval for an FAA Special Flight Permit (SFP) necessary to perform the ferry flight. Once at Hamilton Aviation’s facilities, he participated in the aircrafts’ extensive inspection, maintenance, and repairs required for their civilian airworthiness certification. Afterwards, Mr. McDonald flew as co pilot in the aircraft during the post-maintenance check flights to ensure all systems were operating to airworthy standards. He also flew as co-pilot on the Convair 240 during delivery flights to the customer.

Mr. McDonald then continued A&P technician duties at Gates Learjet. He performed all necessary airframe, powerplant, and avionics systems functional checks according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and conducted all levels of periodic inspections, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair on all models of Learjet aircraft. Mr. McDonald prepared new production aircraft for its maiden flight, as well as made any required airframe and powerplant–related modifications, adjustments, or repairs prior to delivery to the end customer. He also performed maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, and repair of Honeywell TFE731 turbofan engines and General Electric (GE) CJ610 turbojet engines.

Between 1980 and 1989, Mr. McDonald worked part-time as a jump pilot for three skydiving companies: Marana Skydiving Center, Skydive Arizona, and Warm Springs Parachute Center. He piloted Cessna 182s, Beechcraft D–18s, and de Havilland DHC–2 Beavers flying skydivers engaged in recreational sport parachuting. As a jump pilot, Mr. McDonald maintained radio communications with appropriate air traffic control (ATC) facilities and local Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies (CTAF) in the National Airspace System (NAS) to keep ATC and local air traffic appraised of the jump operations and parachutist locations while ATC provided him with flight-following and air traffic awareness services. Being a jump pilot required he maintain extra vigilance for other air traffic as the operations were often conducted in busy airspace with an elevated risk for mid-air collisions with other aircraft or parachutists in his operational vicinity. Compared to ATP or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations today, parachute operations in the 1980s required more situational awareness because other aircraft were harder to visually detect, especially when looking below from high altitudes where parachutists exited the airplanes and because of the lack of modern TCAS and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS–B) equipment.

In April 1987, Mr. McDonald accepted employment as an A&P technician for Hangar One. While employed there, he performed maintenance, inspection, repair, and modifications on a variety of Beechcraft-manufactured aircraft, including Bonanzas, Barons, and Beechjets. Mr. McDonald served as the night-shift supervisor of a small crew performing mandatory leading-edge cuff reinforcement modifications to airworthiness directive (AD)–affected Beechcraft Bonanzas.

In August 1988, Mr. McDonald began working as an A&P technician for RJR Nabisco’s corporate flight department. There, he performed inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of the company’s fleet of DA50 and Gulfstream GIV aircraft. Mr. McDonald participated in all levels of maintenance on the DA50s, including A-, B-, and C-inspections. He also performed daily and flight-line maintenance on all company aircraft, including pre- and post-flight inspections, fueling, and towing. Mr. McDonald overhauled landing gear wheels in the flight department’s accessory shop during the times the aircraft were away on trips, as well as performed other duties as required.

In September 1989, Mr. McDonald began working for MCI Communications (MCI). He performed routine and scheduled airframe, powerplant, and avionics maintenance, inspection, and repair on the company-owned fleet of DA900 and DA50 aircraft. One year later, MCI appointed Mr. McDonald to serve as their avionics manager to manage all fleet avionics maintenance. During his employment with MCI, he also held an FAA Aircraft Repairmen certificate for all altimetry and transponder certification checks and authored the company’s FAA repair station manual for altimeter and transponder checks, RVSM manual, and Category II maintenance manual. In addition to his continued A&P technician and avionics manager duties, Mr. McDonald served as an international flight mechanic accompanying company aircraft around the world, where he was often called upon to troubleshoot, repair, and perform routine maintenance while they were away from their home base of operations.

In 1991, Mr. McDonald earned his Federal Communications Commission (FCC) General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) as a requirement for his job as the avionics manager for MCI. The FCC requires the GROL for persons who adjust, maintain, or internally repair FCC licensed radiotelephone transmitters in the aviation, maritime, and fixed public radio services.

During his employment with MCI, by the efforts and results of his part-time jump pilot jobs, Mr. McDonald earned his ATP rating. MCI promoted him to first officer and sent him to Flight Safety International for training to become a Falcon 900–rated pilot and first-officer for the company. As a first-officer, Mr. McDonald provided air transport for the company’s senior management and other VIPs aboard the company’s fleet of DA900 aircraft.

Mr. McDonald’s FAA ATP rating is limited to Multi-Engine Land (MEL) aircraft; otherwise, he has FAA Commercial Pilot Privileges in Single-Engine Land (SEL) category airplanes. The ATP and Commercial pilot ratings allow pilots to act as PIC of an aircraft carrying persons or cargo for compensation or hire in accordance with 14 CFR part 61.

In January 1997, Mr. McDonald transitioned to Gary Comer, Inc. (GCI), and was appointed dual roles, one as Director of Maintenance (DOM) for their Falcon 900EX and Cessna 208 Caravan, and the other as a pilot on both aircraft. He spent about 65 percent of his time performing the duties of DOM and the remainder as a pilot on either of the above aircraft. As the DOM, Mr. McDonald managed, performed, and oversaw the routine maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, repair, and modification of the company’s Falcon 900EX and Cessna 208 airframe, powerplant, and advanced avionics systems. He maintained the Falcon 900EX according to Dassault Falcon Jet’s Optimized Continuous Inspection Program (OCIP), and he maintained the Cessna 208 according to Cessna aircraft’s progressive inspection program. The Cessna 208 was configured as an amphibious aircraft during the spring and summer, and was configured as a fixed tricycle landing gear aircraft during the fall and winter, and Mr. McDonald maintained the aircraft in both configurations.

Mr. McDonald also served as a pilot for GCI under 14 CFR part 91 on the company’s Falcon 900EX aircraft, providing air transport to the company’s senior management and other VIPs to various U.S. domestic and international destinations. As a pilot on the Cessna 208 Caravan, he provided air transport under part 91 for the company’s senior management, company employees, and other VIPs to various domestic locations. Mr. McDonald would also ferry the Cessna 208 to and from various locations as required.

Having met the aviation maintenance–related experience and other requirements specified in part 65, and as a requirement for his role as DOM for GCI, Mr. McDonald earned his FAA Inspection Authorization (IA) certificate in September 1998. He has maintained his IA certification by remaining actively engaged in aviation maintenance activities and continuing education as allowed by part 65.

In September 1999, Mr. McDonald began working for the Chicago Tribune’s corporate flight department, where he continued his pilot duties after earning his FAA DA2000 Type Rating. He served as a DA2000 pilot under part 91 and provided air transport to the company’s senior management, company employees, and other VIPs to various domestic locations. Mr. McDonald also spent 10 percent of his time performing daily maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, and repair of the company’s DA2000, including its airframe, powerplant, and advanced avionics systems. He also accompanied the DA2000 aircraft to major Falconjet service centers, where he oversaw major inspections, repairs, and modifications on the company’s behalf.

In May 2000, Mr. McDonald began working at JPMorgan Chase & Company (JPMorgan) as an international pilot on its DA2000 and DA900 aircraft. In 2007, after the company changed its fleet of aircraft to all Gulfstream aircraft, he earned his FAA GV type rating, including differences training that allowed him to serve as PIC on the Gulfstream GV, G450, and G550. In 2013, the company added two GVIs and Mr. McDonald earned his FAA GVI Type Rating to serve as PIC on its Gulfstream G650ERs. He provided executive air transport for senior management and other VIPs to various domestic and international destinations.

Mr. McDonald also served as the company’s sole C–FOQA gatekeeper for more than 10 years. As the gatekeeper, he performed data verification and analysis, trend monitoring, crew contacts, training, and quarterly presentations to enhance operational risk management and safety. In this position, Mr. McDonald also conducted periodic presentations on Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) and other aircraft/operational specific topics to the company’s pilots, management, and International Business Aircraft Operations (IS–BAO) auditors. In March 2018, he attended the FAA’s Aviation Safety InfoShare (InfoShare) meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended various presentations and participated in GE’s C–FOQA Centerline steering committee’s meeting. Mr. McDonald later drafted and presented a report to JPMorgan management and its pilots on the information and knowledge he acquired at InfoShare and the benefits of participating in the FAA Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program. In June 2018, he conducted an overview presentation of JPMorgan’s C–FOQA program where he also talked favorably about the FAA ASIAS program and InfoShare at the Westchester Aviation Association’s (WAA) annual safety day to a group of more than 200 attendees.

As a corporate pilot flying advanced aircraft with airborne satellite-based internet connectivity systems for JPMorgan, Mr. McDonald earned his Satcom Direct aeroCNCT (Crewmember Network & Connectivity Training) certification in 2018 after successful completion of the required written examination. The certificate validated his knowledge and ability to troubleshoot and fix basic inflight internet and local area network (LAN) connectivity issues. (Note: This certificate was valid for 3 years and has expired.)

During his employment at JPMorgan, Mr. McDonald used Microsoft Office applications, Adobe FrameMaker, and other related software to perform technical writing, editing, and publication management for multiple projects, including flight operations, repair station, and Category II maintenance manuals; cockpit checklists; standard operating procedures (SOPs); and various tutorial presentations. He established and maintained the flight department’s SharePoint site and content on the company’s corporate intranet, as well as originated the flight department’s electronic flight bag (EFB) program.

In May 2012, Mr. McDonald graduated summa cum laude from ERAU with a Bachelor of Science degree in professional aeronautics and minors in management and aviation safety. During his undergraduate studies at ERAU, he took courses that built upon the aeronautical knowledge and skills he had gained over his years as both an aircraft technician and pilot, as well as courses that improved his knowledge and skills in other areas. These included courses in English composition, technical report writing, rhetorical theory, humanities, macro- and micro economics, computer science, psychology, personality development, physics, mathematics, statistics with aviation applications, business statistics, financial accounting, business information systems, marketing, and principles of management. Other undergraduate courses Mr. McDonald took focused on aeronautical topics, such as aviation legislation, aviation law, safety system management, aviation safety, human factors in aviation safety, aircraft accident investigation, aircraft crash and emergency management, and aviation safety program management. The above course of studies vastly improved his understanding of and ability to communicate about aviation management concepts, aviation safety, aviation safety management systems (SMS), and how Government aviation agencies and industry cooperate for the overall benefit and safety of the aviation industry.

In 2017, Mr. McDonald earned his FAA Remote Pilot certificate with a small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) rating by meeting the requirements of and passing the written tests prescribed in 14 CFR part 107. This certificate grants him the privilege of operating sUAS for commercial purposes in the NAS in accordance with part 107 and all other applicable Federal aviation regulations. By obtaining his part 107 sUAS Remote Pilot certification, Mr. McDonald expanded his aeronautical knowledge by making him aware of the requirements for registration, airmen certification, and the rules for safe sUAS operations in the United States, including those for medical conditions, right-of-way rules, requirements for visual line of sight (VLOS) operations, and the rules that prohibit or otherwise restrict sUAS operations over people, at night, and in certain airspace, including in the vicinity of airports, restricted areas, and certain notice to airmen (NOTAM) areas. His part 107 sUAS certification also familiarized him with the effects of weather on sUAS operation, emergency procedures, radio communications procedures, sUAS performance, sUAS maintenance and preflight inspection procedures, and other factors relevant to sUAS safety management, aeronautical decision making, and judgement.

In June 2020, Mr. McDonald graduated with distinction from ERAU with a Master of Science degree in unmanned systems, with a concentration on operations. His graduate studies in unmanned systems—inspired by his hobby as a radio controlled model airplane builder, pilot, and enthusiast—provided him with a non engineering related yet advanced overview and understanding of unmanned systems and their operations in the domains of air, land, sea, and space. Mr. McDonald completed courses on a variety of unmanned systems subjects, including applications of unmanned systems (UNSY); UNSY command, control, and communications; UNSY sensors, perception, and processing; UNSY autonomy and automation; UNSY power, propulsion, and maneuvering systems; and robotics and control. For his operational focus on unmanned systems, he completed courses in UAS operations and payloads, global air traffic control and management, and airport operations and management. The program familiarized Mr. McDonald with the rapidly advancing UAS industry, its real world applications, economic potential, and the collaborative focus of industry, academia, and government agencies—such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the FAA—and international agencies—such as ICAO—on developing policies, regulations, and technologies necessary to fully integrate UAS into the NAS. His graduate studies also included courses on statistical analysis and research methods that prepared him to conduct his capstone project, “Methods for sUAS Package Loading, Containment, and Final Delivery,” where he found a diverse range of methods in use for UAS package delivery, many of which were non interoperable, and recommended the need for further research to determine if standardized and interoperable package loading, containment, and final delivery methods could approve the efficacy of the UAS delivery industry.