Richard Edward Smith - Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Instructor, Mechanic, Ground Instructor

Richard Smith is an FAA-certified pilot, flight instructor, aircraft mechanic, and ground instructor based in Olympia, WA. Richard Edward Smith holds a Airline Transport Pilot certificate with Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL), Airplane Multi-Engine Land (AMEL), Airplane Single-Engine Sea (ASES), and Rotorcraft Helicopter ratings. This certificate includes type ratings for the Cessna Citation 500 Series (CE-500), DC-3, British Aerospace BAe 125/Hawker 800 (HS-125), and N-B25, authorizing the holder to serve as pilot in command of these aircraft types. The Airline Transport Pilot certificate is the highest level of pilot certification issued by the FAA, authorizing the holder to act as pilot in command of scheduled airline operations and any aircraft for which they hold a type rating. ATP certification requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of total flight time and passing rigorous written and practical examinations. Richard holds a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate with Airplane Single and Multi-Engine, Instrument Airplane, and Rotorcraft Helicopter ratings. A Certified Flight Instructor certificate authorizes the holder to provide flight training to student and certificated pilots, including ground and flight instruction, solo endorsements, practical test endorsements, and biennial flight reviews. Richard holds an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic certificate. An A&P certificate is the most comprehensive FAA mechanic certification, authorizing the holder to inspect, maintain, and repair both aircraft structures (fuselage, wings, control surfaces, landing gear) and engines (reciprocating, turbine, and turboprop powerplants). A&P mechanics are qualified to perform the broadest range of aircraft maintenance, including annual inspections when combined with an Inspection Authorization (IA). Richard holds a Ground Instructor certificate. This certificate authorizes the holder to provide ground training for pilot certification and endorsements. Richard Smith also holds an FAA Inspection Authorization (IA), the highest level of maintenance certification issued by the FAA. An IA authorizes the holder to perform annual inspections on aircraft, approve aircraft for return to service after major repairs or alterations, and supervise progressive inspection programs. Inspection Authorization holders must meet stringent experience requirements and pass annual refresher training to maintain their authorization. Their most recent FAA medical certificate is a Second Class medical, valid through August 2024. The FAA airman records for Richard Smith are tracked and verified by AviatorDB.