In an April 16, 2025, letter to Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation, the President of the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association (MATA), Mark Nelson of Rush City, Minnesota, expressed concern with a growing lack of Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) in the state, and concern with reluctance on the part of the FAA to designate more examiners.
The Minnesota Aviation Trades Association is comprised of aviation businesses in the state and the Upper Midwest, including flight schools, fixed base operations, aviation colleges, and air charter companies.
Many graduates of MATA flight schools go on to become commercial pilots or use their aircraft for personal and business travel which directly impacts the state’s economy.
The backlog of people who wish to take their flight exams continues to grow, and the distance to travel for a flight exam is time consuming and expensive and should be convenient. There also needs to be competition among examiners, so the public is not taken advantage of by a shrinking number of examiners. Competition can only exist if there are more examiners to choose from throughout the state.
The MATA Board meets on a regular basis to discuss current local, state, and national issues that impact the industry. The organization also encourages members to bring forth concerns that affect their businesses and communities.
For additional information contact Mark Nelson at 612-554-7872 or via email at mark@hawk-aviation.com.