Capabilities

Flight Test Pilot Expertise for Every Need: Design – Development – Certification – Continued Operational Safety (COS) – Mishap Investigations – Litigation Support – Training – Consulting – Flight Test Management

Our experience includes:

Planning, preparation and execution of first flight.

Envelope expansion.

Initial Stalls.

Handling Qualities – development and certification.

Field Performance – development and certification.

Ice Protection Systems – development and certification (incl natural icing).

Systems – development and certification.

Avionics – development and certification.

Flight Deck Integration and Human Factors

Autopilot (including initial tuning and malfunction testing).

Autothrottle

EFIS

Synoptic Displays

HUD

EFVS / EVS

Synthetic Vision (including in the HUD)

FMS Design and Optimization

Performance Based Navigation (RNP, WAAS LPV, EGNOS etc…)

Navigation Displays

Hazard Warning Systems (including Windshear, EGPWS and TCAS

Polar Navigation – development and certification

our people

Marc Mannella
Principal / Flight Test Pilot DER

LtCol Marc Mannella, USMC (Ret) of Pinnacle Aerospace Solutions, LLC, has nearly three decades of military and civil new product development and certification experience. Marc is currently a B-757 Captain at a major airline, a Part 23/25/27/29 Consultant Flight Test Pilot DER and a Part 23/25/27/29 Flight Test Pilot ODA UM. Marc has previously served as a Company DER, ODA UM, DAS AR and as TCCA DAD. Marc’s leadership experience includes: Commanding Officer of HMT-303 (the UH-1N/HH-1N/AH-W Navy/Marine Corps combined Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS)), Director of Flight Operations for Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Cessna Flight Test Manager / Chief Pilot, Government Flight Test Director (GFTD) for the V-22 Integrated Test Team (ITT), and Head, Aviation Development, Tactics and Evaluation (ADT&E) department at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). During his tenure, HMT-303 was awarded the 2002 Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) Commandant’s Trophy – in recognition of the best overall USMC squadron.

Marc’s flight experience includes the following: FAA Airline Transport Pilot – Multi-Engine Land Airplane. FAA Commercial Pilot – Powered Lift (Tiltrotor), Rotorcraft-Helicopter and Airplane – Single Engine Land and Sea, Instrument Rating. CFII – Powered Lift and Rotorcraft-Helicopter. B-777, B-757, B-767, CE-750, BBD-700 (Global 5000/6000), CL-65 (CRJ), LR-45, LR-60, RA-4000, HS-125, BE-200, CE-500 (Citation) and Sikorsky S-70 (Blackhawk) type ratings. FAA Class I Medical. Over 9900 mishap-free, violation-free flight hours with 620 using Night Vision Devices. Substantial FLIR and HUD experience. Pilot experience in 99 type/model/series aircraft to include tactical jets, corporate jets, commercial airliners, twin engine propeller airplanes, (24 different) helicopters, gliders and a tiltrotor. USMC Weapons and Tactics Instructor Pilot (designation included Check Airman responsibilities for every facet of USMC tactical flight operations). HUD and EVS/EFVS qualified. DAWIA Level II (T&E).

Marc’s development and certification highlights include: USMC H-1 Upgrades Project Pilot, V-22 Government Flight Test Director (GFTD), Hawker 4000 initial certification, CRJ-1000 initial certification, Flight Test Pilot DER Focal for all Learjet certification activities, CRJ-700 CF-34 Engine Upgrade, Global 6000 initial certification, CRJ-700 NGES Special Missions initial certification, Citation Sovereign Plus initial certification, Citation X Plus initial certification, Citation Latitude envelope expansion and MD-11 Honeywell EGPWS Landing Performance Enhancements (LPE) STC.