T. David McDonald Senior Technical Consultant

dmacdonald@wicks-group.com
202-457-7790 (office)
405-464-5449 (mobile)

T. David (Dave) McDonald is a Senior Technical Consultant for The Wicks Group Consulting, specializing in international civil aviation safety improvement and aviation safety inspector training. Dave brings more than 20 years of experience as an FAA aviation safety inspector, trainer, and international program team member, including his final FAA position as the International Training Program Manager for Flight Standards/Airworthiness. In that capacity Dave promoted aviation safety and regulatory oversight in cooperation with bilateral, regional, and multilateral partners, including through the Safe Skies for Africa program and programs in Asia and the Middle East.

Dave’s extensive aviation safety inspector training experience includes designing and delivering international aviation courses in 20 countries, and teaching the Airworthiness Inspector Indoctrination course and Designee Oversight for Inspectors course at the FAA Academy. Dave began his FAA career as a Principal Maintenance Inspector in the US and then in the London International Office. Prior to his FAA work, Dave served in the US Air Force and held quality management and inspection positions with aircraft parts manufacturers.

Dave is currently assisting TWG with a project to advise the Angola Ministry of Transport on the possible development of an aviation training center in Angola. He holds a graduate degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he also has served as an instructor, and an undergraduate degree in human resources management from New School University.

Representative Experience

• Managed FAA Flight Standards International Training programs to promoted aviation safety and regulatory oversight in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
• Fostered international civil aviation safety by providing instruction in certification and manufacturing oversight and surveillance, in accordance with FAA and ICAO standards, to enabled the transfer of technology for global aviation safety.
• Designed, wrote, and delivered international aviation courses in 20 foreign countries, including Air Cargo (21000056), Inspector Training System (15206), Resolution of Safety Concerns (15209001), and Government Safety Inspector-Airworthiness (18701).
• Taught the Airworthiness Indoctrination courses to new FAA inspectors and Designee Oversight for Inspectors at the FAA Academy.

Participated in FAA certification, surveillance, and inspection programs as a Principle Maintenance Inspector in the Windsor Locks (CT) Flight Standards District Officer and the London International Office.