The Federal Aviation Administration has put out a solicitation to nominate a new appointees to the FAA Drone Advisory Committee (DAC). The DAC serves to advice the FAA on the state of the industry and potential hazards rulemaking may have on business or the unmanned aircraft community. This includes Part 107 Small UAS, Model Aircraft as defined by AC91-57A, as well as a new class of type certified unmanned systems and pilots.

Currently the DAC, is made up of the “usual suspects”, to no fault of their own they are the largest UAS organization in United States, Facebook, Google, Lockheed Martin, and DJI just to name a few. I would like to change that by expanding the committee to represent more then just the big names, as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Test Pilot of VersaTOL, LLC a small business (10 employees) building unique aircraft for specialize missions, we rely on the unmanned community as whole, we rely on small, US based manufactures like Castle Creations, Extreme Flight and local hobby shops as well as organizations like Horizon Hobby to allow us to continue making new and innovative products for the commercial market. We use drones to do actives like industrial inspection and agriculture, safer, so that people who work in hazardous environments can spend less time in harms way. In order to keep doing what we do, we need the FAA to continue find ways to keep the national airspace safe while at the same time allowing those who are flying models at their local clubs, to keep flying safely. This is the same for Part 107 commercial pilots, independent operators have no current representation on this committee other than the Academy of Model Aeronautics. I would like to help you have a voice, because unlike most COOs, I have no problem getting my hands dirty and being out flying.

If you feel that I am worth your nomination I am greatly appreciative.
Thank you for your support,
Dakoda Neilson

About me
Dakoda Neilson is an aviation expert who works in both the manned and unmanned aerospace fields. He holds a commercial Airmen Certificate for fixed wing single engine and holds a part 107 remote operator certificate. Dakoda flown over 1100 hours in fixed wing aircraft and has experience in over 40 different aircraft types ranging from piper trainers to cold war fighters like the Mig-21. Dakoda’s passion for manned aviation is only matched by his passion for unmanned aerial systems. He has been flying RC Aircraft for the last 15 years. He has flown over 135 different aircraft from helicopters to multi rotors, from gliders to high speed jets. His professional career includes over 700 UAV missions in aircraft ranging from 100 grams to 600 pounds. Notable programs he has been a part of include Area-I’s Ptera initial flight test program, Ptera was the first turbine powered civilian UAV to fly in the NAS under a COA, Oak Ridge National Labs Nuclear Stack Inspection, Area-I’s Altus air launched flight test program and the Navy’s Next Generation Magnetic Anomaly Detection Tow Body flight validation program.

Dakoda is currently the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Test Pilot at VersaTOL Unmanned Helicopter Solutions. While at VersaTOL he has worked on projects for NASA, Oak Ridge National Labs, Department of Energy, Customs and Board Protection, Department of Defense, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and several private sector clients. VersaTOL’ s core focus is to safely push the limits of technology in Counter UAS, Smart Industrial Inspection and Manned to Unmanned Conversion kits for FAA type certified aircraft pulling from a portfolio of advance flight control solutions and adaptive control laws for unique aircraft systems.

In his spare time, Dakoda restores vintage aircraft and develops modernize maintenance programs for experimental exhibition category aircraft. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science and Management from Middle Georgia State University and currently resides in Atlanta, GA. Dakoda is a Member of Academy of Model Aeronautics, and the Airplane Owners, Pilots Association, the Georgia UAS Working Group, and the Experimental Aircraft Association as well as flies' young eagles and is a mentor to the youth program with EAA Chapter 690 in Lawrenceville, GA.