David Curry - Owner & Operator
Dave’s professional career in Aviation began as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer after graduating with Honours from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). He was first employed as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) at Peariso Aviation, a high-end corporate aircraft maintenance facility in Calgary, Alberta. He then moved to Shell Canada's Corporate Aviation Department, spending 29 years before his retirement. His experiences and roles within Shell Aviation were diverse, such as Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Quality Assurance Manager, Chief Engineer through to Aviation Engineering Manager of the America's overseeing corporate aviation operations in Calgary, Alberta, and Houston, Texas.
After retirement from Royal Dutch Shell, Dave accepted a position with HART Aviation as an ISO 9001:2008 Lead Auditor, BARS Lead Auditor, Off-shore Helideck Lead Auditor, and accident and incident investigator. Working for HART Aviation, Dave conducted over 300 various audits on Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing aircraft operators throughout North and South America.
His consulting work for Hart Aviation first introduced him to the rapidly expanding worldwide opportunities for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems industry. He quickly recognized that Canada was behind other parts of the world in developing the integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into business opportunities. After working with Transport Canada in a volunteer capacity for several years, he was pleased to see the crucial first step of implementing the new Canadian "RPAS Regulations and Knowledge Requirements" on June 1, 2019.
Dave is a firm believer in lifelong learning. Following retirement, he pursued diverse aviation opportunities, such as a University of Southern California certified Aircraft Accident Investigator and performed duties for counsel and corporations during high-profile aircraft accident litigation trials. Dave has also taught at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) as an Aircraft Electrical & Avionics instructor. As a contributor to three of Transport Canada's RPAS Working Groups, Dave is currently sitting on the Transport Canada working group for developing the knowledge requirements for a new BVLOS RPAS licence.
Now an author of two textbooks (Basic and Advanced RPAS Study Guide & RPAS Journey and Technical Logbook). Dave is currently writing a third textbook to help companies obtain BVLOS certification.
It is Dave’s hope that this book will prepare new members in the field of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), and those looking to write the Canadian RPAS Basic and Advanced Exam, with the knowledge and understanding to support his motto: “Safety in the Air Begins on the Ground”.
Company Overview
MIR Aviation offers expert remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) training, advisory, audit and assessment services to help you gain competitive advantage, minimize operational risks, ensure compliance and add value to your offering to a wider professional market. Our company is ISO 9001 Certified and we are experts in the production of Company Operations Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures and obtaining regulatory approvals in Canada and the United States.
We can help:
Ensure you have adequate training and competency
Assist in expediting regulatory approval processes
Understand what regulations cover, and where additional processes are necessary to create safe and efficient operation.
Reduce risk, improve safety and build confidence in the reliability of your operations.
Access a wider potential market through Safety and Compliance audits and assessments.
Implement a robust safety management system to improve the efficiency and safety of your organization.
Provide the technology platforms and expertise to assist clients in the inspection of equipment and facilities that are hazardous or difficult to reach, while saving time and expense compared to conventional methods.
Production of Transport Canada (TCCA), FAA, and EASA approved RPAS Company Operations Manuals.
