David A. Esser

Title
Professor
Email
Department
Aeronautical Science Department
College
College of Aviation
David A. Esser


Dr. Esser was a member of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flight Department from 1981 to 1995, and has been a member of the Aeronautical Science Department since that time. His undergraduate degrees are from Embry-Riddle in Aviation Management, Computer Science, and Aeronautical Science. In 1989, he was awarded the M.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle, graduating at the top of his class. Professor Esser completed the Ph.D. Degree in Organization and Management Leadership from Capella University, again graduating at the top of his class. His dissertation pertained to airline Advanced Qualification Training and Line Check Safety Audits to validate Threat and Error Mitigation techniques. It also involved Flight Operations Quality Assurance and Aviation Safety Action Program data collection. He holds FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate with a Type Rating in Airbus A319/320: Advised Graduate Research Projects and Thesis in Topics of CRM, AQP, Flight Data Monitoring, and FOQA.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Organization and Management: Leadership, Capella University
  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Aviation Applications, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • A.S. - Associate of Science in Aviation Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • A.S. - Associate of Science in Aeronautical Studies, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • A.S. - Associate of Science in Aviation Computer Programming, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  • Flight Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Aircraft Dispatcher - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Ground Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Airline Transport Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration

  • AS 309: Aerodynamics
  • AS 310: Aircraft Performance
  • DAV 732: Aviation Organization Dynamics
  • AS 420: Flight Technique Analysis
  • AS 472: Oprtnl Applns Aero Science

MSA 509 Advanced Aerodynamics

MSA 510 Advanced Aircraft Performance

DAV 732 Strategies for Organizational Dynamics in Aviation




GASIAS Phase III Technical Report                                                                           2014

GASIAS Phase II  Technical Report                                                                            2012

GASIAS Phase I   Technical Report                                                                            2009


Dave Esser was a member of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flight Department from 1981 to 1995, and has been a member of the Aeronautical Science Department since that time. His undergraduate degrees are from Embry-Riddle in Aviation Management, Computer Science, and Aeronautical Science. In 1989, he was awarded the M.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle, graduating at the top of his class. Professor Esser completed the Ph.D. Degree in Organization and Management Leadership from Capella University, again graduating at the top of his class. His dissertation pertained to airline Advanced Qualification Training and Line Check Safety Audits to validate Threat and Error Mitigation techniques. It also involved FOQA and ASAP data collection.

Captain Type Rated- Airbus A318/A319/A320                                                                       1999 -  present

Airline Transport Pilot Certificate - Airplane Multi-Engine (5000 hours PIC)                           1993 -  present

Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate                                                                                                 1989 -  present

Certified Ground Instructor - Advanced and Instrument                                                          1981 -  present

Certified Flight Instructor - Airplane Single, Multi-Engine, and Instrument                              1980 -  present

Commercial Pilot Certificate – Single and Multi-Engine                                                          1979 -  present


Professor of Aeronautical Science with tenure, ERAU                                                            1999 -   present           

Graduate faculty, doctoral faculty, and Ph.D. dissertation committee chair                            2005 -  present

Chair, Doctoral Qualifying Exam Committee                                                                           2010 - present

PI, GA Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) Research (GASIAS; 3 phases; $500k FAA grant)         2009 - 2013

Faculty [Researcher] of the Year Center for General Aviation Research (CGAR)                   2012 

Course developer MSA 509 Advanced Aerodynamics                                                            2012

Course developer MSA 510 Advanced Aircraft Performance                                                  2012

Developer Professional Pilot Specialization in Master of Science, Aeronautics                       2012

Development and accreditation ERAU Ph.D. in Aviation                                                        2005 -  2010

Course developer DAV 732 Strategies for Organizational Dynamics in Aviation                    2010

Organized second international workshop on General Aviation FDM                                     2009

Associate Chair of Aeronautical Science                                                                                1999 -   2009

Program Coordinator of Aeronautical Science                                                                       1999 -  2008

Organized and hosted first international workshop on General Aviation FDM                        2007

Recipient of the James E. Lewis Award for University Service                                               2007

Interim Chair Aeronautical Science                                                                                        2000 -  2001

Speaker of the Faculty Senate, ERAU Daytona Beach                                                          2000 -   2001

Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science with tenure, ERAU                                           1993 -  1999

Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, ERAU                                                                                  1985 -  1993

Flight Instructor, ERAU                                                                                                           1981 -   1993