Hernan D. Posada
NASA Pilot
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Hernan D. Posada is a research pilot at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. He flies remotely piloted aircraft and several mission support aircraft.
Experience
Posada joined NASA in October 2005 and is one of several pilots who operate NASA’s Global Hawk high-altitude aircraft and small remotely piloted aircraft. He also flies NASA’s B200 King Air mission support aircraft.
Prior to its retirement from NASA, Posada flew the MQ-9 Ikhana, which carried instruments for environmental Earth science studies and was used for advanced aircraft systems research and technology development. He led a team of pilots during all aspects of Ikhana development and research flight operations, including training of all NASA pilots who flew the aircraft. He determined training objectives and standards, evaluated aircrew performance and was a subject-matter expert for development of the ground station and command and control communication system used to fly the aircraft.
Posada began his employment in the aviation industry in 1989, servicing corporate and general aviation aircraft at Van Nuys Airport in California, and moving up to flying positions. He became a line mechanic and pilot for American Aviation at Van Nuys in 1992. In 1995, Posada began flying a fixed-wing aircraft for Jetcopters Inc., a Los Angeles traffic and aerial news organization.
Posada joined General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., San Diego, in August 1996. He piloted a number of unmanned aerial vehicles, traveling worldwide. He has more than 20 years’ experience flying the MQ-1 Predator A and MQ-9 Predator B aircraft, including more than 420 hours as an instructor pilot.
Education
Posada earned a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering technology from Northrop University, Los Angeles. He also holds an Airframe and Powerplant certificate from Glendale College in California. He has an Airline Transport Pilot rating for multi-engine aircraft and a commercial certificate for single-engine airplanes. Posada has accumulated more than 13,000 hours in piloted and remotely piloted aircraft.