Biography

In 1985 Mr. Peer accepted a position with CALSPAN Corporation of Buffalo NY, serving as Engineering Test Pilot on many research projects, most concerned with flight control system development and integrated avionics systems testing, as well as instructing at the two U.S. Military Test Pilot Schools and in Europe in the field of aircraft flying qualities evaluations, flight control design and aircraft stability and control. He was the program manager for the Avionics Systems Test and Training Aircraft (ASTTA, based on the Convair 580), and for the Variable Stability Learjet. He holds a Commercial, MEL-I airman’s certificate with Learjet, Convair 340/440/580, L-39, CM-170 Fouga Magister and Civilian F-16 Type-Ratings and, until his separation from Calspan in 2005, was a qualified safety pilot in the USAF NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS), USAF NF-16D (VISTA), Calspan variable-stability Learjets and Beechcraft Bonanza upset-recovery-training aircraft. Mr. Peer also held a US Government SECRET clearance.

In 1990, Mr. Peer was promoted to Chief Test Pilot and Safety Officer for the CALSPAN Flight Research Group, coordinating a staff of eight Engineering Test Pilots, and in 1993 assumed the position of Director of Flight Operations as well. In this capacity Mr. Peer developed a complex GFR approved Flight Operations program, including off-site flight operations, and coordinated the extensive Government oversight of CALSPAN’s flight operations and property management including safety of flight, pilot qualifications and currency and GFE accountability.

Specific programs in which Mr. Peer participated as lead engineering research pilot include the T-45 HUD evaluation, the SAAB JAS-39 flight system evaluation, and a study to define NASP hypersonic vehicle flying qualities criteria. He was a member of the Swedish International Advisory Board for Flight Control System Development and was the first US pilot to have flown and evaluated the JAS 39 Gripen. He has also flown the NASA F-18 High AOA Research Vehicle (HARV) as a guest evaluation pilot, and has participated in the development of the NASA High Speed Research Vehicle / High Speed Civil Transport. Until June 2005 he was the primary test pilot for the USAF variable stability NF-16D. He has over 9,900 flight hours, more than half in high performance fighters.

In August 2006, Mr. Peer accepted a position as Senior Experimental Test Pilot at Adam Aircraft Industries, Denver CO and was active in the planning, coordination and performance of developmental and FAA certification flight testing on the A500 and A700 aircraft. In this capacity Mr. Peer was the FAA delegated Test Pilot DER for many certification tests on the A500 and for the initial certification testing that was accomplished on the A700. As part of the initial reorganization of Adam Aircraft in December 2007, Mr. Peer was promoted to Chief Test Pilot and served in this role until the Adam Aircraft Company was closed in January, 2008.

When AAI Acquisition Inc. purchased the assets of Adam Aircraft in April of 2008, Jeff was asked to stay on as Chief Test Pilot and Company Safety Officer. In this capacity he was responsible for all company testing that was performed in anticipation of certifying the A700 VLJ. He was also part of the new company’s Senior Leadership Team.

A total aircraft design review was initiated and product specific changes were identified. Until the end of October, 2008 AAI Acquisition had completed significant verification and pre-certification testing and was well on its way to FAA certification flying within a realistic and achievable schedule. AAI Acquisition was forced to close in April, 2009.

Mr. Peer also holds a current FAA DER Certificate (Flight Test Pilot / Flight Analyst).

As a hobby, Mr. Peer has owned and flown a Pitts S-2B and an Extra 300L aircraft, practicing aerobatics and participating in air shows throughout the Northeastern US as a solo aerobatics performer with a low altitude waiver.