Rachel Carlstrom holds a degree in aeronautical science and aviation management and is an Airline Transport Pilot with multi-engine rating. She is a Gold Seal flight instructor with instrument and multi-engine ratings and holds a remote pilot certificate. Rachel has experience as a corporate and 135 on-demand charter pilot and Part 141 chief pilot and instructor.
Rachel started working for the FAA in 2011 as an Aviation Safety Inspector at the Des Moines, IA Flight Standards District Office. Rachel held positions in the Central Region as the FAASTeam POC and the Assistance manager for ACE-230, which transitioned to an assistant manager position in the Air Carrier Transportation Division (AFS-200). She started working with a primary focus on all UAS and new entrant activities for the Air Carrier Transportation Division and as the Integration Pilot Program (IPP) team lead for Part 135 Air Carrier Certifications in January of 2018. In February 2019-2021 she worked in the UAS Integration Office (AUS) as the State Local Tribal Program Manager for the IPP North Carolina and Memphis portfolios. After the conclusion of the IPP Rachel took a position as the branch manager in the Air Transportation Division Part 135 Flight operations branch. Rachel has most recently joined the new Emerging Technologies Division as the Air Transportation Branch manager.
