Richard “Dick” Rochfort

This is Rochfort’s tenth consecutive NAFI Master Instructor accreditation earning him Silver Legacy Master status.

Rochfort provides training, pre-purchase consulting, aircraft relocation, and expert witness services to owners, pilots, and instructors of the Piper PA-46 aircraft. He holds ATP, commercial, and Gold Seal flight instructor certificates with SEL, SES, MEL, CFII, MEI, and CE-525S ratings. He has been a full-time flight instructor since 1992.

Rochfort has researched, written, and published hundreds of articles and demonstration videos specific to the operation of the Piper PA-46 aircraft. This body of work is available online at the PA-46 Pilot reference library and is the only collection of its kind in the world. These videos have been viewed more than 2.5 million times and Rochfort’s YouTube channel has over 10,000 subscribers. He serves the PA-46 community worldwide and his training programs are PA-46 type-specific, insurance industry approved, FAA/Industry Training Standards (FITS) approved, FAA Wings approved, and are fully insured.

Rochfort is director emeritus of the Malibu Mirage Owners and Pilots Association (M/MOPA), and instructor emeritus of the M/MOPA Safety and Training Foundation. He is a member of EAA and NBAA. He is the official Meridian instructor for Red Bull air racer Kirby Chambliss and Team Chambliss.

Rochfort worked from 1976 until 1991 as an industrial engineer training manufacturing personnel to produce communication and navigation equipment for the United States military. Before that, he served as a Green Beret staff sergeant E-6, B Company, 2nd Battalion, U.S. Army Special Forces Airborne as an A Team radio operator, training indigenous personnel in field radio communications and other critical skills.

His education includes undergraduate degrees in clinical psychology and engineering, and a master’s degree in business administration. Rochfort lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife and has two daughters. He is a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified Open Water Scuba instructor, a DAN (Divers Alert Network) certified first aid instructor, and an Eagle Scout.