For emerging aviation companies, the path from inspired concept to a certified, market-ready product remains a complex journey. Modern air mobility’s future hinges not just on engineering ingenuity but on navigating a labyrinth of regulations, technical standards and global authorities. For many companies innovating in drones, electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) and other advanced aviation technologies, success often depends on finding the right guide—someone who speaks the language of both regulators and industry, can translate back and forth and has the authority to move mountains. Martin Solutions and its CEO, Jose Martin, provides that bridge. The company’s work exemplifies a rare ability to move innovation from a paper napkin idea into safe, certified and market-ready operations worldwide.
Charting a Global Course: Jose Martin’s Aviation Policy and Certification Story
Martin’s reputation as a leading international expert in certification is rooted in a career that spans multiple countries, regulatory systems and industry sectors. Trained initially as an engineer, Martin’s early years at Bell Helicopter exposed him to the nuts and bolts of aircraft manufacturing and certification. Eventually, his expertise in aviation led him to become the Transport Canada (TC) manager for the Quebec region, where he played a role in shaping Canadian aviation policy and supporting certification for new technologies.
Martin’s drive to influence aviation safety and enable groundbreaking innovation didn’t stop at the Canadian border. He moved to the United States and earned a unique distinction as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Engineering Representative (DER)—one of a select group of professionals entrusted to stand in for the FAA and help determine if complex aircraft designs meet stringent regulatory standards.
This cross-continental experience laid the foundation for Martin Solutions, built from the ground up to bridge the worlds of aviation technology creators and global regulatory bodies. The company delivers both certification and strategic clarity to clients desiring to operate globally.
FAA DER: Guardian of Airworthiness
The role of an FAA DER is key to understanding Martin Solutions’ unique value. A DER is not just a senior engineer—they’re effectively a delegate of the FAA, authorized to review, test and certify that engineering data and modifications meet rigorous airworthiness and safety standards. These individuals must possess deep technical knowledge, extensive professional experience and a history of good judgement in their specialization. They act as critical extensions of civil aviation authorities who ensure that the technical, compliance and safety legs of certification are met. Jose Martin is one of these people.
What sets Martin apart is his dual perspective, both an independent DER and an entrepreneurial leader. This enables him to interpret regulatory intent, foresee potential compliance pitfalls and communicate on equal footing with both regulators and industry stakeholders. This rare skill proves especially indispensable for clients with novel aircraft, drones or systems that push beyond the boundaries of conventional regulations.
A Full-Stack Certification Partner: From Concept to Approval
Make no mistake. Martin Solutions is not a consultancy. It’s a regulatory operating system for aviation—run by elite DERs, former regulators and industry insiders who know how to get your product to ‘yes’ with authorities worldwide. It offers a comprehensive suite of services across the entire certification pipeline by providing pragmatic, hands-on assistance for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), drone startups, avionics component suppliers and ecosystem technology providers.
Clients benefit from the company’s ecosystem approach. Martin Solutions partners with engineering heavyweights like the National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) for advanced simulation, environmental testing and digital twin modeling. Collaboration extends through to manufacturing partners ready to design tooling and test fixtures, even for clients lacking in-house capabilities.
From initial safety case construction and risk assessment to the execution of Monte Carlo simulations, system engineering and manufacturing process guidance, Martin Solutions covers every leg of the certification journey. The team is experienced in supporting both Part 23 (small fixed-wing aircraft), Part 27 (rotorcraft), and the increasingly relevant 14 CFR 21.17(b) “special class” category, often used for emerging eVTOLs and large, complex drones.
Perhaps most importantly, Martin Solutions isn’t limited to airframe certification. The company also assists in demonstrating compliance for critical subsystems, such as detect-and-avoid technologies or parachute recovery systems. It conducts the kind of rigorous, empirical testing and documentation required by regulators worldwide.
True to its aim, Martin Solutions excels at crafting clear, regulator-facing safety arguments and comprehensive certification packages. The team blends deep technical knowledge with regulatory acumen, which ensures that every engineering solution comes backed with a clear, persuasive path to approval.
Words Matter: Translating Regulatory Language Across Borders
One of the most nuanced but vital services Martin Solutions provides centers on language. In aviation, terminology is more than semantics. A word or acronym can mean different things to the FAA, EASA (Europe), ANAC (Brazil), or TC (Canada). Using the wrong language can lead to confusion, rework and delays on the road to certification. (See the most recent AG coverage of Operations AMB Michelle Duquette’s “Words Matter” series here).
Martin explained, “One of the biggest things is to understand both sides. To achieve the best result, you need to understand what the regulator is looking for and what your client is looking for.” He is a champion of bridging these communication gaps.
“That is the work that we do—providing options and also language,” Martin continued. “In a lot of cases, people may not understand each other because of the terminology they are using.” For example, individuals from Silicon Valley or from the military use language known to them, but perhaps foreign to civil aviation authorities.
He and his team serve as translators, not just of language, but of concepts and expectations. For example, “safety continuity” (U.S.) and “proportionality” (Europe) may be two phrases for similar regulatory philosophies on either side of the Atlantic. Martin Solutions helps clients understand how their prior certification work in one region can often be adapted, rather than wholly redone, for another regulatory landscape.
This ability to interpret, adjust and harmonize technical documentation, risk assessments and compliance packages remains crucial for clients seeking to operate globally. It’s also the foundation for smoother, faster approvals and the kind of flexibility required to adapt to evolving regulatory environments.
Navigating the “Big Four”: A Truly Global Certification Practice
Martin Solutions’ client roster and project portfolio stretch around the world. The firm is highly active with the “Big Four” civil aviation authorities—FAA, EASA, ANAC and Transport Canada. These agencies often have different processes, risk tolerance and approval requirements. For a business looking to scale internationally, having an expert who can align complex certification packages with each authority’s needs offers a decisive competitive advantage.
Martin’s experience in policy and certification work for multiple authorities means clients do not need to start from scratch every time. He helps adapt evidence, run parallel risk management processes (like the SORA in Europe and FAA Order 8040.4 in the U.S.), and ensures technical and operational arguments remain robust across borders. Whether the mission involves beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone flights, eVTOL launches or legacy aircraft system upgrades, Martin Solutions removes barriers and unlocks markets for its clients.
Success Stories: From Exemptions to Type Certificates
Martin Solutions built its track record on delivering successful outcomes for cutting-edge aviation projects, often where others fear to tread. The team has supported exemptions for drones above the standard 55-pound Part 107 limit, helping companies navigate the rigorous process of obtaining FAA and other approvals for large UAS operations across North America and beyond, including under Part 44807. (See prior AG Coverage by Energy AMB Nate Ernst on Part 44807 here).
They have guided companies through durability and reliability testing regimes, paved the way for new entrants to earn type certifications, and supported innovative technologies such as detect-and-avoid systems, advanced avionics, and emergency parachute recovery for new aircraft under various regulatory frameworks. These successes highlight the value of having a “bridge” to certification—one that links technology providers directly with regulators in a transparent, supportive and highly informed way.
Martin Solutions’ expertise is sharply focused on the regulatory codes that matter most for the future of aviation. These include:
- 14 CFR Part 23: Certification for small fixed-wing aircraft.
- 14 CFR Part 27 and 29: Standards for small and large rotorcraft, respectively.
- 14 CFR Part 33 and 35: Engines and propellers.
- 14 CFR 21.17(b): Often leveraged for new categories of aircraft (such as eVTOLs) where existing standards do not apply, allowing tailored certification bases using elements borrowed from established rules.
Through a mix-and-match approach, Martin Solutions helps clients define a certification path that combines relevant requirements from these parts—essential for unique, advanced or hybrid aircraft that don’t fit neatly into historical boxes.
Next Up: The Certification Dashboard
With harmonization efforts intensifying among global regulatory authorities, the demand for clarity and speed in certification is only growing. Martin Solutions is responding with an ambitious new tool: a UAS certification dashboard. This dashboard aims to centralize and translate differences between SORA, FAA Order 8040.4, and other key standards, effectively becoming a living translation and analysis platform for the global regulatory environment.
Initially available to clients through a dedicated portal, the dashboard will offer data-driven insights into how certification terms, definitions and requirements align—and where they differ—across jurisdictions. The goal is to provide actionable guidance so companies can plot efficient, successful paths to certification in multiple markets without duplication of effort or confusion.
The dashboard is set to launch following the anticipated formalization of new rules, such as Part 108, and will be updated as regulatory harmonization advances through various standards and regulatory bodies.
Building the Future: Trust, Expertise for and Global Vision
At its core, Martin Solutions embodies the spirit of trusted partnership and global citizenship. For Martin, the work is personal—he describes his role as enabler, teacher and lifelong learner. The company’s door is open to complex challenges, and its network of partners, clients and stakeholders extends to every corner of modern aviation.
And the tougher the challenge, the better. “We are humble. We are trying to learn all the time,” Martin explained. “This new technology shows us all the time that there are new ideas out there, some which have never even been thought about. We are very happy to have the opportunity of learning—that is who we are.”
Aviation’s next breakthroughs won’t come solely from new airframes or smarter algorithms; they’ll come from the visionaries willing to build bridges and navigate the regulatory skies like Martin Solutions, a team of airworthiness experts—FAA DERs, ex-regulators, and seasoned industry pros—who specialize in one thing: getting your product approved by the world’s most demanding authorities. Martin Solutions is not just enabling flight—it’s reshaping the way regulators and innovators collaborate, one certificate at a time.Watch Jose Martin on the Dawn of Autonomy podcast here.
By: Dawn Zoldi