About Us
Gus Calderon
Founder
Gus Calderon is the founder of Airspace Consulting and a Commercial Pilot with decades of experience in FAA certification, technical documentation, and unmanned aircraft systems. Gus founded and operated an FAA-certificated Part 135 air charter company in Carlsbad, California. His experience working directly with the FAA established the foundation for his approach to UAS certification and approvals.
Gus has been designing, building, testing, and operating unmanned aircraft systems since 2009. He served on the design and development team for Lady Gaga's Flying Dress, the Volantis. On November 10, 2013, he piloted the aircraft carrying Lady Gaga during her ARTPOP album launch in Brooklyn, New York—a demonstration that required the successful integration of innovative UAS technology and disciplined flight operations.
His academic background in the physical sciences and decades of technical writing experience has led to certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This combination of aviation experience and technical communication enables him to translate complex operational concepts into documentation that results in operational approvals.
Since 2014, Gus has been assisting clients navigate FAA certification processes. His philosophy is straightforward: safe flight begins long before takeoff. It is achieved through disciplined planning, systematic operational safety, clear technical documentation, and the maintenance of positive operational control throughout every phase of flight.
Maha Calderon
Quality Control
Maha Calderon is a Commercial Pilot and FAA Certified Flight Instructor with instrument privileges (CFII) with more than two decades of professional aviation experience. Her background combines aviation instruction, technical editing, visual communications, and creative design, providing Airspace Consulting with a unique multidisciplinary perspective throughout the document development process.
In addition to her aviation experience, Maha is a published writer, graphic designer, and commercial photographer. Her extensive writing and editorial background enables her to transform complex technical information into clear, organized, and professionally presented documentation while ensuring consistency, readability, and attention to detail throughout every project.
Maha has long been involved in the advancement of unmanned aircraft operations and possesses a thorough understanding of FAA regulations, operational documentation, and the importance of developing standardized procedures that support safe and compliant UAS operations. She recognizes that successful FAA submissions require not only technical accuracy but also clarity and consistency.
At Airspace Consulting, Maha is responsible for the editorial review, formatting, and quality assurance of client documentation. Every manual, operational procedure, and certification package undergoes a comprehensive editorial review to verify technical consistency and professional presentation before submission to the client or the FAA.
Professional Affiliations
Successful FAA certification projects sometimes require expertise from multiple disciplines, including engineering, manufacturing,and aviation law. Airspace Consulting maintains professional relationships with respected industry specialists whose experience complements our FAA certification consulting services. When appropriate, we are pleased to recommend trusted professionals who can provide specialized expertise in support of our clients' certification and operational objectives.
Airspace Consulting has maintained a long-standing professional relationship with aviation attorney Jonathan Rupprecht, a nationally recognized authority on unmanned aircraft law and FAA regulatory matters. While our organizations operate independently, we frequently collaborate by referring clients whose projects benefit from both technical FAA certification support and specialized legal counsel. This relationship allows our clients to access experienced legal guidance whenever regulatory or legal issues arise during the certification process.
Jonathan Rupprecht
Drone Attorney