Fabrice Kunzi, Ph.D.

President

Fabrice Kunzi is President of Avidyne Corporation, a leading innovator in integrated avionics systems for general aviation, advanced air mobility (AAM), and business aircraft. With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of aviation technology and safety, Dr. Kunzi brings a rare combination of technical depth, regulatory insight, and entrepreneurial leadership to the aerospace sector.

His aviation journey began in Switzerland—as a young pilot biking to the airport long before he could drive. That early passion brought him to the University of North Dakota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering while completing flight training. He later earned his Master’s and Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where his doctoral research—sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—led to the development of a groundbreaking collision alerting algorithm based on Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B). This system has since become the international reference standard for ADS-B-based airborne collision avoidance. His work earned him the William E. Jackson Award for outstanding contributions to aviation safety.

Before joining Avidyne, Dr. Kunzi held senior leadership roles across both government and commercial aerospace sectors. At SkyGrid, a joint venture between Boeing and SparkCognition focused on ground-based air traffic services for drones and autonomous flight, he served as Chief Product Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he was Chief Engineer for the Detect and Avoid (DAA) system at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), where he also led commercialization efforts for unmanned aircraft safety systems.

Dr. Kunzi is an active contributor to global aviation standards and policy, serving on committees for RTCA (formerly the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). His work helps shape the international regulatory and technical frameworks that enable both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft to operate safely in shared airspace.

A licensed pilot himself, Dr. Kunzi holds a U.S. Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument (IFR) and multi-engine ratings, as well as a Swiss Private Pilot License. He continues to champion the integration of cutting-edge R&D into scalable safety solutions that serve the global aviation community and the flying public at large.

View Fabrice’s LinkedIn Profile.