Juan Merkt

Dr. Juan Merkt has taught in collegiate programs that educate and train aviation professionals since 1994. Presently he is an Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the Daytona Beach Campus. Merkt currently represents Embry-Riddle on the Board of Trustees of the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), the organization that sets accreditation standards for collegiate aviation programs worldwide. His research interests include aircraft energy management as a best practice to enhance aviation safety and efficiency. Merkt designed and has taught a one-of-a-kind course on Safety Principles of Aircraft Energy Management at Embry-Riddle since 2018. His work on energy management has led to collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin developing guidance materials, including writing the first chapter on energy management for the 2021 Airplane Flying Handbook. Merkt has also participated in an FAA-sponsored research project with researchers from the Florida Institute of Technology and Georgia Institute of Technology, addressing the unique energy requirements for certification of electric powered aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities (eVTOL). He has a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University and FAA commercial pilot and Gold Seal flight instructor certificates with some 1,400 hours of pilot-in-command and 1,150 hours as flight instructor.

• Academy of Model Aeronautics, since 2007
• Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), since 1989
• Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), since 1996
• Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), since 1995
• ERAU’s Eagle Flying Club (EFC), since 2023
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), since 2015
• Florida Aviation Historical Society, since 1994
• National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), since 1992
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 2017-2026
• Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), since 2013
• University Aviation Association (UAA), since 1990

• ERAU-Alpha Omicron Alpha Aeronautical Honor Society, Professor of the Year, 2024
• ERAU-Prescott College of Aviation, Teaching Innovation Award, 2019
• ERAU-Prescott Service Excellence Award, 2015, 2016
• ERAU-Prescott Scholarly Speaking Award, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• ERAU-Prescott Certificate of Appreciation as Organization Advisor, 2017
• AABI Paul Whelan Educator Award, 2013
• Jacksonville University, Aviation Advisory Board Certificate of Recognition, 2011
• AABI Tommy Award, 2007
• White Teaching Award, Ohio University, 2001
• Research Challenge Award, Ohio University, 2001
• Civil Air Patrol Certificate of Appreciation, Jacksonville University, 2000
• FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificate, 1993 - present
• Dean's Biomedical Research Scholarship, Harvard University, 1988
• Harvard-Danforth Award for Distinction in Teaching, Harvard University, 1986

AS 120: Principles of Aeronautical Science

AS 121: Private Pilot Operations

AS 199: Special Topics in Aero Science

AS 207: Introduction to Aviation Research Methods

AS 309: Aerodynamics

AS 310: Aircraft Performance

AS 316: Safety Principles of Aircraft Energy Management

AS 387: Crew Resource Management

AS 480: Applied Aviation Research Methods

UNIV 101: College Success

Anderson, C., Koons, L., Mendonca, F., Merkt, J., and Bowyer, S. (2025). Alternative unleaded fuels for general aviation piston airplanes: A pathway to sustainability. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 43(2).

Lubner, M., Seth, N., Merkt, J., and J. Zhang. (2003). Proposed education and accreditation methods for international aviation collegiate education programs. International Aviation Training Symposium, FAA Academy, Oklahoma City, OK.  September 29 – October 2, 2003.

McIntire, S., Merkt, J., Luedtke, J., Holt, T., Bowen, B., & Brown, J. (2017). Advancement in Pedagogical Foundations: Developing Language Proficiency for Student Success. The International Symposium on Aviation Psychology (ISAP), Dayton, Ohio, May 8-11, 2017.

Merkt, J., Amelink, M., and Sizoo, D. (2024). Energy Safety Management: A Training Model to Improve Flight Safety. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering: Vol. 13: Issue 1, Article 4.

Merkt, J. (2020). On the Money: Getting to Know Your Airplane as an Energy System. FAA Safety Briefing. January/February Issue.

Merkt, J. (2017). The Founder of the Jet Age: Ever Hear of Sir Frank Whittle? AOPA Pilot. Oct. 2017.

Merkt, J. (2015). Energy Management: Demystifying Altitude and Airspeed Control. Flight Training,

       27 (8): 46-49.

Merkt, J. (2015). Solving an Age-Old Debate: What Really Controls Altitude and Airspeed. Proceedings of the Aviation/Aeronautics/ Aerospace International Research Conference (A3iR Con). Phoenix, AZ. Jan. 16, 2015.

Merkt, J. (2015). Unlocking the Mysteries of Flight: From the Top Down. Proceedings of the Aviation/Aeronautics/ Aerospace International Research Conference (A3iR Con). Phoenix, AZ. Jan. 17, 2015.

Merkt, J., Groh, D., Luedtke, J., Bowen, B., and Ritchie, S. (2015). Retention and Student Success in University Flight Training Programs: A Model Process Plan. Proceedings of the University Aviation Association Fall Education Conference. Salt Lake City, UT. Oct. 7-9, 2015.

Merkt, J.R. (2014). A balancing act: Managing aircraft energy. SAFE: Aviation Safety Magazine, Summer 2014.

Merkt, J.R. (2013). Flight energy management training: Promoting safety and efficiency. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 3(1), 24-36.

Merkt, J.R. (1992). The power curve’s other side: secrets of flight control, fuel economy and energy management. Flight Training, 4(1), 26-33.

Merkt, J.R. (1991). Teaching aerodynamics from the top down. Flight Training, 3(12), 28-36.

Merkt, J.R. (1990). The power curve: Teaching the essentials of flight. Collegiate Aviation Review, University Aviation Association Fall Conference Proceedings, Fall 1990.

Terrell, J.L., Merkt, J.R., Harrison, J., Yates, R. (2013). Continuing efforts to upgrade the aeronautics curriculum at Jacksonville University. Journal of Case Studies in Education, 4, 1-13.

Wilde, M., Kish, B, Senkans, E., Kanchwala, T., Beedie, S., Harris, C., Verberne, J., Justin, C., and Merkt, J. (2022). Trajectory Energy Management Systems for eVTOL Vehicles: Modeling, Simulation and Testing. AIAA Aviation 2022 Forum, Chicago, IL.