Capt. Richard E. Horton
Phone: 703.777.1257
E-mail: phorton@avops.com

Professional Experience and Positions Held

Principal, and Senior Director, Aviation Operations Solutions, LLC (AOS)

Involved in creating the vision, structure, and governances. of the company. Participates in all aspects of AOS business and provides consultation services to clients of the company.

1991 - 1998  Chief pilot, United Airlines, Washington, DC
Management and administrative responsibility for pilots assigned at all three Washington area airports, including layover crews, their transportation and layover facilities, and managed domicile expenditures within budget each year. Represented United Airlines with the FAA, Airport Authorities, F.B.I., and the many other agencies and entities involved in international airline operation. Provided technical support to the twenty seven United stations in the South East Region. Maintained a positive and productive relationship with the Air Line Pilots Association, receiving an invitation to speak at their national Professional Standards Committee meeting, and a Resolution of Congratulations when Captain Horton won the Flight Operations Division Award. The Domicile Staff was awarded the Flight Operations Divisions “Teamwork” award the first year it was awarded.

Conducted incident and accident investigations. Assisted Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board in accident investigation involving aircraft deicing procedures. Conducted investigations and hearings on EEO and ADA allegations and served as hearing officer on grievance and discipline issues.

Worked with the F.B.I., FAA, Airport Security, and law enforcement to design and implement Air Transportation Security rules and regulations for the newly designated Class X Airports. Participated with the F.B.I. Hostage Rescue Team in live training exercises involving aircraft hijacking, and provided technical and operational assistance to the F.B.I. when requested.

Captain Horton entered the Chief Pilot position at the time of the introduction of Trans Atlantic flying by United. The Domicile then supported United’s Flight Center training and qualification requirements in the inauguration of the Caribbean, Central and South American, flying. The B-777 was introduced at the Washington Domicile and flew its first revenue flight from there. The outstanding performance of the plane, the Domicile, and the Station, won the Collier Trophy for Boeing, who included United Airlines as Co-Winner of the Award.

1988 - 1991  Flight Manager, United Airlines, Washington, DC
Assisted Chief Pilot in management of Domicile pilots and represented the Chief Pilot and Flight Operations when directed. Conducted accident and incident investigations. Conducted a study and submitted a report of the Line Check Airman position at United. The study insured that the best candidates would apply; and that their training and utilization would result in cost effective and high quality training of line pilots. Maintained Line Check Airman status and performed Line Checks and Qualification Flights in addition to the normal duties of a Flight Manager.

1966 - 1998 Pilot, United Airlines
Captain Horton retired from United Airlines with 32 years of service and 19,700 hours flying time. He flew the DC-6, B-727, B-737, B-757, B-767, and DC-8 for United and holds Air Transport Pilot ratings in the B-737, B-757, B-767. He was a member of the Airline Pilots Association Professional Standards and Safety Committees. Selected Domicile Captain Of the Year, 1987.

1967 - 1972 Pilot, Virginia Air National Guard
Joined Virginia Air National Guard, Tactical Air Command

1960 - 1966 Pilot, United States Air Force
Pilot training Bainbridge, Ga., Laredo Texas, Fighter Interceptor School, Perrin AFB, Texas.
Distinguished Graduate of the F-102 Fighter Interceptor School
Flight Instructor, Flight Examiner, Member, Standardization and Evaluation Board, Maintenance Test Pilot, Flight and Ground Safety Officer, Artic Survival Specialist.

Education and Training
Full Member-The International Society of Air Safety Investigators.
Certified by Northern Virginia Mediation Services, George Mason University.
Graduate of the Certificate Program in Aviation Safety and Security, School of Engineering, University of Southern California.
Completed the “Human Factors in Aviation Safety” Course, School of Engineering, University of Southern California.
Completed the “Legal Aspects of Aviation Safety” Course, School of Engineering, University of Southern California.
Completed the "Safety Management Systems" Course, School of Engineering, University of Southern California.
Completed the “Aircraft Accident Investigation” Course, School of Engineering, University of Southern California.
Completed the “Technical Witness in Litigation” course, School of Engineering, University of Southern California.
Trained in “Deming Method” of Quality Management.
Trained in Business and Technical Mediation and issue based negotiations.
Qualified as Auditor for Air Transportation Oversight System (ATOS) audits.
USAF Artic Survival School 1964-65.
USAF Counterinsurgency School 1963.
USAF Fighter Interceptor Training !961 -1962.
USAF Survival School 1961.
USAF Pilot Training 1960-1961.
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1960.

Human Factors
Captain Horton is on the Steering Committee for United Airlines  Command/Leadership/Resource(C/L/R) training course, the equivalent of the FAA Cockpit Resource Management(CRM) course.  He was involved as a facilitator in the first course taught in the industry. As the result of an accident United was mandated to develop and present a course that would change the culture in the cockpit to not only allow, but to require the solicitation and consideration of input from other crew members by the Captain. Capt. Horton worked with the Human Factors Steering Committee in developing the C/L/R Program.  He has participated with NASA in decision making modeling and has assisted in refining decision making in the CRM, C/L/R, programs.

Awards and Recognition
•  Received “Award of Excellence in Flight Safety” from United Airlines
•  Key Note Speaker, United Airlines Leadership Conference
•  Letter of Appreciation from the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louis J Freed.
•  Guest Speaker at national meeting, Air Line Pilots Association Professional Standards Committee. No management person had been asked address this group before.
•  Received Flight Operations Division Award (highest award in the division)
For selecting and facilitating the team that designed and negotiated with the many FAA facilities involved for new arrival procedures for European flights into Washington. These procedures saved United $7,000,000 in fuel costs alone, and improved on time performance by 30%.
•  Received “Resolution of Recognition and Congratulations” from local council of Airline Pilots Association
•  Selected Domicile Captain of the Year, Washington Domicile
•  Earned the Distinguished Graduate Award, F-102 Fighter Interceptor Class.

Associations and Activities
Member of Airline Pilots Association, Air Force Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Owned aircraft sale and rental company, Member of Airport Commission, President of Parent Teacher Association, Crusade Chairman, American Cancer Society,  Curriculum Committee, Northern Virginia Community College, Member, Trout Unlimited, Member, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation,

Aircraft Flown
Piper J-3, Piper PA-18, Piper Colt, Tri Pacer, Arrow, Seneca, Aztec, Cessna-140-150,-172,-182,-210,-310.   De Havilland Chipmunk,-Beaver, Mooney 201, Beech King Air-90-100, T-6, T-33, T-34, F-84F F-89, F-100, F-102, F106. Douglas DC-3, DC-6, DC-7, DC-8. Boeing 727.-737,-757,-767