Andrew Walton

Biography

Andrew serves as the Director of Safety for the School of Aeronautics. He developed and oversees the Safety Reporting Program, Flight Data Monitoring, the Flight Risk Assessment Tool, aviation incident management, risk management, and the Emergency Response Plan. He also spends a few days each year instructing other safety professionals at the University of Southern California, and manages the Missionary Aviation Flight Operations Quality Assurance (MA-FOQA) program through Mission Safety International (MSI).

A British–American, he dreamed of becoming a pilot after flying in the jump seat of a DC-3 over the Caribbean. In High School, he was part of the Royal Air Force Air Training Corps, where he solo’d a motorglider. Andrew has flown over 30 different types of aircraft, including a Stearman biplane, PA-18 Supercub, Cessna 180, Helio Courier, and the Douglas C-47.

Andrew was awarded the 2022 UAA John K. Lauber Safety Award, in recognition of outstanding achievement in aviation safety.

Certifications

Pilot: Airline Transport Pilot Airplane Multiengine Land, Commercial Pilot Airplane Single-engine Land

Mechanic: Airframe and Powerplant

Flight Instructor: CFI, CFII, MEI (Gold Seal)

Ground Instructor: Advanced Ground Instructor

Professional or notable memberships

Chair of the University Aviation Association (UAA) Safety Committee

Member of the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee (GAJSC) Safety Analysis Team

Member of the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) Issues Analysis Team

Courses Taught

Safety Management Systems (AVIA 409); Aviation Safety Data Analysis (AVIA 419)

Life Verse

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Research Interests

Andrew’s research interests include reducing the risk of Loss of Control In-Flight and the practical application of flight data for safety assurance.