Christopher Horton

Christopher Horton is a highly accomplished FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) based in the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa area of Southern California. His aviation career began at the age of 12, leading to decades of professional experience and an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating, along with airplane qualifications. Currently serving as the Assistant Chief Instructor and Director of Safety at HeliStream, Horton has logged over 5,000 hours of dual instruction, mentoring pilots across various skill levels and mission profiles.

Renowned for his safety-focused mindset, Horton was the recipient of the 2014 AgustaWestland Safety Excellence Award from Helicopter Association International (HAI). His expertise includes advanced maneuvers such as Night Vision Goggle (NVG) touchdown autorotations, vertical reference/external load, and high-density altitude operations. Previously, he served as the Manager of Flight Operations for Guidance Aviation in Arizona, where he focused on implementing robust Safety Management Systems (SMS) and accident mitigation strategies. As a dedicated FAASTeam Representative, Horton remains a leading voice in human factors and pilot education, ensuring the highest standards of safety within the aviation community.