Scott S. Burgess

Title
Associate Professor, College of Aviation; Chief, U.S. Flight Operations
Email
Department
Department of Flight
College
College of Aviation

Office Hours

0800-1700 Central or by appointment

Areas of Expertise

Rotorcraft Safety

Flight Operations

Unmanned Systems flight and operations

Operational, Team and Personal Security

Scott S. Burgess

Education: Dr. Scott Burgess began his academic career as an undergraduate student, graduating from Oregon State University. Served 27 years in the US Army, and graduated from the US Army Command and Staff College and the USAF Air Command and Staff College. He earned a Master of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University while at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, and Ph.D. from Northcentral University. Now, Dr. Burgess continues that academic career as a full-time faculty member in the Worldwide Campus, College of Aviation, Department of Flight. 

Experience:  

Dr. Burgess' 36+ years of aviation experience includes both military and civil aviation organizations.

  • Qualified on seven military and civilian helicopters (among them, the Schweizer 269, Robinson R-22, AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey, OH-58 Kiowa,
  • Several years as Liaison Officer flying in an F-15E Strike Eagle as a functioning Weapons Systems Officer).
  • Strategic airlift aircraft deployments, and even exiting them in flight.
  • Built extensive experience in small UAS' with the  Dept. of Flight.
  • Appointed to a term on the Board of Directors for the Helicopter Association International as a UAS Special Advisor
  • Appointed to the Board of Directors at the Alliance for Quiet Electric Aircraft

Background at Embry-Riddle;

  • Started as a Worldwide graduate student in 1997
  • Assigned to the Prescott Campus as the Army ROTC detachment commander
  • Was requested to help the campus to study, market, and develop a new academic program in rotorcraft. Burgess ran this program from 2002-2007
  • Awarded the (Prescott) College of Aviation Faculty of the Year in 2006-2007
  • Moved to the Worldwide Campus in January of 2008, chairing University's largest degree program, joined the Department of Flight in 2017
  • Awarded the (Worldwide) College of Aeronautics Faculty of the Year in 2017-2018
  • Awarded the (Worldwide) College of Aeronautics Co-Researcher of the Year in 2019-2020
  • Awarded the (Worldwide) College of Aviation Co-Researcher of the Year in 2021-2022
  • Co-Principal Investigator on three separate externally funded grants ($5.5M) under the FAA Center of Excellence for UAS Research; Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE)
  • Professor Burgess is Tenured

Worldwide Campus has fully integrated UAS Flight and Scott has brought his deep background in flight curriculum and flight instruction into this program.   Burgess is a SME in Infrastructure and Utility Inspections.

Interests: Scott designed, engineered, and built his Energy Star-rated home on 600 acres of family land along the Brazos River in Haskell County, Texas. In his free time, Burgess ranches with his wife, acts as a certified license to carry instructor for the State of Texas, and serves as an adjunct instructor at Gunsite Academy in Arizona during summers in support of a program he began at the Prescott Campus in 2002. 

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, Northcentral University
  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Oregon State University
  • NIST sUAS Test Methods Proctor - Airborne Public Safety Association
  • Certified Level I Thermographer - Infrared Training Center (ITC)
  • Remote Pilot Instructor - Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
  • Remote Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Certified Member Aviation Accreditation Board International - AABInternational
  • Commercial Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • ASCI 428: Adv Helicopter Sys & Functions
  • UNSY 235L: sUAS Flight & Mission Plan Lab
  • UNSY 235: sUAS Flight & Mission Planning
  • UNSY 515: sUAS Operation Fundamentals

Course Developments-


PRESCOTT CAMPUS
AS 142 Private Helicopter Operations
AS 242 Commercial Helicopter Operations
AS 342 Instrument Helicopter Operations
AS 442 Certified Flight Instructor, Helicopter
AS 378 Environmental Helicopter Operations
AS 388 Helicopter Flight Planning
AS 246 Basic Navigation
STG 395R Personal Security and Defensive Skills
ALL Military Science

WORLDWIDE CAMPUS
ASCI 560 Rotorcraft Operations
ASCI 602 Air Transportation
ASCI 202 Aeronautical Science for Management
ASCI 317 Rotorcraft
ASCI 428 FMS/Autopilots for Helicopters
ASCI 388 Helicopter Flight Planning
ASCI 378 Environmental Helicopter Operations
ASCI 438 Advanced Helicopter Operations

ASCI 490 Aeronautical Science Capstone Course

SFTY 409 Aviation Safety

TRAN 274 Transportation Science

TRAN 411 Strategic Intermodal Alliances

UNSY 515 sUAS Operation Fundamentals

UNSY 235 sUAS Flight and Mission Planning

SUAS 2000 sUAS Ground School

SUAS 1400 sUAS for Inspections

SUAS 4000FOI Fundamentals of Instruction

Publications

Cerreta, J., Burgess, S., Colman, E., Coleman, J. (2020).  UAS for public safety operations: A comparison of point cloud data. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College of Aeronautics Internal Research Project. Internally supported with DoF equipment and concurrent travel.

Marcham, C., Clark, P., Burgess, S., Cerreta, C., Solti, J., Breault, B. Marcham, J. (Submitted to JATE Jan 20). Remote sensing viability and application of integrating existing commercial-off-the-shelf sensors with small unmanned aircraft systems. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College of Aeronautics Internal Research Funding

Burgess, S., (2020).   Practical flight assessment apparatus construction design. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus, College of Aeronautics, Department of Flight.

Burgess, S., Cerreta, J., Clark, P. & Bailey, G. (in progress). sUAS/Drones as Airport Assessment Tools. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College of Aeronautics Internal Research Funding Proposal

Burgess, S.S., & Colborn, M., (2019).  Unmanned Systems Can Save Lives in High-Risk Manned Operations. Rotor, 32(2), 36-39. Retrieved from https://www.rotor.org/resource? ArtMID=493&ArticleID=3921

Colborn, M., Burgess, S.S., & Keeton, W.M., (2019). Helicopter safety enhancement (H-SE 90): Identifying how uas/opa can reduce fatal accidents in high risk manned helicopter operations (h-se) 90 formal report. United States Helicopter Safety Team. Retrieved from http://ushst.org/Portals/0/H-SE%2090%20Formal%20Report.pdf

McMullen, S. A. H., Henderson, T., Burgess, S., Clark, P. J., & Ison, D. (2018). From sensors to knowledge: The challenge of training the next generation of data analysts. Paper presented at the , 10653 106530S-106530S-17. doi:10.1117/12.2304885

Kiernan, K.M., Cerreta, J.S., & Burgess, S.S., (2018). Contributions in development. In Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Trusted Operator ProgramTM Protocol Certification Manual. (2018).  Arlington, VA: AUVSI

Cerreta, J.S., Burgess, S.S., Thirtyacre, D.L., Kiernan, K.M., (2018). ERAU department of flight: Flight operations manual. Daytona Beach FL: ERAU Worldwide Department of Flight. Retrieved from https://myerauedu.sharepoint.com/teams/WW_UAS/SitePages/ Home.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fteams%2FWW%5FUAS%2FShared%20Documents%2FAUVSI%20TOP%20Program&FolderCTID=0x0120001FBD348AC232BF45A9D99777E74BBBC7&View=%7B80F31193%2D3BE2%2D4935%2DBD5D%2DCA684A4C2A83%7D

Cerreta, J.S., Burgess, S.S., & Thirtyacre, D.L., (2018). ERAU department of flight: Standard operating procedures manuals. Daytona Beach FL: ERAU Worldwide Department of Flight. Retrieved from https://myerauedu.sharepoint.com/teams/WW_UAS/SitePages/ Home.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fteams%2FWW%5FUAS%2FShared%20Documents%2FAUVSI%20TOP%20Program&FolderCTID=0x0120001FBD348AC232BF45A9D99777E74BBBC7&View=%7B80F31193%2D3BE2%2D4935%2DBD5D%2DCA684A4C2A83%7D

Cerreta, J.S., Burgess, S.S., & Thirtyacre, D.L., (2018). ERAU department of flight: Aircraft flight checklists. Daytona Beach FL: ERAU Worldwide Department of Flight. Retrieved from https://myerauedu.sharepoint.com/teams/WW_UAS/SitePages/ Home.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fteams%2FWW%5FUAS%2FShared%20Documents%2FAUVSI%20TOP%20Program&FolderCTID=0x0120001FBD348AC232BF45A9D99777E74BBBC7&View=%7B80F31193%2D3BE2%2D4935%2DBD5D%2DCA684A4C2A83%7D

McCune, D., Cerreta, J.S., Burgess, S.S., Thirtyacre, D.L., & Kiernan, K.M., (2018). ERAU department of flight: Safety management system. Daytona Beach FL: ERAU Worldwide Department of Flight. Retrieved from https://myerauedu.sharepoint.com/teams/WW_UAS/SitePages/ Home.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fteams%2FWW%5FUAS%2FShared%20Documents%2FAUVSI%20TOP%20Program&FolderCTID=0x0120001FBD348AC232BF45A9D99777E74BBBC7&View=%7B80F31193%2D3BE2%2D4935%2DBD5D%2DCA684A4C2A83%7D

Burgess, S.S., Boyd, S., & Boyd, D., (2018). Fatal General Aviation Accidents in Furtherance of Business (1996-2015) - Rates, Risk Factors and Accident Causes. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering, 8(1) doi:10.7771/2159-6670.1185

McMullen, A.H., Henderson, T., Burgess, S.S., Clark, P.J., Ison, D., (2018). From Sensors to Knowledge: The Challenge of Training the Next Generation of Data Analysts. Submitted to International Society of Optics and Photonics.

Bowen, B., Burgess, S., Bowen, E. (2018, June). Final Report to the Ministry of Education. Abu Dubai, UAE. 28pps.

Burgess, S. S., Walton, R. O., & Politano, P. (2018). Characteristics of Helicopter Accidents Involving Male and Female Pilots. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 5(2). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/ijaaa/vol5/iss2/4

Bowen, E., Burgess, S., Khanal, B. Bowen, B., (2017). Initial report of the external review team: Program review for Bachelor of Science-Aviation Science and Bachelor of Science-Aviation Support, Higher Colleges of Technology/Khalifa bin Zayed Air College. Confidential report prepared for Commission for Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Education for the United Arab Emirates. 30pps.

U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (October 2017). Helicopter safety enhancement: Loss of control-inflight, unintended flight in imc, and low-altitude operations.  Retrieved from http://www.ushst.org/portals/49/USHST%20LOCI%20UIMC%20LALT%20Final%20Report_2017Oct3.pdf

Burgess, S. S. & Walton R. O., Politano, P. M., & Mesarosova, K. (Aug 2017). Age differences in helicopter accidents: A preliminary investigation. Paper and poster for the National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS), Daytona Beach, FL (Accepted)

Burgess, S.S. & Vincenzi, D.A., (2017, June). Asynchronous Progression with Undergraduate Research from Introduction to Capstone.  Seminar conducted at the Council for Undergraduate Research Program Director, Undergraduate Research Collaborations Conference, Flagstaff, AZ.

Bowen, B., Holt, T., Luedtke, J., Fink, M., Burgess, S., Ison, D., & Watson, H., (2017, June). Designing a Virtual Collaboratory: Accelerating Research Connectivity.  Poster presentation at the Council for Undergraduate Research Program Director, Undergraduate Research Collaborations Conference, Flagstaff, AZ.

Burgess, S. S., Walton R. O., & Politano, P. M. (2017). Gender differences in helicopter crashes (Submitted to journal)

Bjellos, D.M., Burgess, S.S., Watts, M.E., Greenwood, E., Leverton, J., Page, J.A., Bennett, R. (2017). Fly Neighborly: Techniques for noise abatement. Helicopter Association International, Alexandria, VA.

Burgess, S.S. (2016), A systems theory approach for studying safety management systems for operations of small helicopter organizations. (Doctoral Dissertation). ProQuest.

Terwilliger B., Thirtyacre D., Ison, D., Kleinke, S., Burgess, S., Cerreta, J.S., & Walach, C. (2016). Consumer multirotor sUAS evaluation and training. International Journal of Unmanned Systems Engineering, 4(2), 1-18. doi: 10.14323/ijuseng.2016.5

Burgess, S.S. & Moran, K., Use of virtual environments for simulation of accident investigation (January 16, 2015). Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference. Paper 21. Retrieved from http://commons.erau.edu/ aircon/2015/Friday/21

Materna, R., Mansfield, R. E., & Walton, R. O. (2015). Aerospace Industry Report. Lulu. com. [Contributor]

Colborn, M. & Burgess, S. (2014, November).  Check your performance charts. Rotor & Wing. 48(11), 34-36.

US Helicopter Safety Team. Comparative Report, Volume 1. USJHIMDAT to USJHSAT Data. March 2014. [Contributor].
        
US Helicopter Safety Team. Comparative Report, Volume 2 USJHIMDAT to USJHSAT Data. March 2014. [Contributor].

Worrells, S.D. & Burgess, S.S. (2013). Application of case analysis to the blended modality in graduate coursework. 21st Annual Bollinger-Rosado Teaching & Learning Symposium: Research Based Learning.  Retrieved from http://commons.erau.edu/cgi/ viewcontent.cgi?article=1187&context=bollinger-rosado

Incorporation of concurrent design principles into experimental course development process [unpublished manuscript - Terwilliger, B. Hernandez, D., & Burgess, S. (2013).]. Daytona Beach, FL: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, College of Aeronautics.

Burgess, S. (2012). The Reality of Aeronautical Knowledge: The Analysis of Accident Reports Against What Aircrews are Supposed to Know. International Helicopter Safety Team.  Retrieved from http://www.ihst.org/portals/54/Reality_Aeronautical_Knowledge_21MAY12.pdf
    
Anderson, K., Burgess, S., Balog, C. & Weiland, L. (2013). BSA Capstone white paper. Daytona Beach, FL: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus, College of Aeronautics.

DiRienzo, J., Burgess, S., (2011) ASCI 438 Advanced Helicopter Operations Course Book.  Daytona Beach, FL: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, Department of Aeronautics.

Helicopter Operations and Safety Minor and Certificate A-04L, (2008). Daytona Beach, FL: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide, Department of Aeronautics.
FAR Part 141 Course Training Outlines for Private/Commercial/ Instrument/Flight Instructor Rotorcraft-Helicopter. (2007). Prescott, AZ: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, College of Aviation.

Helicopter Aviation Safety; NTSB Accident Reports and their Relationship to Helicopter Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight. (June 2006). [Unpublished manuscript]. Prescott, AZ: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, College of Aviation.

Aeronautical Science Degree - Helicopter Flight Program, Viability Study, Curriculum Proposal A-04K, and Business Plan. Published (2005) and re-submitted (Approved 2008), Prescott, AZ: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, College of Aviation.

Helicopter Operations and Safety Minor Curriculum A-04K, Proposal (Approved), (2005). Prescott, AZ: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, College of Aviation.

Personal Security and Defensive Skills Curriculum Proposal A-04L. Published for curriculum inclusion. (2003).Prescott, AZ: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, College of Aviation.

Ground Training Syllabi for all ERAU Helicopter Academics, Published and FAA Approved, (2007). Prescott, AZ: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, College of Aviation.

Forward Deployment of Air Traffic Control. Lakenheath Air Base, UK. [Unpublished Masters Graduate Research Project], (1999). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University- Extended Campus

Standing Operational Procedures (1996). US Army Air Traffic Control, US Army Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany.

Annexes to Operational Plans for global air transportation operations of a 17,000 employee organization. 1989

Flight Research and Testing

Burgess, S.S., & Cerreta, J.S., (2018). Sling-load harness system for external sensor wind effects testing.  Supporting funded internal research.  

Thirtyacre, D.L. & Burgess, S.S., (2018). Flight testing propeller aeropoints [ground control point recording devices]. Eatonville, WA, Rule, TX, Prescott, AZ: ERAU, Worldwide, Department of Flight

Thirtyacre, D.L., Cerreta, J.S., Burgess, S.S., Thompson, T., Kiernan, K., & Kleinke, S. (2018).  Sensor upgrade for Parrot Disco platform airframe modification: Flight testing and verification. Eatonville, WA, Rule, TX, Atchison, KS, Prescott, AZ, Boulder, CO: ERAU, Worldwide, Department of Flight
 
Thirtyacre, D.L. & Burgess, S.S., & Cerreta, J.S., (2018).  FEDEX UAS Inspections Flight and Sensor test.  Memphis, TN: ERAU, Worldwide, Department of Flight

Inexa Control Software [UAS software test]. Bingen, WA: Insitu INC.

UgCS [UAS software test] Riga, Latvia: SPH Engineering

Cerreta, J.S., Burgess, S.S., & Thirtyacre, D.L. (2018).  AUVSI TOPTM level 2 & 3 practical flight assessment standards.  

Burgess, S.S., (2018).  AUVSI TOPTM Level 2 & 3 Practical Flight Assessment Apparatus design, construction, flight testing. Rule, TX: ERAU, Worldwide, Department of Flight

Burgess, S.S., Cerreta, J.S., & Thirtyacre, D.L. (2018). UAS sensor research: Aircraft part debris field [multiple sets] in support of Predictive UAS emergency management sensor detection analysis and application.  Rule, TX, Atchison, KS, Eatonville, WA: ERAU, Worldwide, Department of Flight.

Thirtyacre, D.L., Burgess, S.S., & Cerreta, J.S., (2018). Internal compartment modifications to Parrot Disco for GoPro Hero 5 for large area data acquisition for 2D orthomosaic construction. Rule, TX, Eatonville, WA, Atchison, KS: ERAU, Worldwide, Department of Flight.

Grants                                         

Deters, R. W., Burgess, S., Kleinke, S., & Norman, N. (n.d.) Measuring the Changes in Performance of Quadrotors with Different Propellers. Internal grant, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL (Co-Investigator; $9700 awarded; Note: research project was subsequently merged with the following to allow also cross examination between test stand and flight data for sUAS)

Marcham, C., Burgess, S., Clark, P. & Cerreta, J. (n.d.). Approved funded research (2018-2019); Remote Sensing Viability and Application of Integrating Existing Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Sensors with Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Plan. C. Marcham, S. Burgess, P. Clark, S. McMullen, and J. Cerreta. Award approved.

Burgess, S.S., Leary, M., (2018).  Carnegie Award: Upgrade of the Virtual Hub to expand Community Knowledge.  Requested $350,000 to integrate/update ERAU Worldwide virtual lab.

Wallace, R., McMullen, S.H., Henderson, T., Burgess, S.S., Clark, P.J., & Marcham, C., (2018).  Unmanned Aircraft Systems as Airport Inspection Tools: An Exploratory Study of Technology. Submitted as ERAU First Grant.

Walton, R.O., Politano, P. M., Mesarosova, K., Politano, A., Irmer, T., Burgess, S. S. (2017). Age limitations for commercial air transport pilots. Submitted to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA.2017.HVP.12). Total grant request $200,000. (Submitted August 2017).

Walton, R. O., Watkins, D. V., Burgess, S. (2017). Knowledge Alliance Towards Aviation and Academic research (KATANA). Submitted to European Union Erasmus+ KA2 program for $170,000 (ERAU portion), total grant $1,055,000. (Submitted February 2017).
    
Burgess, S., Ison, D., Sanders, B., Vincenzi, D., Weiland, L., & Whealan-George, K. (2016). Transitioning to the Virtual Classroom (TVC). Grant application for FAA Center of Excellence for Technical Training and Human Performance.  

Bowen, B.D., Holt, T.B., Vasigh, B., Ison, D., Burgess, S., Fink, M. & et al. (2016, October). Institute for Global Air Transport Analytics (IGATA) – An ERAU Center of Research Excellence. Submitted to ERAU Accelerate Research Initiative for $50,000. Pre-proposal approved.

Former Army Aviator and AH-1 Instructor Pilot

FAA Certified Flight Instructor, Commercial Pilot, Remote Pilot

AUVSI Trusted Operator Program Level 3 Remote Pilot Instructor

FLIR Level I Thermographer

Associate Professor

State of Texas, License to Carry Instructor
Adjunct Instructor, Gunsite Academy
Master Mason, Past Master, District Deputy Grand Master (2018), A.F.& A.M. Grand Lodge of Texas

2003 US Army, National ROTC Instructor of the Year

2003-2004/2004-2005 Who's Who of America's Teachers

2004-2005 Who's Who of America's Executives and Professionals

2006-2007 Prescott Campus, College of Aviation, Faculty of the Year

2017-2018 Worldwide Campus, College of Aeronautics, Faculty of the Year

2019-2020 Worldwide Campus, College of Aeronautics Co-Researcher of the Year 

2020-2021 Helicopter Association International, UAS Special Advisor to the Board of Directors

2020- Appointed to the Board of Directors at the Alliance for Quiet Electric Aircraft (organization in development)