Antonio Ignacio Cortes

Title
Adjunct Faculty, College of Aviation
Email
Department
Department of Applied Aerospace Science
College
College of Aviation

Office Hours

Weekdays 10:00-15:00 ET; appointments recommended

Areas of Expertise

Human performance in high consequence environments, flight operations, aviation safety, accident investigation, human factors.
Antonio Ignacio Cortes

Tony is the associate dean for the School of Graduate Studies in the College of Aviation.  He oversees master’s and doctoral degree programs, heads aviation safety research projects and teaches courses in safety management, accident investigation and human factors.  He recently co-authored the 6th Edition of the popular Commercial Aviation Safety textbook. 

In his previous position as the associate dean of Aviation, he helped oversee four academic departments and a pilot training operation that logs 75,000 flight hours and 23,000 simulation hours annually.  Prior to that, he chaired the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences, where he supervised research and learning in aerospace and occupational safety, spaceflight operations, meteorology, and air traffic management. Previously, he was an associate professor of Aeronautical Science.

His past research established a theory of false cognitive expectancies in airline pilots, helped develop a tactile simulation of airfoil icing, and determined measurable precursors to aircraft loss-of-control events through flight data monitoring. 

Tony’s real-world experience comes from having been a U.S. Air Force C-21A Learjet evaluator and instructor pilot, a C-141B aircraft commander and flight safety manager, an MD-80 pilot for Midwest Airlines, and an engineering air safety investigator at the Headquarters U.S. Air Force Safety Center.

He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master's degree from Embry-Riddle, and a Ph.D. from Northcentral University with research focused on human error on the flight deck.  His recognitions include the FAA Distinguished Service Award, the NASA Honor Award, the Tunner Award for the most outstanding airlift crew in the U.S. Air Force, the Embry-Riddle Outstanding Teaching Award and the Aeronautical Science Outstanding Performance Award.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration: Aeronautical Science Management, Northcentral University
  • M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Operations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • B.A. - Bachelor of Arts in Physics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Flight Instructor - Federal Aviation Administration
  • Airline Transport Pilot - Federal Aviation Administration
  • BSAS 345: Avia Safety Program Mgmt
  • SFTY 205: Prin of Accident Investigation

Introduction to Health, Occupational, and Transportation Safety
Crew Resource Management.
Airline Operations.
Aerodynamics.
Flight Safety.
Flight Technique Analysis.
Airport Operations Safety.
Leadership & Human Performance in High Reliability Organizations.
Aviation/Aerospace Accident Investigation and Safety Systems.
Aviation/Aerospace Industrial Safety Management.

Dissertation Research.

Cusick, S., Cortés, A., & Rodrigues, C. (2017). Commercial aviation safety (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.


Maris, J., Cortés, A., Conway, B., Liu, D., Anderson, C., and Habashi, W. (2017). An archival analysis of stall warning system effectiveness during airborne icing encounters. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.


Broyhill, C., Brady, T., Truong, D., Cortés, A., & Kelly, T. (2016). The effects of IS-BAO implementation and leadership performance on safety culture in business aviation flight operations. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.


Cortés, A. (2016, April). Accident precursor learning, sensemaking, and intervention through artificial intelligence. Paper presented at the International Society of Air Safety Investigators Military Air Safety Workshop, Albuquerque, NM.


Brady, T., Stolzer, A., Brickhouse A., Cortés, A., McCune, D., Raghavan, J., and Freiwald, D., (2015).  Marbles: The application of Input-Output concepts to Safety Management Systems.  Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 6.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7771/2159-6670.1124.


Al-Romaithi, S., Brady, T., Smith, M.J., Sabel, J., & Cortés, A. (2014). National culture: Understanding the impact of cross-culture on airline pilots’ safety performance in the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) Region. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.


A  Cortés & R Rogers. (2013, September 23). When thinking breaks down. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.safetystanddown.com/when-thinking-breaks-down/


Joslin, R., Stolzer, A., Cuevas, H., Truong, D., Cortés, A., & Shapell, S. (2013). Validation of new technology using legacy metrics: Examination of SURF-IA alerting for runway incursion incidents. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.


Cortés, A. (2013). Special technical report: Proposed parameters for human factors monitoring initiative through MFOQA. Unpublished manuscript, U.S. Air Force Safety Center Engineering and Technical Services Branch.


A  Cortés & R Rogers. (2013, May 13). Do birds have safety standdowns? [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.safetystanddown.com/do-birds-have-safety-standdowns/


Cortés, A. (2013). Special technical report: Detecting wake turbulence encounters and precursors of near departures from controlled flight via the routine analysis of flight data. Unpublished manuscript, U.S. Air Force Safety Center Engineering and Technical Services Branch.


Grasky, B., & Cortés, A. (2013, March). Control before Performance: The fighter MFOQA Program. The Combat Edge, 21, 5, 10-13.


A  Cortés & R Rogers. (2013, February 15). Empowered Accountability is an Expectation to Detect and Act. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.safetystanddown.com/empowered-accountability-is-an-expectation-to-detect-and-act/


A  Cortés. (2012, February 17). Captains of Fate: 4 Dimensions of Safety. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.safetystanddown.com/captains-of-fate-and-the-four-dimensions-of-safety/


Cortés, A. (2011, November). Safety by the numbers. The USAF MFOQA Programme. On Target: New Technology. Royal Canadian Air Force Journal, Directorate of Flight Safety, 1, 16-19.


Cortés, A. (2010, December). Safety in the 21st Century is evidence-based and proactive. The United States Air Force Journal of Aviation, Ground, Space, and Weapons Safety, 4(1), 36-37.


Cortés, A. (December, 2010). What if your aircraft could talk? MFOQA is here. The United States Air Force Journal of Aviation, Ground, Space, and Weapons Safety, 4(1), 36-37.


Cortés, A. (2010, May). Flight crew leadership. Paper presented at the 4th Bombardier-Learjet Safety Standdown , European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, Geneva, Switzerland.


Cortés, A. (2009). Can you find the clean wing? Contaminated airfoil training aid (CATA). Unpublished manuscript, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Daytona Beach.


Cortés, A. (2008). Learning theoretical concepts through community problem solving: Service-learning in flight   safety courses. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 18, 39-66.


Cortés, A. (Ed.). (2007, August). Flying big iron. Advanced piloting concepts for air transport category aircraft    (4th ed.). Available from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Bookstore, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL  32114.


Cortés, A. (2007). Don’t be a hero, just eject! In J. Clark (Ed.), Eagle Tales. Accounts of Embry-Riddle Professors Before they were Faculty pp. 39–47). Jacksonville, FL: BlueWater Press, LLC.


Cortés, A. (2006). Professors as architects of student learning. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 15, 11-16.


Cortés, A. (2006). Using informal student feedback to enhance learning. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 15, 9-11.


Cortés, A. (2006, February). Using situational scenarios to build critical analysis skills. Center for Teaching and Learning Newsletter. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 3, 1, 3-5.


Cortés, A. (2006). Organizational acculturation at JetBlue airways through values-framed instruction design. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, 16, 9-25.


Cortés, A. (2005, April). Using kikoff questions to jumpstart each class session. Center for Teaching and Learning Newsletter. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2, 2-4.


Cortés, A. (2003, January). Beware of controllers bearing gifts. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 1, 3-6.


Cortés, A. (2002, November). Save our future, one drop at a time. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 11, 5-8.


Cortés, A. (2002, May). The hidden lives of renegade wires. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 5, 5-7.


Cortés, A. (2002, March). While the dust settles. Journal of the Air Line Pilots Association, 2, 30-31.


Cortés, A. (2002, March). A sleeping giant wakes up and gets noticed. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 3, 8-10.


Cortés, A. (2002, January). Composites and the recent A300 accident. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 1, 2-5.


Cortés, A. (2001, November). The general’s foam masters, Part III. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 11, 5-9.


Cortés, A. (2001, October). The general’s foam masters, Part II. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 10, 5-9.


Cortés, A. (2001, September). The general’s foam masters, Part I. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 9, 5-9.


Cortés, A. (2000, July). Gremlin lessons. MEssenger. Midwest Air Line Pilots Association, 7, 7-8.


Cortés, A. (2000, March). Niner steps to professionalism. Warbirds Magazine, 23, 22-25.


Cortés, A. (2000, January). Part II, Gone with the prop: a tale of southern safety savvy. Safe Flyer. FAA Flight Standards District Office 17, 7, 4-5.


Cortés, A. (1999, November). Part I, Gone with the prop: a tale of southern safety savvy. Safe Flyer. FAA Flight Standards District Office 17, 3, 3-6.


Cortés, A. (1998, November). Aircraft runway incursions, the escalating threat to you. Flying Safety Magazine, 26-31.


ACADEMIC:       Head of Graduate School, Associate Dean of College, Chair of Science Department.

RESEARCH:      NextGen Flight Deck Displays, Loss-of-Control, Human Factors, Airfoil Icing, Airline Andragogy.

TEACHING:        Award-winning Associate Professor, Government Instructor, Industry Workshop Facilitator.

SAFETY:             FOQA/ASAP Manager, Engineering Air Safety Investigator, Safety Director, SMS Developer.

OPERATIONS:    MD-80 Airline Pilot, Learjet Instructor Pilot, C-141 Captain, NASA Boeing 777 Simulator Pilot.

OUTREACH:       Over 100 presentations in 9 countries (Spanish & English) and over 70 articles published.

PERSONAL:        Spaniard with U.S. Citizenship, Bilingual, Secret Security Clearance, Travel to 72 countries.

FAA L-300 Type Rating.

FAA Airline Transport Pilot (multi-engine land).

FAA Multi-Engine Instructor.

FAA Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument.

USAF Senior Pilot Wings.

USAF C-141B Air-Refueling Qualified Aircraft Commander.

USAF C-21A Evaluator Pilot.

USAF C-21A Instructor Pilot.

FAA Learjet-Series Type Rating.

USAF C-21A Aircraft Commander.

NATO Aeronautical Rating of Pilot (military wings).

FAA Certified Flight Instructor (single-engine).

FAA Commercial Pilot (single-engine land).


CURRENT ASSOCIATIONS


Flight Safety Foundation.

Advisory Council for Bombardier Safety Standdown.

International Society of Air Safety Investigators.

Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society, Lamba Eta Chapter.

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, U.S. Air Force Safety Center.                                                   

Outstanding Performance Award, Department of Aeronautical Science.

Faculty Dedication & Passion Award, Alpha Omicron Alpha Honor Society.

Outstanding Teaching Award, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Most Inspiring Faculty Award, Alpha Omicron Alpha Honor Society.

Honor Award, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Distinguished Service Award, Federal Aviation Administration.

Outstanding Strategic Airlift Crew Award, U.S. Air Force.

Aerial Achievement Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), U.S. Air Force.

Air Force Achievement Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), U.S. Air Force.

Company Grade Officer of the Year, 76th Airlift Squadron, U.S. Air Force.

Air Force Commendation Medal, U.S. Air Force.

Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.