Captain Tom Norton | back to Flight Crew

Summary
Tom has been training general aviation, military, and airline pilots for most of his twenty-five-year aviation career. Tom is an instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) in the Eclipse 500, as well as in both the Embrear 100 and 300 Corporate Jets. Tom began as an aeronautical engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, before serving in the United States Air Force as an A-10 combat and instructor pilot. Following his military service, Tom flew for Delta Air Lines and quickly became an instructor pilot and check airman in the Boeing 737.

Tom then launched into the emergent VLJ world as the Director of Training for Eclipse Aviation, building up their program from scratch while learning many lessons on what works most effectively in the unique VLJ training environment. Since 2006, Tom has been training and mentoring VLJ pilots for type ratings, recurrent training, and in the specialties of both oceanic and international procedures. After becoming the very first Eclipse 500 type-rated pilot, Tom has acquired over 2,000 hours in VLJs, flying extensively over the north Atlantic and across eastern and western Europe. Tom without a doubt has more experience than any other pilot in training pilots to transition into any VLJ.

Through his experience and positive relationships with the FAA, Tom was selected as one of only two Eclipse 500 and Phenom 100 Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE), and is authorized to administer the type-rating check ride for pilots of both of these industry-leading aircraft.

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