Captain Brian Townsend, Manager and Technical Pilot for Airspace Optimization at American Airlines, supports the company’s NextGen initiatives and system airspace activities. Through his efforts, the airline has become a recognized leader in the development and successful implementation of performance-based operations resulting in optimized and integrated procedures in many areas of the NAS.  

Brian currently leads the airline’s ADS-B In program, which continues to work closely with the SBS Program Office to develop and explore the operational benefits that ADS-B can bring to the flight deck and PBN operations.

Captain Townsend also serves as a member and in leadership roles with various stakeholder groups and action teams; including the CNS (Communication, Navigation and Surveillance) Task Force, Industry Technical Pilot Work Group and as a co-chair on various PARC (Performance-Based Aviation Operations Rule Making Committee) and RTCA work groups and committees.

Supporting RTCA has been a priority for several years.  He has participated in special committees covering UAS, Data Comm, ADS-B, Trajectory Operations, Class B Airspace and Task Force 5.  More recently, Brian serves as co-chair for the PBN Blueprint and Community Outreach Task Groups and the PBN NextGen Integration Work Group.

Brian has been a professional pilot for thirty-six years; flying a variety of transport and general aviation aircraft.  He devoted seven years to general aviation as a professional flight instructor and fixed-base/airport operations manager, as well as a pilot for a Fortune 50 company, and is serving his twenty-sixth year in the ranks of a major airline.