Licenses and Certifications:
• Airline Transport Pilot – Single & Multiengine Land
• Type Ratings – DC9, B707, B720, B727, B737, B747, B757, B767, B777
• FAA Class 1 Medical
• Flight Time – Over 24,000 Hours
Professional Experience:
September 2006 to Present - Aviation Pro Consulting – Founder and principal providing accident reconstruction, consulting, and expert witness services to the legal and aviation community in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. Areas of expertise include commercial, military, and private aviation in both domestic and international areas of operation. Cases include United States District Court trial testimony in successful defense of Southwest Airlines in Venegas, et al vs. Southwest Airlines, Inc. concluding in December 2007. Provided expert witness services to the United States Department of Justice, Aviation & Admiralty Division for litigation as a result of the Comair 5191 crash in Lexington, Kentucky. Provided expert witness services to United Airlines and Southwest Airlines in Shaffy vs. United Airlines and Almeras vs. Southwest Airlines. Ongoing accident reconstruction and expert witness services involving two accidents in Canada for the law firm of McCarthy Tetrault, expert witness services for the defense in Schlunt vs. United Airlines, litigation support for legal action in the United Kingdom involving pilot employment, and continuing expert witness services to the United States Department of Justice in follow-on litigation as a result of the crash of Comair 5191.
May 1981 to Present - Continental Airlines, Inc. & People Express Airlines, Inc– Captain, Air Crew Program Designee, Instructor Pilot, and Check Airman on the MD-80, B727, B737, B747, B757, B767, & B777 aircraft flying worldwide routes. Over twenty-six (26) years experience in airline operations. Currently serving as a B777 Captain on international routes.
August 2004 to March 2007 – Continental Airlines, Inc. Safety Department, Flight Operations Quality Assurance Program (FOQA) - Air Line Pilot’s Association Safety Committee - FOQA Gatekeeper responsible for the analysis and crew contact information relative to flight recorder data for flights and crews that have exceeded standard performance criteria. Data is gathered, analyzed, de-identified, and stored for trend analysis. Identifies trends and coordinates with Flight Operations, Safety, and Flight Training to ensure the highest level of safety is attained through event monitoring and, subsequently, procedural and training modifications. Sitting member of the monthly Safety Change and Review Board to analyze data and determine if changes to programs, checklists, or aircraft modifications are necessary for continued safe operation of Continental Airlines aircraft.
August 2000 to Present – Air Line Pilot’s Association Training Committee – Captain representing the pilots of Continental Airlines through negotiations pertaining to the labor contract. Act as a Board Member and Advocate during Training Review Panels that are formed to represent pilots who are having difficulty in some portion of their training. Serve as an advisor to the Continental Airlines Training Department to develop future training programs and refine current training and evaluation programs.
January 1987 to August 1990 – Captain, Aircrew Program Designee, and Instructor Pilot - Responsible for the development of the Line Oriented Flight Training Program (LOFT) for the B747. Assisted in the development and certification of the Line Oriented Flight Training Program for the B737. Conducted Initial Operating Experience (IOE) on both the B747 and B737 aircraft for newly type rated Captains and First Officers. Maintained dual qualified and currency as an Instructor Pilot in both aircraft. Trained Continental Airlines, Aviateca Airlines, Korean Airlines, and Quantas Airlines Captains and First Officers in the B737 and B747, as well as individual contract students. Trained and certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) B747 Program Manager for Continental Airlines on the B747. Conducted over fifty aircraft training sessions in the B747 and B737 aircraft at different airfields certifying pilots in the required landing maneuvers for aircraft training course completion. Maintained certification and conducted three-engine ferry flights on Continental Airlines B747 aircraft. Conducted evacuation certification demonstration for the FAA's certification of the B747 for operations in the Continental Airlines fleet.
January 1992 to December 1995 - Deputy, Harris County Sheriff's Department, Houston, Texas – Volunteered off duty time as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Marine Division, focusing primarily on river patrol duties. Qualified as a Range Officer at the Training Academy. Received extensive training in courtroom testimony through the Sheriff Department Academy and have testified in several criminal cases for the prosecution.
January 1987 to August 1991, Flight Operations Liaison – Captain serving as the sole Flight Operations Liaison, assigned to the Safety Department, for two National Aviation Safety Inspections conducted by the FAA at Continental Airlines. Coordinated all FAA inspection findings and Continental Airlines’ responses to the FAA for both of these comprehensive inspection events.
January 1983 to January 1987, Captain & Team Manager - Responsible for the development and management of the Operations Coordination Department within People Express Airlines, Inc. This encompassed areas of Safety, Accident Prevention & Investigation, Legal Defense of Airmen, and liaison with the FAA on issues relating to airline operations. Coordinated, researched, and documented data for attorneys working on more than twenty certificate action cases relative to pilots and other operational areas, including maintenance, dispatch, and ground operation personnel.
November 1981 to January 1985, Captain & Team Manager - Responsible for $180 million fuel budget for People Express Airline. Analyzed, directed, and coordinated all activities surrounding fuel purchase and usage for airline operations including, but not limited to, spot fuel purchases, inventory management, supplier management, and fuel tankering determinations.
June 1981 to December 1982, Captain & Team Manager - Responsible for the recruitment and selection of pilots for People Express Airlines, Inc. Worked extensively with Dr. Robert Helmreich and his team from the University of Texas on the psychological factors and measurements which were positive markers for predicting a pilot’s personality fit for both the airline industry and People Express Airline’s vision of the an excellent crew member.
December 1980 to April 1981 – Charter Flying – Single and twin engine aircraft.
April 1975 to November 1980, United States Air Force - Captain & Aircraft Commander on the KC-135Q aircraft providing air refueling and logistical support for the SR-71 and U-2 aircraft. Flew extensively all over the world in support of strategic reconnaissance missions. Attained the rank of Captain and was awarded a Regular Air Force Commission when promoted.
January 1974 to March 1975, United States Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus AFB, Mississippi -Trained and received USAF Pilot Wings flying the T-37 and T-38 aircraft. Excelled in training and was awarded the USAF Air Training Command Commander’s Trophy for 1975.
August 1973 to December 1973, United States Air Force Officer Training School, San Antonio, Texas - Attended Officer Training School, during which Initial Pilot Training was conducted in Hondo, Texas in the T-41 aircraft. Graduated and commissioned at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Education:
• 1973 Saint Michael’s College, Winooski, Vermont – Bachelor of Arts
• 1977 Chapman College, Los Angeles, California – Graduate School Work, Educational Systems Management
• 2007 & 2008 Aviation Law Symposium, Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
Certifications:
• 2006 - B777 Type Rating Certification, Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas
• 2006 - Air Line Pilot’s Association Basic Safety Course, Herndon, Virginia
• 2004 - B757 & B767 Type Rating Certification, Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas
• 2004 - Flight Operations Quality Assurance / Flight Recorder Analysis Certification, Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas
• 2003 - National Mediation Board, Interest Based Bargaining Certification, Washington, DC
• 1993 - Present Crew Resource Management Training, Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas
• 1992 - Firearms Range Officer Certification, Harris County Sheriff’s Department, Houston, Texas
• 1992 - State of Texas, Peace Officer Certification, Harris County Sheriff’s Department, Houston, Texas
• 1991 - MD-80 (DC-9 Type Rating) Certification, Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas
• 1989 - B747 Air Crew Program Designee (APD) Certification, FAA, Houston, Texas
• 1989 - B737 Air Crew Program Designee (APD) Certification, FAA, Houston, Texas
• 1988 - B737 Instructor Pilot/Check Airman Certification, Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas
• 1987 - B747 Instructor Pilot/Check Airman Certification for Continental Airlines, Boeing Aircraft Company, Renton, Washington
• 1986 - B747 Instructor Pilot/Check Airman, People Express Airlines, Newark, New Jersey
• 1985 - Crew Resource Management Training, People Express Airlines, Newark, New Jersey
• 1985 - B747 Type Rating Certification, People Express Airlines, Newark, New Jersey
• 1983 - B727 Type Rating Certification, Braniff Airlines Training Center, Dallas, Texas
• 1981 - Training Captain Certification, B737, People Express Airlines, Newark, New Jersey
• 1981 - B737 Type Rating Certification, United Airlines Training Center, Denver, Colorado
• 1981 - Airline Transport Pilot – Single Engine Land Certification, Groton, Connecticut
• 1980 - B707 & B720 Type Rating Certification, FAA, Sacramento, California
• 1979 - Airline Transport Pilot - Multi-engine Land Training & Certification, Wheatland, California
• 1978 - United States Air Force, Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama
• 1976 - KC-135 Aircraft Commander Upgrade School, Castle AFB, Merced, California
• 1975 - KC-135Q Qualification Training, Beale AFB, California
• 1975 - KC-135 Initial Training, Castle AFB, Merced, California
• 1975 - Survival School, Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington
• 1975 - Water Survival School, Homestead AFB, Homestead, Florida
• 1975 - United States Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus, Mississippi
• 1973 - United States Air Force Initial Pilot Training, Hondo, Texas
• 1973 - United States Air Force Officer Training School, San Antonio, Texas
Awards:
United States Air Force - Air Training Command - Commander’s Trophy, 1975
Professional References Available Upon Request
