Aviation Expert Witnesses: 10

Quentin Brasie, Chairman and CEO, has over 33 years of experience in the Aviation Industry. A Federally licensed Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, he is familiar with a wide variety of aviation assets including aircrafts, engines, spare parts, and flight simulators.

Background - Mr. Brasie began his career with the United States Air Force. Following his honorable discharge from the armed forces, Mr. Brasie served as a line mechanic for New York Air and American Airlines. His expertise in the industry led to management positions with Discovery Airways, and Avitas, Inc. He was a founding partner of Aviation Solutions, Inc., based in Manassas, Virginia, and held numerous executive positions, including vice president. In July of 2000, Mr. Brasie founded ACI Aviation Consulting where he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the corporation.

Mr. Brasie is the Editor-In-Chief and owner of The Airliner Price Guide publication. Established in 1985, the publication provides current market values for commercial aircraft and engines for a wide industry subscriber base. He has also conducted industry presentations, published articles in numerous trade publications, and completed numerous manufacturer and airline courses.

Litigation Support - Mr. Brasie provides expert witness services on behalf of ACI to various law firms and state governments dealing with global aviation issues. He has been qualified in a Federal District Court as an expert in the Valuation of Aircraft and Aircraft Components, and in the Maintenance Programs for Aircraft and Aircraft Components. Mr. Brasie has conducted industry presentations, published articles in numerous trade publications, completed numerous manufacturer and airline courses, and holds an FAA A&P license.

Mr. Brasie's expertise is available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. His client list includes Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Nolan & Heller, LLP., Ravitz and Pallas, P.C., Andrews & Kurth, KMZ Rosenman, Skadden, Arps, Meagher, Flom, LLP., John Kalled Law Firm, Emmet Marvin & Martin, Squire Sanders and Hoskin, Farina, and Aldrich & Kampf to name a few.

View Quentin Brasie's Consulting Profile.

Larry Grandy has over 46 years of progressive experience and knowledge in Aviation Operations, holding numerous civilian and military ratings and designations. He served for decades as a Career Officer and Squadron Commander in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Grandy is currently serving as a Flight Instructor and Pilot in Command for a large Aeromedical Helicopter Company. His background includes previous service as an FAA Check Airman. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Grandy's has over 20 years of experience providing Aircraft Accident Investigation and Aviation Operations Research and Analysis, including military and civilian Mishaps. He provides expert witness testimony and consulting to defense and plaintiff attorneys. Excellent attorney references.

Areas of Expertise :Aviation Safety Consulting, Accident Reconstruction, Human Factors, Pilot & Aircrew Actions, FAA,  NTSB.

Keith M. Cianfrani, MAS, CRSP, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, the founder and owner, has over 30 years of aviation experience. He is a master army aviator, aviation safety officer, commercial pilot, instructor pilot, and was an accident investigator for the U.S. Army Safety Center.

Background - Mr. Cianfrani is rated in both rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft. As a safety officer, he has managed safety programs in organizations with over 100 aircraft stationed throughout 5 states. Mr. Cianfrani is currently an instructor for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Kansas State University. He is also presently attending Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) as a PhD Student in Aviation Science.

Mr. Cianfrani is a certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and has also worked in the civilian, commercial aviation industry. He has been flying for companies such as Petroleum Helicopters, Damin Aviation, Keystone Helicopters, Island Helicopters, and Chopper 6 and Chopper 3 in Philadelphia. He also has experience in the flight for life, aero medical evacuation industry.

Litigation Support - Keith Cianfrani specializes in Human Factors and Material Failure in Aviation Accident Investigations. He serves as an aviation safety consultant for the Federal Aviation Administration and FIT. An IS-BAO Certified Safety Auditor, he provides safety evaluations in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations. His services are available nationally and internationally and include written reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Pilot / Crew Performance Human Factors Maintenance Environmental Factors Meteorological Factors

Safety Training Material Factors Aviation Accident Reconstruction FAA Regulatory Compliance Safety Audits

View Keith Cianfrani's Consulting Profile.

Richard "Pete" Burgess provides service as an Aviaton Consultant for air traffic services, procedures, pilot experience and aircraft accident investigations. Mr. Burgess has been the Owner of Burgess Aviation Consultants since 1994 and specializes in the analysis of FAA Air Traffic Control service and the application of procedures in the following areas:

• Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC's)
• Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCT's)
• Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACON's)
• Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS's)
• Detailed Transcript Preparation of Air Traffic Recordings

Mr. Burgess is an Instrument-Rated Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor for Multi/Single Engine airplane. He has over 4000 hours of flight time. 

EXPERIENCE

     5/94- Present   Burgess Aviation Consultants begins the twenty-fifth year specializing in the review and analysis of air traffic procedures in Air Route Traffic            Control Centers, Contract Control Towers, Airport Traffic Control Towers, Terminal Radar Approach Control’s and Automated Flight Service Stations.                  Have provided services as an Aviation consultant in over 276 different cases during the past twenty-four years. I have been deposed in 82 cases and testified          in 34 trials

      1972 to 1994 Air Traffic Control Supervisory and Management - FAA

• Managed and supervised the National evaluations of over 160 FAA air traffic ARTCC's, ATCT's, TRACON's and AFSS's facilities in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
• Qualified on all positions of operation and actively controlled traffic as supervisor and manager at El Paso and Little Rock ATC Tower and radar approach control facilities
• Served as consultant and expert witness in trials involving aircraft accidents and enforcement actions in St. Louis, Kansas City and Little Rock
• Investigated the application and effectiveness of air traffic control procedures at Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Kansas City Airports, as a result of major accidents at those airports
• 1957 to 1972 Air Traffic Controller - FAA & U.S. Navy
• Air Traffic Terminal Controller at NAS Saufley Field, Pensacola, FL and NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the U.S. Navy, and Santa Fe, NM in the FAA
• Flight Service Specialist in El Paso, TX. Santa Fe, NM and Lubbock, TX
• Air Traffic Tower and Radar Approach Controller in Lubbock, TX and San Antonio, TX

Helen Zienkievicz has the unique experience of longevity and active engagement in two fields of expertise, Aviation Safety and Nursing. She has held, and continues to hold, a multitude of positions in both of these industries.

Ms. Zienkievicz holds a Masters Degree in Nursing Education and Research and is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner. She is qualified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and belongs to a multitude of nursing-related organizations including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

During her 29 year career with United Airlines, Ms. Zienkievicz held a variety of positions including Airlines Manager of Health, Safety & Security for Onboard (Flight Attendant) Service Division. Her duties included oversight of airline cabin regulatory compliance of FAA and TSA regulations, primary division liaison with FAA Principle Cabin Inspector, direct investigation of cabin safety incidents and accidents, and advisor to corporate safety, training, medical, personnel, communications, legal and division management.

Ms. Zienkievicz provides expert opinion on aviation cases for both Plaintiff and Defense. With an extensive background in both aviation and nursing, she offers attorneys a unique perspective on aviation cases related to cabin safety, regulations, and training.

Aviation Safety Expertise

• Aircraft Cabin Safety
• FAA Regulations
• Air Carrier Access Act
• Passenger - Flight Attendant Injury / Illness Management
• Flight Attendant Instruction
• Turbulence Response
• Flight Attendant Policy and Procedure
• Crew Resource Management
• Threat Error Management

View Helen Zienkievicz's Consulting Profile.

Diane L. Damos, PhD, is an international expert with over 40 years of experience involving general Aviation Human Factors issues and Commercial Pilot Hiring. She is a fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and an associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association As an expert in Aviation Human Factors and as an Aviation Psychologist, Dr. Damos promotes safety in the National Airspace by working to reduce the occurrence and impact of human error in aviation systems and improve human performance. She has been involved with pilot selection since 1970.  Dr. Damos has assisted in the development of computer-based tests of information processing and cognition for pilot selection for both the United States Navy and Air Force. She has consulted with numerous domestic and foreign air carriers and training schools on both ab initio and experienced pilot selection.

Dr. Damos has also been involved with cabin crew staffing. She has conducted studies on both narrow- and wide-body aircraft to determine the number of cabin crew needed to meet an airline’s service standards. Dr. Damos was appointed to the United States National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council Panel of Human Factors in Air Traffic Control Automation.

Litigation Support - Dr. Damos has worked as an expert witness for both plaintiff and defense attorneys. She specializes in calculating lost earnings for professional pilots whose flying careers have ended prematurely. She has also been involved in several mediations involving the staffing and workload of cabin crew.

Those in need of her services include attorneys litigating cases involving the death or disability of young pilots who have not yet begun their career as a Part 121 or Part 135 pilot, the death or loss of license of current Part 121 or Part 135 pilots, and insurance companies involved in compensation for Part 121 or Part 135 pilots.

Expertise:

Aviation Human Factors Commercial Pilot Lifetime Earnings Model Commercial Pilot Hiring / Performance Issues

Commercial Pilot Retention Commercial Pilot Certification Flight Attendant Standard of Care

 Selected Cases:

• A charter aircraft crashed in the mountains, killing all on board. Dr. Damos was asked to review pilots’ training records to determine if training met  minimum requirements stipulated by FAA.
• A Part 135 pilot recently interviewed unsuccessfully for a position at a regional air carrier was killed in a crash. Dr. Damos was asked to determine the likelihood of pilot being hired by another air carrier and the probable path and timeline of the pilot’s career.
• A highly qualified military pilot became disabled before being hired by an air carrier. Dr. Damos determined his likely career path and projected his life-time earnings discounted to present value. 

 View Damos Aviation Services' Consulting Profile.

Envista Forensics is a global leader in Forensic Engineering & Recovery Solutions. They provide Cause & Origin, Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigations, Accident Reconstruction, Damage Evaluations and Equipment Restoration Services following disasters of all kinds. Envista has offered Consulting Services to the insurance, legal and risk management industries, as well as businesses, public entities, and universities for over 25 years. Their Experts travel globally from 30 offices located across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Australia and Singapore.

Envista's experience counts when equipment, systems, structures, or data have been threatened by catastrophe or litigation. Their experts and advisors determine cause and responsibility, and identify the nature and extent of damage or loss and provide a full range of solutions to protect their assets. Envista's technical professionals are trusted advisors and industry leaders. Their expertise is broad and deep, capable of withstanding all forms of scrutiny. Envista's services are available globally so that certainty is assured no matter where in the world it is needed. As the recovery from disasters has grown more complex, Envista has developed a comprehensive array of services to help their clients and has associates located around the globe to provide assurance no matter the type of loss or location of the disaster.

Envista helps attorneys quickly get to meaningful answers on the many technical issues at the center of a dispute. Their engineers have decades of experience working with both defendants and plaintiffs. They offer effective Expert Witness Testimony, with the ability to communicate effectively, build rapport with juries and judges, and maintain adherence to structured, methodical approaches in drawing conclusions are all extremely critical. Envista Forensics understands how critical the selection of an expert can be, and we understand what makes experts effective. Their court qualified experts have extensive experience providing expert testimony on a wide variety of engineering and technical matters.

Areas of Expertise:

Aviation & Aerospace Biomechanics Construction Defects Digital Forensics Electrical Injury & Electrocutions Causation Chemical Computer / Network Equipment Failure Construction Defect Disputes over Reparability of Damage Electrical Failure Equipment Restoration Fire & Explosion Analysis Equipment Restoration

Industrial / Manufacturing Equipment Materials Failure Mechanical Accidents Mechanical Failure Medical / Laboratory Equipment Product Failure / Liability Project Management Structural Failure Subrogation Utility & Energy Valuation of Structures or Equipment Vehicle Accident Investigation Workplace / Premises Accidents

View Envista's Consulting Profile.

Evidence Solutions, Inc. (ESI) is a premier Data and Information Forensics company established in 1982 to help clients obtain, understand, and utilize all the data and information available to them.  We can analyze cell phones, computers, hard drives, EDRs, reconstruct accidents, provide trucking standard of care consulting, recover digital data, and provide expert witness testimony in our many areas of expertise. Our experts can help you understand what needs to be done, what should have been done, and what to do next.  Call us today so we can help you!

Litigation Support - Evidence Solutions' team of expert witnesses provide litigation services in digital forensics, auto and truck accidents, accident reconstruction, EDR forensics, sports injury, police standards and policies, CMV standards, Greek fraternity issues, product failure analysis, and medical record recovery and analysis.  No matter how complex the case, they can help you discover what happened and present it in a way that everyone can understand.

Areas of Expertise:

Digital Forensics Auto & Truck Accidents Cell Phone Forensics Accident Reconstruction Black Box Forensics Sports Injury Police Standards and Policies CMV Standards Greek Fraternity Issues

Product Failure Analysis Medical Record Recovery and Analysis Data Recovery Real Estate Transactions Financial Services General Aviation Military Aviation Trucking Brokerage Triangulation / GPS

 Featured ESI Experts:

John Ross - Commercial Motor Vehicle - Heavy Vehicle - Truck Driving Standard of Care Expert Witness

John Ross has been driving commercial vehicles professionally since 1993 and boasts a blemish-free, no violations record. His experience includes owner/operator, safety director, and compliance director. He has significant experience in safely transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) including oil field operations and transportation. John also has significant experience in loading, unloading, and load securement. 

Expertise: Commercial Vehicles (18 Wheeler), Commercial Vehicle Safety Facilitator, Tractor-Trailer Inspection, CMV Operations, HAZMAT Handling, HAZMAT Driving, Tractor Maintenance, Trailer Maintenance, Professional Driving, Standard of Care Expert, Trailer Loading and Unloading Safety, Truck Driver Actions, Truck Driver Responsibilities, Driver Qualifications, Driver Training, Federal Trucking Regulations (FMCSRs), State Trucking Regulations, Driver Training Instructor, Double & Triple Trailer Driving, Trucking Industry Safety Standards, Loading and Unloading of Hazardous Liquid Safety, Oil Field Heavy Trucking Expertise, Electronic Logs / Electronic Logging

Joseph Renda  - General Aviation - Unmanned Aerial Systems - Aviation Maintenance Expert Witness

Joseph Renda is an experienced General Aviation pilot with over 6,800 flight hours. He is FAA certified for Unmanned Aerial Systems, Single Engine Land, Multi Engine Land, and Instrument. Mr. Renda also has decades of experience in Aircraft Acquisition, Repair, and Sales including international acquisition. He has maintained and audited maintenance records and understands compliance and regulatory issues surrounding them.

Expertise: General Aviation Repair, FAA UAS Pilot (Unmanned Aerial Systems), Commercial Single Engine/Instrument Rating, Commercial Multi-Engine / Instrument Rating, Land Instrument Training, International Aircraft Acquisition, Airplane Paint and Interior Refitting, Photo and Video Marketing of Aircraft, Aviation Maintenance and Services, Aircraft Sales, General Aviation Pilot Standard of Care, Ultralight Instructor, Maintenance Record Keeping Requirements, Person-Machine-Environment Interface

Daniel J. Brown - Law Enforcement Standard of Care Expert Witness

Daniel J. Brown served in the Law Enforcement profession for nearly 22 years, with close to 28 years of combined policing and military service. He is a seasoned professional with proven leadership skills. He helped establish a municipal police department from inception and used this knowledge to re-build two different fledgling police departments as a police chief. Mr. Brown is a decorated military veteran of two branches of service, holds a graduate-level education, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. His experience in law enforcement ranges from municipal, county, tribal, and military. He is also a graduate of the 267th Session of the FBI National Academy.

Expertise: Community Policing, Preventing Violence through Community Policing, Major Crimes Investigation, Police Policy and Procedure, Increasing Department Productivity, Municipal, County, Tribal and Military Law Enforcement, Threat Assessment and Management, Enhancing Community Trust, Intelligence Led Policing, School Resource Officers Management, Arizona Peace Officers, Advanced Accident Investigations, Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country, Firearms Instruction

View Evidence Solutions, Inc,'s Consulting Profile.

Kit Darby was the president of AIR, Inc., the largest Career Information Resource company for pilots for 25 years. Mr. Darby Provides Answers and Statistical Data, but also Guidance through the Constantly Changing Aviation Industry. He works with Military, General Aviation, Corporate, and Commuter Pilots transitioning to the larger airlines. Mr. Darby provides complete, timely, and accurate career information to help pilots make informed decisions throughout their job search and to assist them in their career development as an airline pilot. Retired United Airlines captain, airline and military instructor pilot.

AIR-Experts Services Provided:

Pilot Career Earnings and Employability Models

Depositions and Trials

Expert Witness and Litigation Support

Case Preparation and Analysis

Pilot Forecasting:

Pilot Hiring and Equipment forecast

Economic Forecast

Pilot Supply and Demand

Pilot Hiring Trends

Pilot hiring requirements

target="blank">www.air-experts.com and www.KitDarby.com

Mechanical Engineer - Turbomachinery Expert. Gas turbine engines, steam turbines, jet engines, compressors, pumps, expanders, generators, cogeneration, combustion equipment, diesel engines, and reciprocating compressors. Failure analysis, stress analysis, mechanical design, design analysis, troubleshooting, performance analysis, durability assessment. Access to metallurgical laboratory. Experienced Expert witness. Please see our Service List at https://sbkushnick.com/servicelist.pdf for a concise description.