Aviation Expert Witness
qualifications of Philip Greenspun, updated August 2010
This document summarizes my qualifications to be an expert witness in
aviation-related lawsuits.
Education
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999.
FAA Certificates
Airline Transport Pilot certificate with multi-engine airplane,
single-engine airplane, and helicopter ratings. Single-engine seaplane
rated at the Commercial level. The ATP certificate includes an SIC
type rating for the CL-65 Canadair Regional Jet and a PIC-S (single
pilot) type rating for the Cessna Mustang C510 business jet.
Flight Instructor certificate with airplane, helicopter, and
instrument ratings.
Note: the FAA's published statistics indicate that there are at most a
few hundred U.S. pilots who have ATP-helicopter, ATP-airplane, one or
more turbojet type ratings, and a flight instructor certificate. My
certificates can be verified at the
FAA Airmen's Registry (search for "Greenspun" in Massachusetts).
Aviation Experience
Airline pilot in FAA Part 121 operation, flying the 50-seat CRJ for
Delta Airlines's Comair subsidiary. Operated from most of the busiest
airports in the Northeast, including JFK, LGA, EWR, BOS, PHL, DCA,
and IAD.
More than 2000 hours of experience instructing airplane and helicopter
students, training students to fly the Cirrus SR20 airplane and
Robinson helicopters. Served as Chief Pilot for an FAA Part 141
helicopter school. Nearly 4000 hours of total flying
experience. Experience flying in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the
U.K., France, Austria, Israel, Argentina, Panama, South Africa, and
Namibia.
Two trips to Alaska, one in a Diamond Star DA40 and one in an Cirrus
SR20. Multiple coast-to-coast trips in Robinson R44 helicopters and as
an instructor in the Cessna Mustang business jet.
Started and managed a helicopter sightseeing operation in the Boston
area.
Have been the owner-operator of several airplanes and
helicopters. Have prepared applications for two Part 135 charter
certificates from the FAA.
Am the author of numerous articles on aviation, available at
http://philip.greenspun.com/flying/.
Expert Witness Experience
I am currently serving as an expert witness for an insurance company
in a case that resulted from a helicopter accident.
Have served as an expert witness for Amazon.com, Xerox, and Google in
patent cases. Have served as an expert witness for an enterprise
software vendor defending a $250 million claim by another
software company (contract dispute), testifying in Delaware Chancery
Court (video link).
Additional Video Clips
I am frequently called upon by Boston-area television stations to
comment on aviation-related stories. Being an expert witness is a form
of teaching, so I'm also including links to some material prepared for
students. Here are a few clips:
Specific Aviation Litigation Areas of Expertise
In an aviation lawsuit, I should be qualified to testify on at least
the following subjects:
- training of pilots
- operation of airplanes and helicopters in both VFR and IFR conditions
- avionics design and user interface, including glass cockpits
- airplane handling characteristics and workload demands on pilots
- airline and charter company procedures
- helicopter sightseeing operations
- Diamond Star DA40, Cirrus SR20, Cirrus SR22, Robinson R44, and Robinson R22
- FAA regulations
- air traffic control procedures
- aeronautical decision-making
- aviation weather services and flight planning
Contact
philg@mit.edu or (617) 864-6832.
References
Upon request, I will be happy to provide references from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman and Klarquist Sparkman.