Aviation Pilots Expert Witnesses: 5

John V. Sabel is a retired Boeing 787 Captain with a Part 121 air carrier and an attorney. His more than 47 years in the aviation industry include experience as a check airman, FAA Aircrew Program Designee, and member of his pilot union's Safety and Accident Investigation Committees. 

John has logged over 23,000 flight hours in domestic and international operations and holds type ratings in the EMB-110, DC-9/MD-80, B-737, B-757/B-767, B-787, A-319/A-320/A-321; Flight Engineer certificate; Certified Flight Instructor certificate; Ground Instructor certificates; and Remote Pilot Small Unmanned Aircraft System certificate.

John has participated in NTSB accident investigations as a member of his pilot union's safety committee. He was a member of the 2011 Air Carrier Safety and Pilot Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He teaches Aviation Law, Aviation Safety, Aviation Regulations, Human Factors, Crew Resource Management, and other aviation courses as an adjunct faculty member at several universities.

Litigation Support - As an attorney with the expertise of an experienced airline transport pilot, John has the experience to examine technical issues and provide guidance and recommendations throughout all stages of litigation, from discovery through appeal.

Areas of Expertise:

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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:

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

• Airline Transport Pilot - Airplane Multiengine Land
• Type Ratings: CE500, CE525S, CE560XL, CE650 and CE680 Sovereign
• Commercial Privileges - Airplane Single Engine Land & Sea
• Flight Instructor (Gold Seal) - Airplane Single and Multiengine Instrument Airplane
• Flight Times - (Updated: December 31, 2015) Total: 16,128 PIC: 15,372- Turbojet: 7,372- Turboprop: 4,465- Multiengine: 13,382- Piston: 2,563

• CFR Title 14 Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s)
• Cessna Citation Aircraft
• Advanced Avionics Systems including Glass Cockpits, GPS, FMS, TAWS, TCAS Systems
• Aircraft Aerodynamics
• Aircraft Systems
• Airspace – Domestic and International (MNPS, RVSM, RNP, PRNAV, BRNAV)
• Aviation Weather Decision-making
• Cold Weather Operations
• CRM (Cockpit Resource Management) and Crew Decision-making
• Flight Instruction – Fixed-wing
• International Flight Operations and Procedures
• IOE / SOE (Initial Operation Experience/Supervised Operation Experience)
• Pilot Decision-making
• Windshear Operations in the Cockpit

Pilot Career Earnings and Employability Models

Depositions and Trials

Expert Witness and Litigation Support

Case Preparation and Analysis

Pilot Hiring and Equipment forecast

Economic Forecast

Pilot Supply and Demand

Pilot Hiring Trends

Pilot hiring requirements