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Senior Consultant – Aviation Accident Investigation, Prevention and Safety Training

Summary

This expert served in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Accident Investigation and Prevention Section, in Montreal, Canada beginning in 1980.  In 1996, he was appointed Chief of the Section, and later retired from ICAO after twenty-five years of service.  Prior to his ICAO career, he was Chief of Accident Investigation with the Board of Aviation in Finland for thirteen years and investigated over three hundred accidents. 

His distinguished career at ICAO includes the following special assignments:
• Establishment of an independent aircraft accident investigation agency in the Republic of Sudan. 2010-2011
• Establishment of an independent aircraft accident investigation agency in the United Arab Emirates. 2009-2010
• An assignment as final report writer / accident investigator assigned to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board in Estonia for the investigation of the accident to a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter near Tallinn, Estonia on 10 August 2005. 2007-2008
• An assignment as an accident investigator and adviser to the Chairman, assigned to the Hellenic Aircraft Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board in Greece for the investigation of the accident to the Helios Airways Boeing 737 aircraft near Athens, Greece on 14 August 2005.
• An assignment as accident investigator assigned to the Republic of Korea for the investigation of the accident to the Korean Air Boeing 747 in Guam on 6 August 1997. 1997
• An assignment as accident investigator for Saudi Arabia on the investigation of the mid-air collision between the Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and the Kazakhstan Airlines IL-76 near New Delhi, India on 12 November 1996.
• Team leader for the ICAO team investigating and reporting on the shooting down of two civil aircraft by Cuban military aircraft on 24 February 1996.
• Team leader for the ICAO team completing the investigation on the destruction of Korean Air Lines flight 007, Boeing 747 on 31 August 1993.
• Aircraft accident investigation specialist on the ICAO team investigating and reporting on the destruction of Iran Air Airbus A300 in the vicinity of Qeshm Island on 3 July 1988.
• Project coordinator and accident investigator assigned to Mozambique for the investigation of the accident to the Mozambican presidential aircraft Tupolev 134A in the Republic of South Africa.

Civil engineer specializing in structural dynamics, wind and earthquake engineering. His research interests include various aspects of structural dynamics, system identification, flow-induced vibration, earthquake engineering, and wind engineering.Working in collaboration with another professor, he established an experimental research program on aero-elasticity and aerodynamics of civil engineering structures using the low-turbulence Corrsin wind tunnel at Johns Hopkins.

This expert has collaborated on a number of bridge aerodynamics projects, including the aerodynamic analysis of the Baytown (Houston) Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco, the Central Bridge in Cincinnati, the Kap Shui Mun Bridge in Hong Kong, the Seohae Bridge in Korea, and the Carquinez Straits Bridge in California.  His long-standing interest and involvement in wind related problems associated with long-span bridges has led more recently to active involvement in stay vibration problems associated with cable-stayed bridges.

Event Lighting Designer

Summary

This expert  has almost 25 years of professional experience in multiple facets of the lighting business. He is a creative, hands-on professional with expertise in warehouse management, lighting design, and production/show execution.  He started with his current company over 21 years ago and growing with the company has allowed him to become incredibly well-rounded regarding the special event industry.

Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Instructor

Summary
He is an Airline Transport Pilot, specializing in CFR Part 91 Corporate Operations and Part 135/121 Regional Airline operations. He is experienced in North Atlantic crossings and his record is clear of any incidents, accidents or violations.

Flight Time:
Total Time:  19,000+
Pilot in Command:  16,000+
Multi-Engine Turbine:  16,000+
Turboprop:  10,000+
Jet:  7000+
PT121/135 Check Airman/Instructor:  2400+
CE-525S PIC:  2500+

Rating:
CE-525S Type Rating
CE-510S Type Rating
Canadair CL-65 Type Rating (CRJ-200/700/900)
Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia Type Rating
Fairchild SA-227 Metroliner Type Rating
C-208B/COL4/SR-22/PC-12
ATP, CF11, ME11

Senior Civil and Structural Engineer

Summary
He is a Senior Civil and Structural Engineer with over thirty-six years experience in the construction industry with specialization in construction project management, construction cost estimating, and investigation of civil and structural engineering design, defects, and failures.

He provides consulting on structural engineering issues with regard to building damage, repair, and collapse.  He has also investigated numerous cases involving origin, cause, and remediation of water infiltration and damage, including water entrance into building structures and site drainage issues.

He has provided professional construction consulting with regard to construction cost estimating.  He is a registered Certified Cost Engineer (C.C.E.) and has been an expert witness on construction claim issues. 

Airline Transport Pilot and Flight Instructor

Summary
This expert is experienced in flying, handling, and flight planning turbine aircraft in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Caribbean, Mexico, Canada and the USA. He has performed many Atlantic crossings in a variety of aircraft. He specializes in ground and flight instruction in the CE-525 series of aircraft.

He has testified as an expert witness.

Senior Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer specializing in the Thermal Sciences, applied to the areas of flight dynamics and propulsion. His expertise covers the disciplines of aerodynamics, gas dynamics, hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, combustion, heat transfer and fire dynamics.  He is a former military pilot who is experienced in all aspects of flight vehicle performance including flight mechanics, gas turbine engines, flight reconstruction, simulation as well as flight and ground testing.  He is also a specialist in aircraft, marine, ground vehicle and stationary power applications of gas turbines.

Has taught undergraduates for fourteen years as an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the United States Naval Academy, as well as at other Universities.

His forensic engineering experience includes a number of gas turbine issues, specifically:

• Westinghouse/Northeast Utilities – involving Turbine blade failure of a Westinghouse W501 industrial gas turbine in a co-generation plant.
• United 232/Sioux City – involving an uncontained General Electric CF6 engine fan disc failure in flight.
• CIT Group Engine Repair Claim – involving a General Electric CF56 engine damaged during improper over road transport for installation.

He has provided expert testimony as to his findings in courts of law and at hearings.

This expert is internationally recognized for his research on the effects of chemicals and chemical processing on the structural performance of wood and wood-composites. This research has resulted in over two dozen peer-reviewed publications on the effects of preservatives and preservative treatment on the physical and mechanical properties of wood. This research has been resulted in several new design adjustments or process limitations in National Codes and Standards in the US and Canada.

He is also internationally recognized for his research and technological development of the concepts of using engineered biocomposites as a value-added tool to promote and to fund sustainable forest management. He formerly led this emerging approach through his long-work with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Division 5 Forest Products. From 2003-2012, he was the vice-chair of the Division 5.05 Composites Research Group of IUFRO in which he focused on enhancing the performance and durability of engineered biocomposites and the long-term sustainability of bio-based composites.

He started his own consulting firm specializing in forensic wood science, wood durability and bioresource sustainability in 2008. He served as Project Leader from 2001 to 2008, of the Engineered Composites Science Research Work Unit. He had primary responsibility for the processing and serviceability of wood-based and wood-plastic composite products. This research group is recognized by the building codes, the wood industry, and standard organizations as having a leadership role in providing unbiased technical information on manufacturing of and serviceability requirements of wood-based and wood-plastic composite products.

The multidisciplinary FRT-Serviceability Team received national recognition by the building codes, the wood industry, and standard organizations for having taken a leadership role in providing unbiased technical information on serviceability assessment of fire-retardant treated plywood roof sheathing. The team also pioneered mechanical- and chemical-based techniques for residual serviceability assessment and predictive models to estimate residual serviceability of wood products in-service. This research resulted in over another two dozen peer-reviewed publications. It has also resulted in four National Standards (ASTM D5516-94, D-5664-95, D-6305-98, and D-6841-02) and major revisions to FR-Treating Standards (AWPA C20 & C27, now AWPA U-1 & T-1).

His work on the very early stages of biological decay showed that changes in the chemical composition of the wood cause significant reductions in wood strength before measurable weight loss occurs. From an engineering perspective, estimating strength loss and residual strength is the critical element in assessing wood serviceability/durability for structures in-service as affected by wood decay. Collaborative studies have shown close a relationship between the degradation of hemicellulose and wood strength losses. Residual strength of degraded wood can be predicted using models developed by this collaborative team. The changes in chemical composition appear to be similar in both the biological and chemical systems. Understanding the relationship between chemical composition and strength loss is critical in developing models to estimate strength loss caused by biological, chemical or thermal agents.

Flight Safety Investigator, Flight Operations Specialist & Flight Safety Instructor

He has a B.Sc (ME) P.Eng as an experienced Aviation Safety Investigator, a current ATP rated pilot, with heavy-jet flight check and corporate flying experience.   After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, he completed Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Flight Navigator training.  Following a short tour on the CF-101 as a Weapons System Operator, he trained as an RCAF Pilot. In his first flying tour, he flew the Lockheed (Canadair) T-33 as a NORAD target pilot and provided aircraft check-out training. In his next Air Force assignment, he flew the Lockheed C-130, conducting search & rescue, tactical airlift, and international cargo operations.  Following completion of the year-long Canadian Aerospace Systems Course, he was assigned as a Systems Flight Test pilot with the military Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE). During this time, one of his projects was the testing of an avionics and flight recorder update for the Boeing 707 aircraft. Next, he flew with the military Boeing 707 Squadron, where he was the Chief Standards Officer and commanded international passenger, cargo, air-refueling and VVIP missions.

Following his posting to the Canadian Forces Headquarters in the Directorate of Air Operations and Training, he left the military and joined the Canadian Aviation Safety Board (CASB) which, in 1990, became the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). He has 31 years of experience as an Operations Safety Investigator. He has participated in major accident investigations as the Investigator-in-Charge, a Team Member or as Accredited Representative. While at the TSB, he flew the Boeing 707 in the Air Force Reserve for eight years. He was the TSB-ICAO point of contact and participated in the process of amending ICAO Annex 13. For the last 15 years, he has been teaching aircraft accident investigation subjects at the Singapore Aviation Academy.

Commercial Helicopter Pilot and Flight Instructor

Summary
He is a commercial helicopter pilot, qualified by a combination of flight time, experience, and demonstrated management skills.  He is competent and knowledgeable in the field of aviation with a proven and verifiable flight and safety record.  He is a capable, reliable pilot presenting a positive professional image.

Certifications and Flight Times
• Commercial Pilot - Helicopter
• Instrument Rating – Helicopter
• CFI – Helicopter
• Private Pilot – ASEL
• Part 107 UAS (Drone) Pilot
• Helicopter:  7,400+ hours
• Turbine Helicopter:  5,100+ hours
• Instruction Given:  2,000+ hours
• Night:  545 hours unaided
• Cross Country:  2,300+ hours
• ASEL:  253 hours

Helicopters Flown
• Bell 206 B and L Models
• R22 & R44
• Schweizer 333
• Enstrom 280C