Captain Ross "Rusty" Aimer is a retired United Airlines Captain and is an aviation expert with appearances on ABC News, Fox News, NPR, The BBC, The New York Times, USA Today, and multiple international newspapers. Rusty is the spokesman for Aero Consulting Experts offering accurate, unbiased and informative commentary.

• Currently, part of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner initial pilot training team
• Type rated on the B-777, 767, 757, 747, 737, 727, 720, 707, and DC-10/-9/-8 airliners
• 45 years of professional airline experience
• Recognized for 30,000 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• His vast industry expertise encompassing flight operations, flight safety, aircrew training, aircraft maintenance, and management
• BS Degree in Aerospace Engineering Technology
• FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License

Raymond R. Brice is a former commercial airline pilot and an airline executive, who currently is a leading national flight safely and cockpit communications technology consultant. Ray helped implement the new federal Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) with the launch of the groundbreaking software used for the ATSAP reporting system. ATSAP was a joint project managed by the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). Before becoming a consultant, Ray served as a B747-400 Capitan at United Airlines (UAL) where he worked for 39 years. He started his UAL career as a maintenance technician with a specialty in power plant and air frame systems. As an aviation hobbyist he has maintained and rebuilt the following aircraft: C-175, C-182 and a D-50 Twin Bonanza.

• Served as an aircraft Accident Investigator for the Air Lines Pilot Association (ALPA) where he contributed to seven NTSB accident investigations, writing three dissenting opinions arguing against the initial NTSB findings.  
• Type rated on the following aircraft: B-747-400, 767, 737, 727 and DC-10, DC-6.
• Held regional airport authority positions including Chairman, Airport Commission for the Livermore, CA airport (LVK); and served on the City of Livermore Planning Commission.
• Assisted in the development and implementation of UAL aviation data integration systems for Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA); and participated on the FOQA Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) for the Air Transport Association (ATA).
• Wrote and published flight safety articles for ALPA International and the ALPA United Master Executive Council newsletters; and contributed to several in-flight operations and airliner management and procedural manuals at UAL and Aloha airlines.
• Served as the UAL Director of Flight Safety; and after leaving UAL served as an Aloha Airlines Vice President for Safety following his promotion from Aloha’s Director of Flight Quality Assurance.

Allen “AC” Carrier served as a Congressional press secretary with a background in military and aviation reporting, marketing communications and global public affairs. Currently, AC is a case manager and operations supervisor at ACE. In addition, he developed a dynamic media training and presentation skills building course that is used to prepare expert witnesses and aviation lawyers for most courtroom situations. The training is used to assist senior managers to serve as national media and corporate spokespeople. The technique uses video feedback and message development processes to build an individual’s media and presentation skills. Outside of his public affairs and media training career, AC is a volunteer with the National Ski Patrol. He is a White House political appointee as a federal trustee to the Institute of American Indian Art.

• Worked as a news reporter for United Press International (UPI); as a Managing Editor for the Army Times News Service and as a staff writer for the Air Force Times; as well as serving as the first aviation/avionics reporter for The Arizona Daily Star.
• Managed media communications for U.S. Reps. Norman Mineta (D-CA) and James Lloyd (D-CA); and in addition wrote Congressional speeches, news releases and policy position papers for the House Select Committee on Intelligence, House Armed Services Committee and House Subcommittee on Aviation. Former U.S. Rep. Mineta later because the Bush Administration’s U.S. Secretary of Transportation during America’s September 11, 2001 attacks.
• Appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton as a trustee to the Institute of American Indian Art and serves as a public member on the New Mexico Pharmacy Board, one of the largest public health agencies in the Southwestern U.S. The NM state board has joint responsibilities with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other U.S.-Mexico border states for emergency preparedness. He was named to the NM Pharmacy Board by former NM Governor Bill Richardson; who served as the Clinton Administration’s U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and as the U.S. Secretary of Energy.
• Assisted in the early startup of MyAviationExpert.com which is now Aero Consulting Experts (ACE); and participated at the Air Law Symposium in Dallas; as well as a case manager on a personal injury lawsuit representing the plaintiff -- an airline passenger -- suing a major commercial airliner in a case heard before a New Jersey State Court. The plaintiff won the suit.
• Received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Journalism from the American University in Washington, DC.
• Developed programs in Washington, DC for the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) participation at EXPO ’85 in Japan and EXPO ’86 in Canada raising a combined $6.7 million for the completion of the U.S. National Pavilions.
• Served as the National Media Director for $2.5 billion Shandwick North American and its 15 U.S. offices.

Captain Richard "Rick" Dake is a leading airline industry authority who has current aviation expert witness experience specializing in airline operations, aviation weather and meteorology, flight attendant and cockpit crew performance, flight safety standards, simulator training, and flight path reconstruction.

• Current United Airlines (UAL) B-757/767 Captain, typed-rated on 737,757, 767, and 747-400 airliners
• Currently UAL Southwest Regional Assistant Chief Pilot for the Los Angeles and Denver domiciles
• 37 years of professional airline experience
• Recognized for 18,000 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• Additional range of experience including In-flight Steward, Inflight Management, Marketing, Customer Service, and Human Resources
• Line Check Airmen and Standards Captain B-747-400, 737-300
• Assisted with Presidential Press Charters and has flown President Elect Obama and his family
• Held several volunteer positions with Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) and is highly respected with the professional pilots he represents
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License
• Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) License

DUNCAN L. FLETT is a commercial airline Captain and a Line Check Airman on the AIRBUS fleet at United Airlines (UAL). Additionally, he serves as a UAL Fill-In Flight Manager at San Francisco International Airport. Duncan has held corporate-wide assignments dealing with management, safety management, and pilot training. He has worked in collaboration with the UAL Corporate Flight Safety in the design of new aircraft procedures, as well as flight crew training seminars with a focus around risk analysis and accident mitigation. As a UAL Safety Management Systems (SMS) Team member Duncan assisted with the companies Gap Analysis. He is acutely knowledgeable of changes to runway landing and take off measures based on development and implementation work in improvements to the FAA’s Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approach (SOIA) procedure and Precision Runway Monitor (PRM) radar system that has lead to the increasing air traffic efficiencies nationwide.

Earlier career experiences for Duncan include serving as a Captain on the B-737, First Officer on the B-737, the B-757/767 Internationally for UAL, Flight Engineer on the B-727 and the early AIRBUS A-300 while flying for Eastern and Pan American Airlines. He taught flying and was a flight simulator instructor at Miami Dade Community College. While enjoying most outdoor sports near his home in Petaluma, CA; Duncan also serves the community as an Assistant Scoutmaster; and is Chairman of a Risk Management Committee for the regional council of the Boy Scouts of America for Sonoma County in Northern California.

• Contributed to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) implementation of the SOIA and PRM programs by serving as a National Project Coordinator. With ALPA, Duncan proved his team building capabilities managing a group of Airport Liaison Representatives (ALR) serving as the ALPA Western Pacific Regional Safety Coordinator for Northern California as well as ALR for San Francisco Airport.
• Proved his expertise while serving the UAL ALPA Master Executive Council’s Central Air Safety Committee as Chairman of the All Weather Committee and lead work in conjunction with UAL Corporate Flight Standards Operations leaders in the production of an updated Weather/De-icing “flight-bag” hard-card presentation page now used by UAL pilots. At the UAL San Francisco base, Duncan served as the UAL ALPA Local Air Safety Committee Chairman, and an Executive Officer to the Eastern Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council’s Local Miami Council before becoming a pilot at United Airlines.
• Provides ongoing aeronautical expertise to regional airport advisory groups including the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Community Round Table including presentations on the improvements of the SOIA/PRM runway safety project; and as a regional Safety Management Expert (SME) to the New Air Traffic Technologies Working Group for the SFO Bay Area Regional Airport Planning Commission.
• Type rated on the following aircraft: B-767/757, 737; and the EMB-110 and PA-31-350. Duncan has accrued more than 20,000 hours of flight time; holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license; and served as a Ground School instructor and Simulator Instructor for the ATC ™ 510, 610, 710 models used in primary flying and aircraft instrument classes at the College level.
• Holds several corporate letters of appreciation for participation and as a safety instructor of UAL courses: “Refusal Wingman Program;” “On the Line” (OTL); “Operational Efficiency Training” (OET); and the “TASER Weapon System” training which he provide to local UAL pilots in San Francisco. In addition, Duncan is certificated by OSHA after completing the 30 hour Federal OSHA training class in General Industry Safety and Health. In 2005, The Air Traffic Control Association awarded him with a Chairman’s Citation of Merit for his work on the SFO SOIA approach procedure; and was recognized by UAL as a San Francisco Domicile “Safety First All Star Team” award winner.
• Earned a Bachelors of Sciences (BS) degree in Industrial Technology in Aviation Administration from Florida International University; and a Dual Masters of Science in Aerospace/Aviation Management and Aerospace/Aviation Safety Systems from Embry Riddle University.

Captain Jack Hareland is an experienced aviation expert witness specializing in airline and air cargo operations, aircraft maintenance and overhaul, contract negotiations, FAA certificate actions, FAR Part 91, 121, 125, and 135 operations, sales & leases, and aircraft valuations.

• Current United Airlines B-777 Captain, typed-rated on B-727, 737, 757, 767, 777 and 747-400 airliners
• Current owner of a Part 135 certificate for corporate jet management and charter
• Active partner in aircraft sales including corporate jets, large commercial jets, and engines
• 30 years of diverse military, commercial, commuter, and corporate aviation experience
• Recognized for 18,000 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• Preformed as a Flight Duty Manager, Standards Captain and Check Airmen
• Experienced Fleet Captain responsible for training, checking and currency of more than 1,200 pilots and liaison to the FAA
• Extensive Part 135 operational management experience specializing in large aircraft and jet engines sales
• Performed aircraft contract negotiations
• Honorably discharged from the USMC as a Lt Col
• BS Construction Engineering
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License

Captain Gordon "Kent" Holiday is an experienced aviation expert witness specializing in World War II aircraft, aerobatics, airshow flying, vintage, and experimental aircraft. He has experience as a corporate, training, and standards Captain while management a Fortune 100 flight department with worldwide operations. Kent recently was hand selected to fly a B-17 bomber and is an experienced warbird pilot.

• Current United Airlines B-757/767 Captain, typed-rated on CE500, N265, HS125, B-727, 737, 757, 767, A-319/320, NB25, MIA6M, and CU-P40
• Part owner of an aviation insurance group
• 40 years of professional airline experience
• Recognized for 26,000 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• Member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, International Aerobatic Club, Vintage Aircraft Association, Commemorative Air Force, National Aeronautic Association, Air Museum Planes of Fame, Lone Star Flight Museum, Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, and International Council of Airshows
• Chairs the local Aeromedical Committee for the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA)
• AS degree in Business Administration
• Course work in Aviation Safety, USC
• Course work in Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle University
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License
• Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) License

Captain Albert "Al" Langelaar Jr. is an experienced aviation expert witness specializing in pilot training, pilot hiring practices, aircrew competency and international flagship operations.

• Current United Airlines (UAL) B-747-400 Captain, type-rated on B-737, 757, 767, 747-400 and DC8-71 airliners
• 30 years of professional flight experience to include Line Check Airman
• Recognized for 16,500 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• At UAL, major contributor to the airline’s Continuous Improvement Policy (CIP) for recruitment and retention of the airline’s 9,000 pilots
• Flight Officer Employment Interview Captain
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License
• Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) License

Captain Alfonzo "Rick" McCullough is a principal airline industry authority who is an expert for Aero Consulting Experts specializing in accident investigation and analysis, airline and air cargo operations, command leadership resource management (CLR), flight safety standards, aircrew competency and international flagship operations.

• Current United Airlines (UAL) B-747-400 Captain, typed-rated on B-737, 757, 767, 777, and 747-400 airliners
• Current UAL Fleet Captain responsible for training, checking and currency of more than 1000 Worldwide Flagship B-747-400 pilots
• 30 years of professional airline experience
• Recognized for 15,000 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• UAL Chief Pilot for the Los Angeles Domicile. Responsibilities include management, support and oversight of 700 LAX-based pilots as well as management and supervision of the office staff and their professional development
• Check Airman B-747-400, 777, 767, 757, 737
• Fleet Manager B-737-300/500, 747-100/200, 767,757
• Standards Captain B-747-400, 777, 737-200/300/500
• Chairman of the Event Review Committee (ERC) which resolves operational incidents at UAL with the FAA and ALPA
• MS Management, Regis University
• BS Aerospace Science, Metropolitan State College of Denver
• Aviation Incident Investigation course, USC
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License

John D. McDannel is a former commercial airline pilot with a strong background in community banking and small business financing to include: lending practices, corporate stock evaluation, facilities and asset management, shareholders relationship and personnel management. John’s 15-year banking career at the $33 million Trans World Bank Corp. (TWB) ran concurrently with a 32-year career at United Airlines (UAL) where he retired as a B747-400 Captain in 2001. The bank, TWB was later merged into the Glendale Federal Savings and Loan Savings Bank. John’s flying career began with the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer, flying the T-41, T-37 and T-38. As a sidebar to his flying career, in the 1980 presidential campaign, John piloted a B-727 chartered by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to fly the then candidate (and later President and First Lady) Ronald and Nancy Reagan around the U.S. during the fall campaign.

• Flew as an UAL Captain, the B-747-400 before retiring in 2001 following a 32-year career at the airlines, where he also served as Chairman, of the United ALPA Council #57.
• Type rated on the following aircraft: B-747-400, 767, 757, 737, 727 and the A-320; and is a sport pilot with a float-plane rating.
• Holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP) which is the highest level of pilot licensing in the U.S.; as well as certification as a Commercial Flight Instructor. Both certificates are given by the Airline Transport Association (ATA). ATPs are authorized to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) of almost any aircraft worldwide.
• Has an ATA Flight Engineer (FE) Certificate to manage an airliner’s in-flight operations and the monitoring of all aircraft systems in a three-person cockpit configuration. The FE is required to manage, diagnose and rectify or eliminate any airworthiness problems on the ground and in the air.
• Provided UAL pilots with the necessary training to comply with airliners and FAA’s line-oriented flight training (LOFT) requirements; and held several UAL flight operations positions including Flight Manager (LAXFO/BUR).
• Named UAL Captain of the Year and the carrier’s Humanitarian Award, both honors given by UAL Flight Operations Division.

Bruce "Buck" Rodger, President, Aero Consulting Experts and is an aviation expert witness specializing in military, corporate and commercial flight operations.

• Current United Airlines B-757,767 pilot, type-rated on B-757, 767, 747-400, LR-35, and F-5 / T-38
• Current safety pilot; operating, supervising, and instructing advance fighter aircraft operations in a Northrop F-5B Tiger
• 27 years of professional flight experience
• Recognized for 12,000 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• Extensive USAF piloting background with emphasis in aerospace engineering, Gulf War Veteran, United States Presidential support, and Instructor at USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB
• Constructed and managed a corporate flight department; delivered Falcon 50EX, MD NOTAR Helicopter
• Honorably discharged from the USAF as Major
• BS Aerospace Engineering
• MS Aerospace Engineering (thesis pending)
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License
• Airframe and Power-plant (A&P) License
• Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) License

Jeffrey Weiherer is an expert witness for Aero Consulting Experts specializing in Part 91 aircraft management, and airline operations.

• Currently, President of Corporate Aviation Solutions, LLC; managing and operating a PC-12 Pilatus
• United Airlines First Officer (on leave), typed-rated on B-757, 767, and CL-60
• 18 years of professional flight experience
• Recognized for 11,000 hours of accident free flight with no FAA violation
• Volunteer for numerous civic functions for the city of Los Angeles including Los Angeles Police Department, Angel Flight and Pilots For Kids
• MS Aeronautical Science and Management
• BS Business Administration
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) License
• Certified Flight Instructor, Instrument (CFII) License