Plaintiff & Defense Aviation Litigation Support

Elliott B. Lushin, ATP, MBA

Available nationwide to plaintiff and defense counsel for independent analysis, Rule 26 expert reports, depositions, and trial testimony on pilot performance, 14 C.F.R. Part 121 airline operations, military tactical jet operations, aviation maintenance oversight (NAMP / COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2), and human factors.

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Principal & Aviation Safety Expert

28+ Years Aviation Experience · Part 121 Widebody First Officer · Former USMC F/A-18 & Maintenance Officer · Retired IN ANG A-10C Pilot

At-a-Glance Qualifications

■14 C.F.R. Part 121 Airline Operations (5 FAA Type Ratings): Current International Widebody First Officer (A-350); FAA type rated in A-350; A-320; B-757/767; DC-9; ERJ-170/190.
■U.S. Marine Corps (August 2005 – January 2017, Former Active Duty): F/A-18 Pilot, T-6C Instructor & Stage Check Pilot, and Naval Aviation Maintenance Officer (MOS 6002).
■Indiana Air National Guard (January 2017 – February 2025, Retired): A-10C Pilot & Air Liaison Officer.
■Maintenance & Quality Assurance (NAMP 4790.2): Former F/A-18 Powerline (WC 110) and Airframes (WC 120) Division OIC supervising CDQARs, CDIs, and Safe-for-Flight aircraft release.
■Active Litigation Experience: Retained aviation expert witness in Florida Circuit Court litigation (2026–Present).

Areas of Expertise

Matters Typically Addressed

Operationally grounded, objective analysis across commercial air carrier, military tactical aviation, general aviation, and aviation maintenance domains.

14 C.F.R. Part 121 Airline Operations & Standard of Care

Evaluation of commercial airline flight crew procedures, international widebody and domestic narrowbody operations, dispatch and operational control, checklist discipline, and regulatory compliance.

Crew Resource Management (CRM) & Human Factors

Analysis of multi-crew coordination, cockpit communication, workload management, situational awareness, and aeronautical decision-making under FAA AC 120-51E and military DAMCLAS frameworks.

Aviation Maintenance Oversight & Safe-for-Flight Release

Assessment of maintenance-safety interfaces, Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 / NAMP) compliance, Powerline (WC 110) and Airframes (WC 120) operations, CDQAR/CDI quality assurance, Tool Control, FOD Prevention, and Corrosion Control.

Military Fighter & High-Performance Flight Operations

Subject-matter expertise in U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18A–D, U.S. Air Force / Air National Guard A-10C, and T-6C Texan II primary/intermediate flight training, carrier qualifications, and tactical aviation standards.

Flight Instruction, Training & Pilot Qualification Pathways

Evaluation of civil (CFI/CFII) and military flight instruction standards, stage checks, pilot progression feasibility, and DoD/DoDMERB and FAA medical and training qualification pathways.

Aviation Maintenance Safety Programs & Organizational Human Factors

Review of aviation maintenance safety programs (NAMP COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2), the maintenance-safety interface, Safety Management Systems (SMS), organizational human factors, SOP compliance culture, and executive accountability systems.

Technical Qualifications

Certificates, Military Service & Education

Verified civil airman certificates, military officer qualifications, and academic credentials.

Civil Certificates & Flight Time

FAA Certificate: Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) — Airplane Multi-Engine Land; Former Certified Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII).
FAA Type Ratings (5): A-350; A-320; B-757/767; DC-9; ERJ-170/190.
14 C.F.R. Part 121 Experience: Current International Widebody First Officer (A-350); prior Part 121 scheduled domestic operations in A-320, B-757/767, DC-9 (MD-88/90), and ERJ-170/190 (ERJ-170/175).
Flight Hours Summary: ~4,500 Hours Total · ~4,000 Hours Turbine · ~1,000 Hours Instructor (T-6C Texan II and General Aviation) · ~450 Hours F/A-18A–D · ~150 Hours A-10C.

Military Service, Honors & Education

U.S. Marine Corps (August 2005 – January 2017, Former Active Duty): F/A-18 Pilot and Aviation Maintenance Officer (MOS 6002); Rated in F/A-18A–D and T-6C Texan II.
Indiana Air National Guard (January 2017 – February 2025, Retired): A-10C Pilot and Air Liaison Officer. Completed military flying career and retired from the Air National Guard in February 2025.
Military Honors: Top Graduate of every phase of military flight training (2007–2009); “Top Hook” Award for finishing #1 in F/A-18 carrier qualifications (2010); Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2013).
Education:
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) — University of West Florida
• B.S., Professional Aviation Flight Technology — Indiana State University
• Naval Aviation Maintenance Officer Course (MOS 6002) — U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps

Career Progression

Professional & Military Experience

Lushin Aviation Consulting LLC — Principal

May 2026 – Present

Expert witness and aviation safety consulting practice available nationwide for case review, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony.
Retained as defense aviation expert in Florida Circuit Court litigation (2026–Present) evaluating military fighter and commercial Part 121 pilot qualification pathways, DoD/DoDMERB and FAA aviation medical and training standards, and career progression feasibility.

Major Legacy Airline — International Widebody First Officer (A-350)

December 2017 – Present

Current 14 C.F.R. Part 121 international widebody operations across Asia and Europe, plus extensive domestic operations.
Prior scheduled passenger operations in A-320, B-757/767, DC-9 (MD-88/90), and ERJ-170/190 (ERJ-170/175).

Indiana Air National Guard — A-10C Pilot & Air Liaison Officer

January 2017 – February 2025, Retired

Sworn into the Indiana Air National Guard in January 2017 (serving concurrently with civilian Part 121 airline career); completed military flying career as an A-10C pilot and Air Liaison Officer and retired from the Air National Guard in February 2025.

Republic Airways — ERJ-170/175 First Officer

January 2017 – December 2017

Hired in January 2017 upon transitioning from active-duty U.S. Marine Corps service (immediately prior to swearing into the Indiana Air National Guard); conducted 14 C.F.R. Part 121 scheduled passenger operations until joining Major Legacy Airline in December 2017.

U.S. Marine Corps — F/A-18 Pilot & Aviation Maintenance Officer (MOS 6002)

August 2005 – January 2017 (Former Active Duty)

Former Active Duty Officer: Section Leader, Deputy Director of Training, Powerline Officer in Charge, and Airframes Officer in Charge.
Aviation Maintenance Officer (MOS 6002): Graduated from the Naval Aviation Maintenance Officer Course; directed F/A-18 Powerline (WC 110: propulsion, fuel systems, flightline launch/recovery) and Airframes (WC 120: flight controls, hydraulics, landing gear, structures) divisions under the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 / NAMP), supervising Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representatives (CDQARs), Collateral Duty Inspectors (CDIs), and NAMP-monitored maintenance safety programs (Tool Control, FOD Prevention, Hydraulic Contamination, Tire & Wheel, and Corrosion Control) governing Safe-for-Flight aircraft release.
Managed squadron maintenance safety programs and applied human-factors principles across maintenance and flight operations.
Primary Flight Instructor and Stage Check Pilot in the T-6C Texan II; Top Graduate of every phase of military flight training (2007–2009); “Top Hook” Award for finishing #1 in F/A-18 carrier qualifications (2010); Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2013).

Lushin & Associates (Sandler Training) — Organizational Excellence Facilitator

Concurrent with Civilian Career

Facilitated Sandler Training’s Leadership for Organizational Excellence (OE) curriculum at Lushin & Associates (#1-ranked Sandler Training franchise globally) for executive leadership teams across diverse industries—implementing structured frameworks for organizational human factors, standard operating procedure (SOP) formalization, management accountability, performance metrics (“Performetrics”), and the elimination of operational blind spots affecting performance and safety.
Invited by David Hiatt (Sandler Corporate Director of Leadership for Organizational Excellence) and Sandler Systems corporate leadership to lead multiple national discussions for fellow facilitators and franchise leaders on structuring and delivering the Organizational Excellence program—demonstrating the ability to translate complex operational and management frameworks for executive and lay/jury audiences.

Publications & Technical Commentary

Selected Publications & Case Analyses

Operational frameworks and technical briefings on crew resource management, military and commercial flight standards, and maintenance quality assurance.

Multi-Crew Coordination & Aeronautical Decision-Making (FAA AC 120-51E & DAMCLAS)

Comparative analysis of civil Part 121 Crew Resource Management (CRM) standards and U.S. Marine Corps / NATO DAMCLAS decision-making frameworks (Assertiveness, Mission Analysis, Communication, Leadership, Adaptability, and Situational Awareness) in high-workload cockpit environments.

Read Technical Commentary on LinkedIn →

Safe-for-Flight Release & NAMP (COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2) Quality Assurance

Evaluating the maintenance-safety interface across Powerline (WC 110) and Airframes (WC 120) operations, Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative (CDQAR) and Inspector (CDI) oversight, Tool Control, FOD Prevention, and Corrosion Control compliance.

View Firm Updates on LinkedIn →

Military & Part 121 Pilot Qualification Pathways & Regulatory Standards

Objective evaluation of pilot training progression, stage-check standards, DoD / DoDMERB and FAA Part 67 medical certification pathways, and Part 121 air carrier qualification requirements for damages and causation analysis.

Download Full Curriculum Vitae (PDF) →

Direct Attorney & Brokerage Contact

Case Intake & Conflict Checks

Available to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide for initial conflict checks, case evaluations, Rule 26 expert reports, depositions, and trial testimony. Please include the jurisdiction, parties involved (for conflict screening), and key case deadlines in your initial inquiry. Current Fee Schedule, Retention Agreement, and Form W-9 provided immediately upon conflict clearance.

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Principal Consultant Elliott B. Lushin, ATP, MBA

Firm Entity Lushin Aviation Consulting LLC

Direct Phone (812) 240-5483

Email elliott@lushinaviation.com

Location Columbus, Indiana · Available Nationwide

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