Expert Witness · Consultant · Educator
Aviation Human Factors, Explained So a Jury Gets It
Kurt Reesman, Ph.D., brings more than 45 years of aviation experience and 35 years of flight and academic instruction to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide.
Ph.D., Auburn University · ATP with Boeing 737 Type Rating · Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society · FAA Human Factors Task Force · 35+ years instructing & evaluating pilots · No FAA certificate actions
45+
Years of Aviation Experience
35+
Years of Flight & Academic Instruction
3,887
Total Flight Hours
PhD
Adult Education, Auburn University
When a Case Turns on Human Factors
Every accident has a "what" and a "how." The harder question is the "why." Why did the crew do what it did? Was the training good enough? Was the standard of care met? Those answers have to be worked out carefully and then said plainly enough that a jury can follow them.
I have spent more than three decades instructing and evaluating pilots in military, general aviation, and airline cockpits, and over 15 years teaching aviation human factors in the classroom. I bring that experience to attorneys who need a clear, defensible read on pilot performance and training.
Who I Work With
- Plaintiff and defense counsel in aviation litigation
- Insurers and aviation risk professionals
- Matters involving airline, commercial, and general aviation operations
Areas of Expert Opinion
I render opinions across the full spectrum of aviation human factors and pilot training litigation.
Human Factors & Human Error
Attention, workload, fatigue, situational awareness, and decision-making in flight operations.
Pilot Training & Standard of Care
Training adequacy, curriculum design, and evaluation under Part 121, Part 141, Part 61, and ATP-CTP.
Crew Resource Management
CRM, crew coordination, flight-deck communication, and pilot monitoring.
Automation & Procedure Design
Automation use, mode awareness, checklist design, and human-automation interaction.
Airman Certification Standards
FAA testing and checking practices, PTS/ACS, and practical test standards.
Aviation Safety Culture
Safety management systems (SMS), safety culture, and training-organization oversight.
A Career Built on Flying, Teaching, and Safety
I started in T-37s and finished my Air Force career in F-15Es. I am now a Boeing 737 flight instructor at a major U.S. airline. Along the way I have trained pilots at every stage of their careers.
I have taught at Liberty University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Auburn University, designed the FAA-mandated ATP Certification Training Program, served as an FAA Administrative Pilot Examiner, and worked on FAA rulemaking committees covering human factors and airman certification standards.
"Most aviation accidents are preventable at some point. The question is whether the training, procedures, and human factors environment gave the crew a reasonable chance to succeed."
Kurt Reesman, Ph.D.
Ready to Talk About Your Case?
I am available for expert reports, depositions, and trial testimony. Every engagement starts the same way: a confidential look at the case and a clear conflict check.