Aviation Expert Witness and Consulting Services
Fifty Years of Aviation Experience on Your Team
Fifty years of flight experience in general aviation and major international airline operations
I am a highly experienced recently retired senior airline captain with more than 50 years of flight experience and more than 30 years as an air safety representative. I have approximately 30,000 domestic and international flight hours in both major airline and general aviation aircraft. My FAA type ratings include various versions of the Boeing 747, Boeing 777, McDonnell Douglas DC10, and Boeing 737. I have flown as a captain for one of the world’s largest international airlines continuously from 1991 until my retirement in 2019. I am also a former full-performance-level (FPL) air traffic controller.
I served on the Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) reporting to the FAA Administrator on new or significantly revised air traffic control (ATC) procedural concepts charts, diagrams, and illustrations, identifying their relevance to current, revised, or proposed ATC procedures and concepts.
My areas of expertise include Federal Air Regulations (FAR) Part 121 airline operational safety issues, turbulence injury investigation and mitigation, passenger disruptions, domestic and international flight operations, regulatory and flight operations manual compliance, flight crew performance, crew resource management and coordination, cockpit-related human factors issues, compliance with company procedures, aircraft limitations, navigation and communications procedures, standard operating procedures, and best practices.
“Flight safety is not just a marketing concept and mediaspeak but rather a personal mindset and a corporate culture that requires real commitment and investment by all involved. It is not “set and forget”, but rather requires dedication and a constant conscious effort to maintain and improve. Intentional failure to do so is inexcusable.”
- Captain Ross Sagun
About me:
Extensive experience in international and domestic major-airline operations, aviation safety,
aviation-related technology, flight crew procedures, and in leading committees and project
teams.
Piloted and instructed on numerous general aviation aircraft
FAA licensed pilot since 1972
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type ratings on several aircraft, including various
versions of the B747, B777, DC10, and B737
Served as Chairman of the Air Line Pilots’ Association International (ALPA-I) National Air
Traffic Services Group
Elected as Regional Vice President for the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’
Associations (IFALPA) responsible for promoting the highest level of aviation safety
worldwide and being a global advocate of the piloting profession
Designated as ALPA Boeing 747 Fleet Safety Coordinator at United Airlines, responsible for
investigating accidents and incidents occurring on United Airlines’ B747 fleet worldwide
Served on the Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) reporting to the FAA
Administrator on new or significantly revised air traffic control (ATC) procedural concepts
charts, diagrams, and illustrations, identifying their relevance to current, revised, or proposed
ATC procedures and concepts
Prior testimonial experience
Areas of Expertise:
Federal Air Regulations (FAR) Part 121 airline operational safety issues
airline and flight crew regulatory compliance
regulatory and flight operations manual compliance
Regulatory
Turbulence injury investigation and mitigation
passenger disruptions
domestic and international flight operations
flight crew operational performance
compliance with company procedures
aircraft limitations
navigation and communications procedures
Operations
Crew resource management (CRM) and coordination
cockpit-related human factors issues
standard operating procedures
best practices
Human Factors
Solutions
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Regulatory
Did the pilots, the operator, and the governing agency follow established regulations, guidelines, and accepted best practices? Were maintenance and repair regulatory requirements overlooked? Was the deviation from from rquirements intentional or a case of normalization of deviance?
Captain Sagun actively participated in writing the rules, developing procedures, and overseeing airline operators and regulators. He has the knowledge and experience to help you determine if regulations, guidelines, and practices were adequate and observed.
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Operations
Was the crew provided with adequate training, equipment, and supported by a progressive safety culture in order to perform at the highest level of safety? Did the flight dispatcher give the crew an adequate weather briefing to avoid the area of forecasted severe turbulence? Did the crew or dispatcher intentionally plan the flight into hazardous conditions?
Captain Sagun co-chaired the Dispatch Committee and led the Turbulence Injury MItigation Team at one of the world’s largest airlines. He can help you to determine if an accident or incident was avoidable and if the operator performed with regard to the highest level of safety.
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Human Factors
What were the human factors considerations involved in the accident or incident? Did fatigue or pressure to complete the mission influence the crew’s decision-making process? Were there unreasonable scheduiing requirements or other constraints that affected the crew’s performance?
Captain Sagun has over 50 years of flight experience and has spent over 30 years as an air-safety representative and advocate. He can help you assess the exigent circumstances surrounding an incident or accident.