Aircraft Maintenance Program Expert Witness: NAMP Oversight & the Maintenance–Flight Operations Interface
Elliott B. Lushin is a former U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Maintenance Officer who served as F/A-18 Powerline and Airframes Division Officer under the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP, COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2), and a current Part 121 First Officer who conducts MEL/CDL airworthiness evaluations with dispatch and line maintenance. Available to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide.
Issues Addressed
- Maintenance program management: how a maintenance organization assigns, supervises, and documents work under the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP, COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2).
- Technician qualification and designation: qualification records and the process for vetting and designating inspectors.
- Maintenance safety programs: Tool Control, Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Prevention, Hydraulic Contamination Control, Aircraft Tire & Wheel Safety, Corrosion Prevention & Control, and Support Equipment training and licensing.
- The maintenance–cockpit interface: Minimum Equipment List (MEL) / Configuration Deviation List (CDL) deferrals, aircraft acceptance and pre-departure airworthiness evaluations, and communication among pilots, dispatch, and maintenance.
- Military squadron maintenance organization: divisions, work centers, and the alignment of aircraft availability with the flight schedule.
- Organizational factors: Safety Management Systems (SMS) and maintenance safety culture.
Relevant Background
- Former U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Maintenance Officer; completed the Naval Aviation Maintenance Officer Course (U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps).
- Powerline Division Officer (VMFA-314 — WC 310 & WC 330, Aug 2010 – Aug 2013): flightline Plane Captain operations and Support Equipment, overseeing the Plane Captain Qualification, Aircraft Fuel Surveillance, and Support Equipment Training & Licensing programs.
- Airframes Division Officer (VMFA-314 — WC 120, 12A, 12B, 12C, 13A, 13B & 140, Aug 2010 – Aug 2013): structures, hydraulic systems, landing/arresting gear and brakes, corrosion control, Aviation Life Support Systems, egress, and Phase maintenance, overseeing the Hydraulic Contamination Control, Aircraft Tire & Wheel Safety, and Corrosion Prevention & Control programs.
- As Division Officer, vetted, personally interviewed, and endorsed division candidates for designation as Quality Assurance Representatives (QARs), Collateral Duty QARs (CDQARs), and Collateral Duty Inspectors (CDIs); reviewed technician qualification jackets; and enforced Tool Control, FOD Prevention, HAZMAT, and Technical Directive compliance.
- As Squadron Flight Officer, served as the operational liaison with aircraft maintenance to align daily aircraft and ordnance availability with flight-schedule requirements.
- As a current Part 121 First Officer, conducts pre-departure MEL/CDL airworthiness evaluations with dispatch and line maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What maintenance issues does Elliott B. Lushin address?
Maintenance program management, technician qualification and designation programs, maintenance safety programs such as Tool Control and FOD Prevention, and the interface between maintenance and flight operations, including MEL and CDL deferrals.
What is the NAMP?
The Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2) is the Navy and Marine Corps instruction that governs how squadrons organize, perform, document, and supervise aircraft maintenance, including qualification and maintenance safety programs.
Does he address MEL and deferred maintenance in airline cases?
Yes, from the flight crew perspective. As a current Part 121 First Officer, he conducts Minimum Equipment List (MEL) / Configuration Deviation List (CDL) airworthiness evaluations with dispatch and line maintenance before departure.
Other Practice Areas
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. The current Fee Schedule, Retention Agreement, and Form W-9 are provided immediately upon conflict clearance.