Flight Training, Checkride & Pilot Qualification Expert Witness
Elliott B. Lushin is a former U.S. Marine Corps T-6 Texan II Primary Flight Instructor and Student Stage Check Pilot (~800 military instructor hours), a prior FAA CFI / CFII, and a current Part 121 First Officer trained under the Advanced Qualification Program. Available to plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide on flight instruction, checkride, and pilot qualification issues.
Issues Addressed
- Flight instruction standard of care: civil (CFI / CFII) and military flight instruction standards, lesson structure, and supervision of student pilots.
- Checkrides and evaluations: stage checks, syllabus checkrides, grading standards, and how performance problems are documented and addressed.
- Airline training programs: Part 121 Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) training, including Line Operational Simulation (LOFT / LOE).
- Pilot qualification pathways: military fighter and commercial Part 121 pilot qualification pathways, DoD/DoDMERB and FAA Part 67 medical certification pathways, and Part 121 air carrier qualification requirements.
- Career-progression feasibility: objective evaluation of whether, and on what timeline, a pilot could reasonably have progressed through military or airline training and qualification steps.
- Training records: review of student training jackets, syllabus progress, and instructor documentation.
Relevant Background
- Primary Flight Instructor, Student Stage Check Pilot & Class Advisor (VT-2, NAS Whiting Field — T-6 Texan II, Aug 2013 – Jan 2017): logged ~800 military instructor hours training student naval aviators in contact, instrument, formation, navigation, and night operations; served as a Student Stage Check Pilot evaluating student syllabus checkrides; and served as Student Class Advisor, conducting student training-jacket reviews, tracking syllabus progress, and mentoring student aviators.
- Prior FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII, 2005, ~100 hours).
- Completed Officer Commissioning, Naval Flight Training, and F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron (VMFAT-101) qualification (Aug 2005 – Aug 2010).
- Participates in Part 121 Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) Line Operational Simulation (LOFT / LOE) training as a current International Widebody First Officer (A-350).
- B.S., Professional Aviation Flight Technology — Indiana State University.
- Retained as an aviation expert witness 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elliott B. Lushin a current flight instructor?
He was previously an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII, 2005, ~100 hours) and a U.S. Marine Corps T-6 Texan II Primary Flight Instructor and Student Stage Check Pilot at VT-2, NAS Whiting Field (~800 military instructor hours). His current flying is as a Part 121 First Officer.
Can he evaluate whether a pilot would have reached the airlines or a military cockpit?
Yes. He evaluates military fighter and commercial Part 121 pilot qualification pathways, DoD/DoDMERB and FAA medical and training standards, and career-progression feasibility. He does not calculate economic damages.
What training records are useful for a review?
Typically the pilot’s logbooks, training and grade records, checkride and stage-check results, certificates and medical records, and the applicable syllabus or training program. Please send materials only after the conflict check is complete.
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.