About Richard

Aviation Expert: Aviation Consulting for Litigation & The Media

In his 40-year career with American Airlines, Captain Levy held many positions, including FAA-approved pilot check airman and captain of a B-777. He is an accomplished airline transport pilot with an accumulation of over 4,000 hours in general aviation aircraft, 2,000 hours in military jets and transports, and well over 30,000 hours in Boeing 727, 757/767 and 777 aircraft.

FAA-certified and well-versed in FAA rules and regulations, and able to interpret the rules and regulations of different airlines
Articulate and positive communicator, skilled at presenting complex technical information to diverse audiences including pilots, attorneys, the government, and the media

Professional Experience

AVIATION EXPERT CONSULTING, LLC2017–Present

Consults as a technical aviation advisor to the media and entertainment industry and works with attorneys for plaintiffs and defendants in legal disputes involving the following types of issues:

Aircraft performance
Airline flight operations
International operations
Aviation accidents
Aviation instruction & training
Aviation weather and meteorology
Cockpit crew performance
Extended twin engine overwater operations (ETOPS)
Federal Aviation Regulations Parts 61, 91, 121, and 135
Flight safety standards
MNPS operations and NAT tracks
North Pacific operations and PATOCS
Polar operations
Special qualification airports

AMERICAN AIRLINES1977–2018

Captain B-777 (2005–2018)

Regions flown to: United States, South America, Russia, Europe, China, India, Middle East, Japan, South Korea, Polar Operations, ETOPS, North Atlantic, North Pacific

FAA-Approved Pilot Check Airman – Aircraft & Flight Simulator (1989–2005)

Taught/evaluated AA pilots in B-727/757/767 aircraft and flight simulator:

United States
Vail-Eagle CO airport qualification
Jackson Hole WY airport qualification
Caribbean
Tegucigalpa, Honduras airport qualification
Quito, Ecuador airport qualification
La Paz, Bolivia airport qualification
Latin America
South America
Central Pacific – Hawaiian Islands
Europe
ETOPS
North Atlantic – standardization coordinator

American Airlines – Earlier Roles (1977–1989)

Captain B-757/B-767
Captain B-727
First Officer DC-10
First Officer B-727
Flight Engineer B-727

RIO AIRWAYS (Commuter Airlines)1975

First Officer, Beech 99

U.S. AIR FORCE1975–1982

Reserves Part-time Pilot (1976-1982)

Aircraft Commander USAF C-130 transport aircraft

Additional Experience

Motivational speaker, author and life coach, 2012–2017
Internet radio host, “Wealthy Thoughts,” VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network, 2013–2016

Languages

Fluent in English and German

Education & Credentials

Passed FAA private, commercial, and instrument written exams, age 13
Soloed, age 16 (minimum age)
Passed FAA private pilot flight test, age 17 (minimum age)
Passed FAA instrument rating flight test, age 17
Passed FAA commercial pilot flight test, age 18 (minimum age)
Passed Air air transport pilot flight test for single and multi-engine aircraft, age 23 (minimum age)
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Transportation, University of Texas, 1974
Officers Training School, Summer 1975
USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, 1975–1976
United States Air Force, 1975–1982
Awarded “Air Training Command” Commander’s Trophy