Whitfield & Eddy and its trial attorneys have been involved in aircraft accident cases many times over the years, but in the past few years aviation law has become a significant interest for one of its members.  Kevin Reynolds has 1,700-hours and is an instrument-rated private pilot with over 20 years of flight experience.  He has been qualified to fly in complex, high performance aircraft.  He served as a member of the Newton, Iowa, Municipal Airport Advisory Committee from 2000 to 2001, and serves as panel counsel for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) legal services plan.  Kevin is also a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA).  He has lectured to pilot groups on aviation-related legal issues and is a co-author with partner Jason M. Casini of “Confronting the ‘Heeding Presumption’ in Failure to Warn Cases,” Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association Journal, Vol. XVII No. 4 (Fall 1995).

Luke Craven served in the United States Army and Iowa Army National Guard as an aviation officer for seven years, ultimately earning the rank of Captain.  As an Army Aviator, Luke accrued over 600 rotary wing flight hours.  During his time in the Army, Luke qualified to fly multiple high performance helicopters including his primary aircraft, the dual engine, AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter.  Among his other duties as an officer and aviator, from 2003-2004, Luke had the responsibility of supervising the set-up, maintenance, and operation of all aircraft refueling and rearming procedures of the northern-most attack aviation battalion stationed within the Republic of Korea.  While deployed to Iraq from 2005-2006, he flew over 25 combat air patrols in support of ground operations within the Bagdad Area of Operations.  In addition to obtaining a commercial instrument rating from the FAA, Luke qualified on aerial gunnery tasks, as well as unaided and aided night flight to include the use of night vision goggles and night vision devices such as forward looking infrared (FLIR).  With his practical experience in rotary wing aviation and knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations, Luke brings a unique perspective to the practice of aviation law.

Member Phil McCormick, in the Firm’s Mt. Pleasant office, is a private pilot.  Phil owns and flies a Cessna 172.