Mr Andrew McKechnie

Andrew McKechnie is an expert in flight operations, airline management, and pilot training. He holds Airline Transport Pilot Licences issued by the UK and Irish Aviation Authorities and previously held Type Rating Instructor and Examiner certificates.

Andrew has spent more than twenty years as a pilot and training captain in airlines and business aviation, and ten years as an inspector for aviation authorities, including the UK CAA and EASA. As the Director of McKechnie Aviation LTD, Andrew supported aircraft operators, pilot-training companies, and national aviation authorities. He has held “Nominated Post Holder” positions for pilot training and flight operations.

Andrew combines expert witness work with flying for a corporate client. He has given evidence in courts and tribunals in England and the Republic of Ireland. He has expertise in the interpretation and analysis of digital flight data recorder (DFDR) information, crew performance, regulatory compliance, and operational decision-making by flight crews and aircraft operators.

Example Projects

• Two passengers were accused of disruptive behaviour on a holiday flight. The aircraft captain diverted the flight and offloaded the passengers. The airline claimed a six-figure sum from the offloaded passengers as the cost of the diversion. Andrew’s report showed that the diversion was inappropriate, contrary to aviation regulations, and poorly managed.
• A business airport operator faced competition from a military aerodrome that was open to commercial traffic. Andrew’s report, based on publicly available information, showed that the military aerodrome did not meet the safety standards required of a civil airport and that this could provide a commercial advantage.
• Two cabin crew members were injured when their flight encountered turbulence. Their employer did not cover the cost of their medical treatment or pay them during the time they were off work because of their injuries. Andrew’s report showed that the pilots did not take reasonable care and that the airline had not taken adequate precautions for the foreseeable risk of injuries in turbulence.
• Another cabin crew member was injured during a “hard landing.” By analysing data from the digital flight data recorder (DFDR), Andrew showed that the pilots had applied the wrong landing technique and that the occupants of the aircraft were exposed to unusual accelerations.
• A light aircraft crashed in poor weather following a technical malfunction. Andrew’s report, prepared for the insurers, showed that the pilot had disregarded numerous aviation safety regulations before and during the accident flight.

Bond Solon “Excellence in Report Writing” course in May 2020

Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS)