Publications

• USA TODAY: Pilot Fatigue Threat to Safety
• 5 Simple Tips For Safe, Enjoyable Travel!
• How High is Your Legal IQ?
• Pilot Emotional Intelligence: Why You Need to Know Your Emotional IQ!
• The Power of Personal Connections

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Current March 1, 2023: In addition to Captain Botta's 35 years of Aviation Experience with a General Aviation background, as an International Airline and Corporate Pilot he has 10 years experience in Private Practice as a former Licensed Professional Counselor and Group Leader. Aviation Expert Experience: • Wrong-surface event, current 11/22 • Wrongful death case, 7/22 • SEAK Expert Witness Training, 2/22 • SEAK Expert Witness Directory, 12/21 • Recent cases opined on: pilot competency, pilot incapacity, medical issues "Bert, I am pleased to report that we resolved the case yesterday with a positive (yet confidential result). The information you provided for the case allowed my clients and me to show the defense that we were worthy adversaries and knew what should have been done and what hadn’t been done in training and the flight. Without your expertise, we wouldn’t have been so successful. Again, I want to thank you for your time on this case. I’ve not handled an aviation case before, and you (and the aerobatic expert you brought onto the case) were both great!" Thanks, Katie Captain Botta's specialty is: The Opining of Pilot Psychological and Emotional Fitness As It Relates to Judgment that may have led to an Aircraft Accident or Incident • Captain Botta assesses and opines on individuals in a Corporate, Airline, or General Aviation case that may have • Involved pilot error, inter-personal conflict, or other “human factor” related issues • Based on his experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor • And as a TWA FAA Designated Check Airman • TWA/ALPA & NetJets Professional Standards Committee Chairman • Experience in Aviation Expert Witness Cases involving Professional Aviator Medical and Flight Fitness Issues • Experience with Rebuttal, Written Reports, and Deposition • Certified Leader of a Men's Personal Leadership Training General Specialties: General Aviation, Flight Crew Human Factors, Pilot Judgment, Safety Culture Adherence, Pilot Behavior Analysis, Accident Analysis Education: • Master's Degree, Counseling Psychology, John F Kennedy University, Orinda, CA, 1984 • BA, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, 1964 • Post Graduate Studies in Human Behavior, Advanced Human Studies Institute, Miami, FL, 1985-1989 Aviation Experience: • Airline Pilot/Captain at Trans World Airlines (TWA) 1966-1993 • FAA Designated Check Airman, TWA, 1989-1993 • TWA/ALPA Professional Standards Committee, Chairman • NetJets, Corporate Jet Pilot/Captain, 2000-2009 • NetJets Professional Standards Committee, Chairman • Licensed Professional Counselor in Private Practice, St. Louis, MO, 1989-1996 As an Aviation Expert, Captain Botta has 35 years of Aviation Experience: • General Aviation Background • A Major Airline Captain with • International, Multi-Cultural experience • Designated FAA Line Check Captain • Pilot Instructor • Captain for NetJets • Certified Gold Seal Flight Instructor (Current - 2024) • Aircraft Simulator instructor, General Aviation, 2016-2018 As a Licensed Professional Counselor with a former private & group practice, Bert combines Aviation Expert skills with • Psychological and Emotional tools • That Provide Valuable Insights into the Makeup of Aviation Professionals TWA CAPTAIN: 1966-1992: 20000 hours flying experience, Captain, First Officer, Flight Engineer. DESIGNATED FAA LINE CHECK AIRMAN TWA: 1989 – 1992, MD80/DC9 SAUDI ARABIA SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT, CAD License # TA325, 1976-1977 TWA AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION TWA/ALPA (AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION) PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: 1986-1989 TWA/ALPA CHAIRMAN, FAMILY AWARENESS COMMITTEE: 1990-1992 TWA/ALPA SECOND OFFICER REPRESENTATIVE: 1973-1976 NetJets: GULFSTREAM AND CITATION JET CAPTAIN: 2000 – 2009 NetJets: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Teamsters Union, 2001-2005 General Aviation, Recent: Kelleher Lumber Company, Copilot, 2016-2018