Mr. Van Dyke brings a wealth of experience in aviation law matters to the firm. Having been actively involved in military, commercial and general aviation for more than 25 years, Mr. Van Dyke is capable of providing specialized legal representation in a wide variety of aviation matters. Examples of such matters include aircraft purchase and sale transactions, interior completion and modifications, fractional ownership structures and aviation insurance coverage issues. In addition to aircraft transactional matters, Mr. Van Dyke handles complex business litigation matters involving all types of commercial aviation enterprises.

Initially trained in the military as an Aircraft Mechanic, and later as a Flight Engineer, Mr. Van Dyke possesses the technical knowledge to understand complex mechanical engineering issues which frequently arise in aircraft related accidents. While serving in the United States Air Force, Mr. Van Dyke obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aeronautics, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Following his military service, Mr. Van Dyke was admitted to Embry Riddle’s graduate school and pursued coursework leading to a Masters Degree in Business Administration Aviation (MBAA).:

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Van Dyke held a number of professional positions in the Aviation Insurance Industry. Commencing with a position as Underwriter with USAIG, the largest and oldest aircraft insurance group, Mr. Van Dyke was responsible for evaluating general aviation risks, including Flight Training and FBO operators, aircraft product manufacturers and corporate flight departments.

Later, Mr. Van Dyke held a position as an Account Executive in the aviation department of Willis Group, PLC (formerly known as Willis Corroon, PLC), an international insurance brokerage firm. During this time, Mr. Van Dyke had the opportunity to associate with several unique aviation ventures including the Voyager and Earthwinds Hilton projects. An entrepreneur at heart, Mr. Van Dyke ultimately owned and operated an independent aviation insurance agency known as Pacific Aviation & Marine Insurance Services, which was located for several years in Riverside and then in Carlsbad, California.

After attending law school in San Diego, California, Mr. Van Dyke accepted a position as Contract Administrator with a start up aircraft manufacturer known as Galaxy Aerospace Corporation. This project involved the acquisition of Astrajet Corporation, then a distributor of the Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) 1125 Astra Jet turbine business jet, and the certification of the all new super mid-sized IAI 1126 Galaxy business jet. Mr. Van Dyke was instrumental in developing the initial contractual relationship between the two companies and personally handled the specification and delivery of several new business jets to the company’s customers. After Galaxy Aerospace Corporation was acquired by Gulfstream Aircraft Corporation, Mr. Van Dyke returned to private practice in Carlsbad, California.

Mr. Van Dyke is a licensed pilot and remains active in the industry. Currently, he serves as a panel attorney for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) and is a member of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association (LPBA) and the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA).

For a more detailed discussion of the types of aviation law matters handled by the firm, click through any of the links to the right or call us now for a complimentary consultation.

In the event that you or a loved one have been involved in any type of aviation accident involving airline or general aviation aircraft, please visit our Aircraft Accidents page where you will find accident related resource information and you may use the query form to submit your case information for immediate review. The firm welcomes media inquiries and frequently provides commentary on aviation related matters.