ABOUT US
Our firm handles legal matters in the following practice areas: Aviation and Aerospace, Civil Practice, Criminal Law, Commercial Law, Real Estate, Family Law, Divorce.
R. Patrick Phillips is in private law practice in Orlando, Florida. He received his B.S. degree in economics in 1966 from the University of Florida. After graduation, he entered the United States Air Force and flew C-7A Caribou aircraft in all areas of Southeast Asia including 850 combat hours in Vietnam. Later, while flying as an Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot on Lockheed C-141 Starlifter Aircraft, he flew in virtually every nation in the free world. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve Retired. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating, a current FAA flight and ground instructor certificate for both single and multi-engine airplanes and instrument, an FAA Airframe & Powerplant mechanic's certificate, and an unlimited ground level aerobatic waiver.
Mr. Phillips received his J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1975. He has been intensively engaged in the practice of law in all areas of civil and criminal litigation in all federal and state courts. He is a founding member of the National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association (recently changed to International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association), and has represented numerous professional pilots, mechanics, aircraft operators, charter services, flight schools and fixed base operators before the FAA and National Transportation Board Administrative Law Judges. The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory has given Mr. Phillips its highest rating, AV, and is recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer. He is a regular presenter at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flight Instructor Refresher Course and other aviation related seminars sponsored by institutions of higher education. Mr. Phillips is Florida Bar Board Certified in Aviation Law and an AOPA Panel Attorney. He is past Co-Chair of the EAA Legal Advisory Counsel, EAA Government Relations Committee, Board Member of Orlando Youth Aviation Center, The Rotary Club of Orlando, Sun ’n Fun Fly In, Inc., and a member and past Chairman of the Florida Bar Aviation Law Board Certification Committee. He sat as a member of the Orlando-Orange County Airport Zoning Board of Adjustments, West Orange Airport Authority.
AERONAUTICAL RATINGS
Soloed Orlando Executive Airport at age 16, 1959
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)
Type Ratings: DeHavilland DHC-4, Lockheed 300
Current FAA Flight and Ground Instructor Certificate 1965 to Present
Single and Multi Engine Airplanes and Instrument
Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate
Level 1 Unrestricted Low Level Aerobatic Waiver for Stearman Aircraft 1988 to 2006
ORGANIZATIONS
Florida Bar Association, 1975 to Present
Aviation Law Committee, 1985 to Present, Chairman 2015 to 2016
Aviation Law Board/Certification Committee, 2001 to 2007, 2014 to 2020, Chairman 2016 to 2017
Orange County Bar Association, 1975 to Present
Nat'l Transportation Safety Board Bar Association Founding Member, 1986 to Present
EAA - Member Legal Advisory Council, 1991 to Present, Vice-Chair, 2001 to 2019
AOPA - Panel Attorney, 1990 to Present
Orlando Rotary, 1994 to Present, President 2018 to 2019, Director 2002 to 2006, 2016 to Present
Air Force Association - Education Committee
Sun ’n Fun Aviation Foundation Life Member
Valiant Air Command - Member and Air Show Performer, 1987 to Present
Orange County Committee of 100, 1996 to Present
Member EAA Chapter 74 Orlando and Chapter 635 Deland, 1990 to Present
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Orlando - Orange County Airport Zoning Board of Adjustments, 1997 to 2003
Rotary Club of Orlando, 1996 to Present; President 2018 to 2019, Director 2002 to July 2020
EAA Young Eagles Program - Flown over 180 Young Eagles
Orlando Air Fair 98 - Airshow Co-Chairman/Performer
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University - Presenter, Flight Instructor Refresher Course, 1989 to 2015
National Congress on Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) Presenter and participant, 1992 to 2002
Sun ’n Fun Fly-In, Lakeland, Florida, Director, 1999 to Present, Secretary 2014 to 2019,
Airshow Chairman, 1999 to 2015
Orlando Youth Aviation Center, Director, 1999 to 2020
West Orange County Airport Authority, Board Member, 2005 to 2020
Greater Orlando Rotary, Airshow Organizer and Director, 2004 to 2005
Inducted into Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, 2020
HOBBIES
Flying Airshows Fly approximately 8 Airshows per year, 1984 to 2006
Aircraft Restoration - have restored 3 Stearman and a Piper J-3 CUB
Antique Auto Restoration
Boating
Travel
PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Unwary Pilots Beware: FAR Violations = Criminal Penalties, Sport Aviation, November 1993, Vol. 42, No. 11.
Pilots: Beware of Your Logbook Entries, Sport Aviation, March 1996, Vol. 45, No. 3.
What We Should Know About Ultralights, Sport Aviation, May 1977, Vol. 46, No. 5.
May I Work on My Own Airplane?, Sport Aviation, May 1998, Vol. 47, No.5.
Oh No! Not Another Tower!, Sport Aviation, May 1999, Vol. 48, No. 5.
Waiver & Releases, Sport Aviation, February 2000, Vol. 49, No. 2.
Homebuilders Beware ... where you have someone build your amateur-built aircraft,
Sport Aviation, July 2001, Vol. 50, No. 7.
DUI Surprise, Aviation Safety, November 2003, Vol. XXIII, No. 11.