Areas of Practice
Jim has extensive legal and management experience within the aviation industry, including Lead Counsel at Alaska Airlines and Senior Attorney at Trans World Airlines. He holds a commercial pilot license with over 2,500 hours and was the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of a regional Hawaiian airline, as well as Managing Partner of Waldon Law Group, a law practice with an aviation focus. His practice focuses on aircraft transactions and finance and Federal Aviation Administration regulatory matters, general business, and corporate law. He represents domestic airlines and business aircraft owners and operators. He assists clients in establishing appropriate operating structures for aircraft to comply with the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration regulatory requirements and has represented numerous clients in regard to participation in fractional ownership programs. Jim represents clients before the FAA in enforcement actions and assists in obtaining Part 135, 121, and 129 authority for commercial operators. Jim is frequently consulted by local media to discuss various aviation topics.
Professional Experience
Joined Lane Powell PC in 2006
Lead Counsel, Alaska Airlines
Senior Attorney, Trans World Airlines
Chief Operating Officer/General Counsel for Mokulele Airlines
Managing Partner, Waldon Law Offices
President, Whiteside Air and Ozark Aviation
Commercial pilot with over 2,500 hours
Admitted to Practice
Washington
Missouri
Publications
FAA Issues Final Rule Comprehensive Changes to Aircraft Registration Requirements, Lane Powell Aviation Industry Legal Update, July 29, 2010
FAA Proposes to Change Pilot Training Requirements, Lane Powell Aviation Industry Legal Update, September 3, 2009
TSA Proposal to Require General Aviation Security Programs, Lane Powell Aviation Industry Legal Update, January 12, 2009
Speaking Engagements
Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner, Puget Sound Chapter of ASIS International, May 2010 (Keynote)
Introduction to Aviation Law, ITT Technical Institute, April 2010
Proposed Pilot Training Regulatory Changes, Lawyer Pilots Bar Association Conference, February 2010
The Passenger Bill of Rights, Pacific Northwest Aviation Law and Insurance Seminar, September 2007
New Airline Service between Portland and Seattle, Portland CBS affiliate KOIN, June 2008 (Television interview)
Current Developments in Airline Travel, Seattle FOX News 13, December, 2007 (Television interview)
The Passenger Bill of Rights, Seattle FOX News 13, September 2007 (Television interview)
Airline Delays: What is the Cause? Seattle FOX News 13, September 2007 (Television interview)
Professional and Community Activities
Panel Attorney, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Co-Chair of Membership, Lawyer Pilots Bar Association
American Bar Association
Aviation Section
Washington State Bar Association
King County Bar Association
President, Aviation Section
Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association
National Business Aviation Association (NBBA)
Pacific Northwest Business Association (PNBAA)
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Bar Association
Panel Attorney, Epilepsy Foundation