Ira Furman is Of Counsel to the Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. and serves as a member of the firm's aviation litigation team. Mr. Furman is a former Deputy Director for Public Affairs for the National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, he served as principal spokesman for the NTSB in connection with major airplane, rail, highway, marine and pipeline accident investigations. He maintains a private law practice in New York and possesses extensive experience in the area of airplane crash and related product liability matters. His work in aviation litigation began when he provided legal counsel to an airline employee and brought to light evidence of consistent fraud in safety procedures and record keeping by Eastern Air Lines at LaGuardia Airport. Mr. Furman's presentation of the evidence to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Justice Department preceded the federal indictments of airline officials and the closing of the air carrier. These efforts were conducted pro bono (without compensation). Mr. Furman continues to further the cause of airplane passenger safety and has testified as an expert before the United States Senate Aviation Subcommittee on the shortcomings in Federal Aviation Administration management of airline safety.