A former attorney for the Federal Aviation Administration, clients come to Mary-Caitlin for practical and strategic advice on navigating complex aviation challenges. She represents aircraft owners, operators, and manufacturers as well as investors into aviation related businesses, advising on regulatory and transactional matters. She has significant experience advising clients on the impacts of and solutions for emerging technologies in the aviation sector, including uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS or drones) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Mary-Caitlin’s practice spans the crewed and uncrewed side of the aviation world.
She has advised Fortune 500 flight departments, high net worth individuals, and manufacturers and suppliers on regulatory concerns related to the operation and production of aircraft, including complex issues related to permitted compensation, pilot licensing, operating structures such as dry leasing, timesharing and fractional ownership agreements, and emergency and Letter of Investigation response related to quality escapes and incidents. She also represents clients in the acquisition and sale of business aircraft, including cross border transactions requiring the export or import of aircraft.
Mary-Caitlin counsels drone and eVTOL manufacturers, operators, and owners on all aspects of FAA regulatory compliance, including the business impacts of the evolving global regulatory framework for emerging aviation technologies. She also advises drone manufacturers and operators on development of internal aviation-related corporate policies and best practices.
Mary-Caitlin has significant experience advising investors on the regulatory implications of investment into a wide array of aviation-related businesses, including MROs, manufacturers (including eVTOL manufacturers), and businesses that own and/or operate aircraft.
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Chair, Young Lawyers Committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law
- Young Lawyer Liaison to the American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law
- Member, International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading
- Member, Women in Aviation International
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Young Lawyers Committee, August 2017-August 2018
Representative Matters
- Advised small UAS operators on FAA operating and registration rules, including counseling on new and upcoming FAA rulemakings affecting sUAS operations
- Advised UAS manufacturers on compliance with remote identification regulations
- Drafted internal UAS use and remote identification policies for commercial UAS operators and manufacturers
- Represented buyers and sellers in numerous aircraft purchase and sale transactions
- Advised clients on negotiated lease documents related to Part 91 operations
- Represented numerous private equity funds in conducting transactional due diligence and counseling related to the acquisition and sale of aviation related businesses, including Maintenance and Repair Organizations, manufacturers, aircraft owners and operators, and UAS and eVTOL manufacturers and operators
- Counseled numerous FAA certificate holders, including PMA and Part 145 Repair Station Certificate holders, on responses to FAA investigations and audits
Speeches & Presentations
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"Charting the Course: Finding of Niche as a Burgeoning Lawyer," American Bar Association, Montreal, Canada.
(September 16, 2022).
Speaker: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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“How Different Will the Future Be?" Isle of Man Aviation Conference, Douglas, Isle of Man, 2022.
(June 22, 2022).
Speakers: Mary-Caitlin Ray
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“The Public-Private Connection – The Policies You Need to Know to Plug Into Dual Use & Other Opportunities” Law-Tech-Connect Workshop, Orange County, FL.
(April 25, 2022).
Speaker: Mary-Caitlin Ray
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“Airports of the Future: Legal Considerations for Sustainable and Safe Mobility of People and Goods,” Eighth Annual In-House Recovery Conference, Dana Point, CA
(March 10, 2022).
Panelists: Meagan Bachman, Lorraine Campos, Mary-Caitlin Ray and Chahira Solh.
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"Drone Law & Policy in Commercial Operations," 2020 AZDroneFest & Education Expo
(October 22, 2020).
Panelist: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Public Safety Drone Regulation and Policy," InterDrone Webinar Series
(August 19, 2020).
Presenter: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Parsing the Preemption Puzzle: Where is the Line?" ABA Forum on Air and Space Law Drone Law Conference, Washington, D.C.
(June 18, 2018).
Moderator: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Not Your Average Bid Protest," ABA’s 24th Federal Procurement Institute, Annapolis, MD
(March 14-17, 2018).
Moderator: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
Publications
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"Chinese Drones Are In The Penalty Box," The SciTech Lawyer, Volume 17, Number 3, Spring 2021
(Spring 2021).
Author: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Transportation – The March to Digital Mobility," Crowell & Moring's Regulatory Forecast 2020
(February 26, 2020).
Contributors: Cheryl A. Falvey, Scott L. Winkelman, Rebecca Baden Chaney, and Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"Expecting A Pizza Delivered By Drone? It May Take A While," Law360
(August 29, 2019).
Author: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
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"FAA Seeks Industry Cohorts to Administer Knowledge Test for Recreational Drone Operators," Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Legal Forum
(August 27, 2019).
Author: Mary-Caitlin Ray.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"The House Goes Long On Drones,"
(September 20, 2022).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Byron R. Brown, Scott L. Winkelman, Rebecca Baden Chaney
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"President Biden To Sign New Inflation Reduction Act,"
Biden 2021 Series
(August 15, 2022).
Contacts: Byron R. Brown, Rebecca Baden Chaney, Stephanie L. Crawford, James G. Flood, Eric Homsi, Irina Pisareva, Mary-Caitlin Ray, Tim Shadyac, Siyi Shen, Hillary C. Webb, Scott L. Winkelman
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"Key Takeaways From Crowell’s 2022 Transportation & Logistics Industry Workshop,"
(March 31, 2022).
Contacts: Meagan T. Bachman, Lorraine M. Campos, Rebecca Baden Chaney, S. Starling Marshall, Chahira Solh, Byron R. Brown, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"DOT Launches Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program,"
(June 22, 2021).
Contacts: Eileen M. Gleimer, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"American Rescue Plan Act Throws a Lifeline to Previously Ineligible Aviation Manufacturers,"
Administrative Law Alert
(March 15, 2021).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Eileen M. Gleimer
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"A Bright End to a Bleak Year: the FAA Releases Final Rules on Remote ID and Operations Over People,"
Insurance/Reinsurance Alert
(December 30, 2020).
Contacts: Cheryl A. Falvey, Laura Foggan, Scott L. Winkelman, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Omnibus Bill Brings Changes to Aircraft Certification System and Extends CARES Act Lifeline for Air Carriers,"
(December 28, 2020).
Contacts: Rebecca Baden Chaney, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Transition 2021: Top Transportation Policy Issues Facing the Biden Administration,"
Biden 2021 Series
(December 21, 2020).
Contacts: Rebecca Baden Chaney, Scott L. Winkelman, Byron R. Brown, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Concerns Over Chinese Made Drones Continue as Executive Agencies Update their Drone Policies,"
Privacy Law Alert
(October 19, 2020).
Contacts: Gabriel M. Ramsey, Matthew B. Welling, Scott L. Winkelman, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Treasury Issues Guidance and a Form Agreement for Air Carrier Payroll Support Program and Provides an Update on Payments,"
Corporate Alert
(April 23, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"CARES Act Loans for Aviation Related Businesses – Update,"
Corporate Alert
(April 17, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Summary of FAA's COVID-19-Related Measures Affecting General Aviation and Part 135 Operators and Related Considerations,"
(April 14, 2020).
Contacts: Eileen M. Gleimer, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"New Treasury Guidance Provides Relief from Financial Instrument Offering under Payroll Support Program for Small and Mid-Sized Aviation Businesses,"
Corporate Alert
(April 14, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"CARES Act Payroll Support Program: It's Not Just for Airlines,"
(April 6, 2020).
Contacts: James G. Flood, Eileen M. Gleimer, Ryan C. Tisch, Scott Lessne, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"Lawmakers Take Aim at Chinese Drone Technology,"
Regulatory Alert
(February 19, 2020).
Contacts: Evan Y. Chuck, Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"New Decade, New Drone Rules: FAA Announces Proposed Rule for Remote ID,"
Regulatory Alert
(January 3, 2020).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Laura Foggan, Scott L. Winkelman
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"USPS Joins the Drone Delivery Domain with RFI for Services,"
Regulatory Alert
(October 3, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Laura Foggan, Cheryl A. Falvey
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"Alaska Drone Team Achieves Major Regulatory and Operational Milestone,"
Regulatory Alert
(August 8, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey, Laura Foggan
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"Drone Use Brings New Advantages and Opportunities in the Energy Sector,"
Energy Law Alert
(March 5, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Deborah A. Carpentier
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"Off to the Races: The FAA Initiates Informal Drone Rulemaking,"
Regulatory Alert
(February 14, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey
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"A Day for Drones: FAA Releases Drafts of Long-Awaited Enabling Rules (Part 2),"
Regulatory Alert
(January 25, 2019).
Contacts: Mary-Caitlin Ray, Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey
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"A Day for Drones: FAA Releases Drafts of Long-Awaited Enabling Rules,"
Regulatory Alert
(January 22, 2019).
Contact: Mary-Caitlin Ray
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"ISO Releases First Global Drone Standard,"
Regulatory Alert
(December 4, 2018).
Contacts: Cheryl A. Falvey, Scott L. Winkelman, Mary-Caitlin Ray
Press Coverage