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Airplane Geeks Podcast Profile

Airplane Geeks Podcast

English, Leisure/Hobby/Lifestyle, 1 season, 104 episodes, 5 days, 18 hours, 33 minutes
About
Our aim to educate and inform you, explore and develop your passion for aviation, and entertain you a little along the way.
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808 Commercial Market Outlook

Boeing's commercial market outlook, the AirVenture and Farnborough air shows, Airbus' A321XLR certification, funding for FAA infrastructure, Embraer's Eve flying taxi prototype, JetBlue's unpaid leave offer to flight attendants, and first officers decline to upgrade to captain. Aviation News Boeing Forecasts Demand for Nearly 44,000 New Airplanes Through 2043 as Air Travel Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels Boeing released its Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) for 2024-2043, including an interactive dashboard. CMO forecast highlights through 2043: The global commercial fleet is projected to grow 3.2% annually. The air cargo fleet will increase by two-thirds by 2043, to support 4.1% annual air cargo traffic growth. The number of global routes served by commercial airlines has returned to 2019 levels, even though nearly 20% of them are new, illustrating the adaptability of aviation in a dynamic market. Single-aisle airplanes will make up 71% of the 2043 fleet. The global widebody fleet will more than double, with twin-aisles comprising 44% of the Middle East fleet. It’s Opening Week for Two of the World’s Largest Airshows EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is July 22 – July 28, 2024. EAA has about 300,000 members worldwide. AirVenture sees more than 500,000 attendees over the week-long event they call The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration®. The Farnborough International Airshow is held every two years, alternating with the Paris Air Show. This year Farnborough is July 22 – July 26, 2024, and targets the global aerospace industry. See Farnborough Air Show 2024 - Preview from the Royal Aeronautical Society. Airbus A321XLR Receives EASA Type Certification The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued Type Certification for the Airbus A321XLR powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. Airbus has a backlog of over 500 single-aisle A321XLR orders. Iberia is the launch customer and EIS is expected in November 2024. Airbus also has orders from Qantas, Icelandair, and IAG Group. Certification for the Pratt & Whitney GTF variant is to come next. Groups Push Lawmakers To Up FAA's ATC Equipment Budget Twenty-six industry associations sent a letter to the Appropriations Committees, the Senate Commerce Committee, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asking for more ATC modernization funding. The associations represent business and general aviation, airlines, air traffic controllers and specialists, pilots and flight attendants, and manufacturers. The groups note an uncommitted balance in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) that could be used for the FAA’s Facilities and Equipment (F&E) account. “We… believe more must be done to not only maintain and sustain the ATC system but also to modernize it.” The Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF), also known as the Aviation Trust Fund, was established in 1970 to help finance the FAA’s investments in the airport and airway system, independent of the General Fund. Embraer's Eve rolls out flying taxi prototype, cash needs covered until 2027 Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility revealed their full-scale eVTOL prototype. The fixed-wing aircraft uses eight propellers for vertical flight and an electric pusher motor. The first prototype does not have a cabin or pilot. The final aircraft will seat four passengers and a pilot. Eve was founded in 2020 and plans to obtain certification and enter service in 2026. Five conforming prototypes are planned for 2025. The company says they have letters of intent for 2,900 eVTOLs that seat four passengers and a pilot. Investors include United Airlines, BAE Systems, Thales, and Rolls-Royce. Eve eVTOL protype. JetBlue to Offer Six Months of Unpaid Leave to Flight Attendants, Trim Number of Crew Members On Transatlantic Flights A Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) memo says JetBlue is taking steps to reduce costs. Flight attendants should expect “significantly reduced” flying sched...
7/24/20241 hour, 25 minutes, 49 seconds
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807 Hydrogen-Electric eVTOL

The Joby hydrogen-electric eVTOL 523-mile flight, severe weather and the Southwest Dutch Roll, the danger of getting too close to an operating jet engine, excessive heat impacts on aviation, exploding soda cans that injure flight attendants, and turbulence and hot tea water burns. Aviation News Joby Aviation completes a 523-mile flight in an eVTOL powered by hydrogen-electric tech Joby Aviation, Inc. announced it has successfully flown a liquid hydrogen-electric eVTOL  demonstrator 523 miles over California. The aircraft was based on a Joby pre-production prototype battery-electric aircraft fitted with a liquid hydrogen fuel tank and fuel cell system. Joby Aviation photo. The liquid hydrogen fuel tank was designed and built by Joby. It stores up to 40 kilograms of liquid hydrogen which feeds the fuel cell system that produces electricity, water, and heat. The electricity powers six electric motors on the Joby aircraft. Batteries provide additional power primarily during take-off and landing. Joby plans to start commercial operations as soon as 2025 with its battery-electric air taxi. Press release: Joby demonstrates potential for emissions-free regional journeys with landmark 523-mile hydrogen-electric flight Video: The Complete Flight Profile of Joby’s eVTOL Aircraft https://youtu.be/cuJEf4v05Z0?si=5Lx3NWssz2LzpZ6I Airbus to freeze hiring as it battles cut-price Chinese rival In the face of competition from COMAC and a stronger Boeing, Airbus wants to cut costs. The company has a 6-year backlog of A320 family aircraft and is struggling to get production to the rate they desire. Aircraft owners who need narrowbody aircraft sooner are likely to look at Boeing and COMAC. So Airbus is seeking to focus its activity on an “improvement program,” although it may be years before the C919 is certified by Western regulators. For years, COMAC, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, has worked to establish a viable Chinese commercial airframer. They started with the ARJ21 regional jet and then proceeded to develop the C919 narrowbody in the B737/A320 class. Lately, they’ve been working on a C929 widebody jetliner. A Southwest jet that did a ‘Dutch roll’ was parked outside during a severe storm Investigators looking at the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max that experienced a Dutch roll say the plane had been parked outside during thunderstorms with wind gusts of up to 84 mph. After some routine maintenance, the pilots experienced “odd movements of the rudder pedals.” The NTSB hasn’t determined when the observed tail damage occurred. The speculation is that the tail damage occurred during the storm when the rudder slammed back and forth in the wind. Safety consultant John Cox, a former airline pilot, said “I do not see this as a Max issue. I do not see this right now as a 737 issue. I see this as a one-off.” Airport Ground Worker Killed After Getting Sucked Into Engine of Boeing 737 When They Stepped Into the ‘Danger Zone’ The accident happened in Iran during routine maintenance when the engines were powered for a test run. The worker was trying to retrieve a tool left near the engine. As extreme heat bakes the West, emergency helicopters struggle to fly Medical helicopter flights have been canceled in some areas due to high temperatures. Air temperature and tarmac temperature can be factors. Also, a confined area can require more engine power to land, which is affected by high temperatures. Amid Oppressive Heat, Broiling Airplane Cabins Add to Travelers’ Woes Unusually hot weather is causing cabin air conditioning systems to struggle to keep up. The Department of Transportation is studying whether to set minimum standards for cabin temperatures. Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants Are Being Injured By ‘Exploding’ Coca-Cola Cans as Summer Heats Soar The Southwest Airlines drink restocking process is different than the one used by other airlines.
7/17/20241 hour, 26 minutes, 9 seconds
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806 Fly-In

A look at the fly-in at the Spurwink Farm grass field. In the news, the EASA AD for Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, Boeing and DOG agree to a plea deal, 737 oxygen generators, United travel delay messages, 107-II/CH-46 helicopter upgrade, and air travel complaints. Spurwink Farm Fly-In Our Main(e) Man Micah attended the 2024 Spurwink Farm fly-in and interviewed attendees and others. Gyrocopter landing V-tail Bonanza landing. Micah and the air bosses. Aviation News EASA Issues Airworthiness Directive Over Boeing 787 Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Engine Parts EASA (the European Union Aviation Safety Agency) has issued an updated airworthiness directive (2019-0286R1) for Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The AD pertains to Low Pressure Compressor front cases installed on Boeing 787 airplanes: Engineering analysis has identified that 38 LPC front cases have non-optimal material properties. This could inhibit the intended function of the LPC front case to contain certain engine failures. This condition, if not corrected, could, in case of fan blade failure, lead to high energy debris release, possibly resulting in damage to, and reduced control of, the aeroplane. The corrective action is to remove and replace the fan case for certain serial numbers. However, RR updated the population of affected parts to allow some to remain in service with inspections of LPC front case thickness at 16 locations. Boeing to plead guilty to criminal fraud charge The US Department of Justice and Boeing agreed to the previously reported plea deal. Boeing will plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay a criminal fine of $243.6m. The judge has to accept the deal. DOJ pointed out that the deal does not grant immunity to individuals. FAA orders inspection of 2,600 Boeing 737s over oxygen mask issue The passenger service unit oxygen generators can shift out of position due to a problem with a retention strap. The strap adhesive has been found to allow the generators to move. Your Flight Is Delayed. Would More Details Make You Feel Better? United Airlines is sharing a lot of flight delay and cancellation information via mobile alerts, texts, and emails. Columbia and Piasecki Partner on Upgrade for 107-II and CH-46E Helicopters Columbia Helicopters and Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC) are collaborating on a program to upgrade the Model 107-II tandem rotor helicopter to create a CH-46 107-III variant. Columbia holds the 107-II type certificate and intends to implement a phased series of STCs (supplemental type certificates) to upgrade the engines, introduce modern avionics, and make other improvements. Air travel is getting worse. That’s what passengers are telling the US government The DOT received so many complaints in 2023 that it took them until July to compile the numbers. Last year, the DOT received almost 97,000, just about a 13% increase over 2022. About 1.2% of flights were canceled in 2023, compared to 2.3% in 2022.So far this year, cancellations are around 1.3% In 2023, delays were about 21% of all flights, the same as this year. The DOT partly attributed the increase in complaints to greater consumer awareness of how to file a complaint.  Air Travel Service Complaint or Comment Form (Not Related to Airline Safety or Security Issues) How flying got so bad (or did it?) In this Planet Money Podcast episode, NPR traces air travel's evolution over the past century to discover if flying today is worse or better. Mentioned Land use around airports: Utah Code Land Use Regulations Part 5 - Utah State Legislature [PDF] 12 New Laws that Utah MUNICIPALITIES Need to Know About. Airports & Land Use - An Introduction for Local Leaders [PDF] Tips for small towns airports and land use decisions Aviation News Talk The Journey is the Reward Hosts this Episode Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.
7/10/20241 hour, 21 minutes, 7 seconds
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805 Running an Airport

The director of the Portland International Jetport explains airport surface detection and runway incursions, airport use restrictions, construction at the airport, the impacts of a power outage, and many other issues faced by airports. In the news, the NTSB reacts to a violation of its investigative regulations, Boeing plans to purchase Spirit Aerosystems, a resolution to the violation of the deferred prosecution agreement, the FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI), a home damaged by space junk, and a pilot caught working for two airlines at the same time. Guest Paul H. Bradbury is the director of the Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Portland, Maine. Since there have been many recent airport-related news stories, we asked Paul to join us and provide his insight. One timely topic is runway incursions and surface surveillance systems. The Jetport currently employs an Autonomous Runway Incursion Warning System (ARIWS) but we also look at the  FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative and the new uAvionics deployments. We also discuss airport use restrictions, the different Part 135 and Part 121 requirements, and the financial, security, and safety impacts of service vs. on-demand operations. Other topics include airport expansions, construction, and renovation while maintaining operations in the face of runway closures and back-taxiing on a runway. Also, residential development near the airport and land use issues such as improper zoning. Paul explains the impact of a power outage and the Jetport’s Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) backup project. We even talk about solar panel glare that impacts pilots, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) requirements, and whether there should be a Gate 13. (See Airports having or skipping gate 13, based on airport size [OC]). Aviation News uAvionix enables ground surveillance for runway safety The uAvionix FlightLine system provides ADS-B surveillance and surface situational awareness for Air Traffic Control towers at U.S. Airports. The system is qualified through the FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) program, a component of the FAA Surface Safety Portfolio. FlightLine is designed for facilities without existing surface surveillance systems. According to uAvionix, the FAA has identified over 230 airports that are potential candidates for an SAI solution. The first FlightLine deployments by uAvionix are for Indianapolis International Airport (KIND) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS) towers. The systems were to be fully operational by June 30, 2024. Aircraft positions on the surface and in airport arrival and departure corridors are displayed on a surface map of the airport. ADS-B is the primary source of aircraft position. The Surface Awareness Initiative includes Approach Runway Verification and the Runway Incursion Device. Boeing Sanctioned for Sharing Non-Public Investigative Information With Media on 737 Max 9 Door Plug Investigation ​​​Boeing “blatantly violated NTSB investigative regulations” and the NTSB announced a series of restrictions and sanctions on the company. Boeing provided non-public investigative information to the media and speculated about possible causes of the Jan. 5, 2024 door-plug blowout. NTSB said Boeing will “no longer have access to the investigative information the NTSB produces as it develops the factual record of the accident.” Also, the NTSB will subpoena the company to appear at an investigative hearing into the case scheduled for Aug. 6 and 7, 2024 in Washington, DC. “Unlike the other parties in the hearing, Boeing will not be allowed to ask questions of other participants.” See also: NTSB rebukes Boeing after top exec discloses detail on Alaska Airlines blowout NTSB sends letter to David Calhoun, President and CEO of the Boeing Company [PDF] Boeing to buy supplier Spirit AeroSystems in $4.7bn deal Boeing plans to acquire Spirit AeroSystems in an all-stock transactio...
7/3/20241 hour, 25 minutes, 13 seconds
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804 Triphibian

Boeing CEO testifies before Congress and prosecutors ask for criminal charges, investigators look into a low-altitude Southwest flight and an activist investor wants Southwest CEO out, NTSB released a close-call preliminary report, and Cirrus won’t approve a certain 100LL fuel. Also, an Australia Desk report, the E-3 AWACS jet, and a Triphibian. Aviation News Boeing CEO grilled at Senate hearing: ‘The problem’s with you’ Boeing CEO David Calhoun testified at a two-hour Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing. Calhoun admitted that whistleblowers were retaliated against. Subcommittee chair Sen. Richard Blumenthal stated “After whistleblower John Barnett raised his concerns about missing parts, he reported that his supervisor called him 19 times in one day and 21 times another day. And when Barnett asked his supervisor about those calls, he was told, ‘I’m going to push you until you break.’” Blumenthal said that in his opinion, the Department of Justice should criminally prosecute Boeing for violating its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement. The DOJ has until July 7, 2024, to decide how it will act. Video: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testifies before Senate committee on safety issues — 6/18/2024 https://www.youtube.com/live/2LNgce5vLLk?si=baqPzBhFJf8kOZCt Victims’ Attorney Asks DOJ To Fine Boeing; Prosecute Executives In his 32-page letter to the DOJ, Professor Paul Cassell of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City asks for $24 billion in fines, that part of the $24 billion fine should be used for “corporate compliance and new safety measures,” that a corporate monitor is appointed to review the safety measures and “to direct improvement as appropriate.” Also that the DOJ prosecutes former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg and other “responsible corporate executives.” Exclusive: US prosecutors recommend Justice Dept. criminally charge Boeing U.S. prosecutors asked Justice Department officials to bring criminal charges against Boeing for violation of the deferred prosecution agreement. Federal officials are investigating a Southwest Airlines low flight over Oklahoma City suburbs A Southwest Airlines plane triggered an automated low-altitude alert nine miles out from the Oklahoma City airport. Flightradar24 shows the plane descending to about 525 feet AGL over Oklahoma City suburbs. Air traffic control asked, “Southwest 4069, low altitude alert. You doing OK?” The pilot responded, “Yeah, we’re going around.” The air traffic controller responded telling the pilot to maintain 3000 feet. Federal officials are investigating. Southwest’s Diehard Fans Don’t Want Airline to Change Activist hedge fund company Elliott Investment Management has taken a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines and wants to oust the airline’s CEO Robert Jordan. Elliott says Jordan “has delivered unacceptable financial and operational performance quarter after quarter and Jordan and former CEO Gary Kelly (currently the executive chairman) “are not up to the task of modernizing Southwest.” Elliott wants to replace Jordan and Kelly with outsiders and make “significant” changes to the board of directors with others who bring airline experience. NTSB Releases Preliminary Reports On Two Airline Close Calls In April 2024, a Swiss Air A330 aborted its takeoff from Runway 4L at JFK after they saw taxiing traffic on the runway. One controller cleared the Swiss flight for takeoff, and a ground controller cleared four other airplanes to cross the same runway. In February 2023, TCAS (traffic/collision alert system) issued “resolution advisories” over an inbound Mesa Airlines Bombardier CRJ900 and a SkyWest Embraer EMB-170 at  Hollywood-Burbank Airport. The two aircraft came within 1,700 feet of each other. Cirrus: G100UL Use May Void Warranties GAMI Responds To Cirrus G100UL Service Advisory General Aviation Modifications Inc. has invested in developing an unleaded,
6/26/20241 hour, 29 minutes, 52 seconds
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803 Innovations in Flight

Innovations in Flight at the National Air & Space Museum, FAA preparing to address the public charter loophole, titanium components manufactured with improper paperwork, Southwest 737 MAX experienced a “Dutch Roll,” Lockheed Martin team receives Collier Trophy, and business jet found after 53 years. Innovations in Flight The annual Innovations in Flight was held June 15, 2024, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air & Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, adjacent to Dulles International Airport. The outdoor fly-in features over 50 unique aircraft, flown in for one day only. Visitors explored the engineering and design innovations that have taken place during the last century of flight and talk with the pilots of vintage and modern aircraft on display. Again this year, Hillel Glazer flew his 1972 Piper Cherokee 180 to Innovations in Flight. He describes how aircraft are selected to participate, the process of arriving and departing from Dulles Airport, and the taxiway through the woods that connects the two facilities. Perhaps most notably, Hillel recorded conversations with some younger visitors, ages 7 to 13. In this episode, you can hear Johnny (Age 7), Alexandra (Age 8), Phoebe (Age 12), Luka (Age 12), and Jackson (Age 9). Jackson even has his own YouTube channel: Flight Pattern Talk with Jax. LIstener JD Gold (left) 777 Pilot for FedEx with Hillel (right). Reflections on the museum’s architectural feature above the side door. Waiting in the conga line to depart behind the NOAA “P-3” Aviation News FAA Cracks Down On “Public Charter” Loophole, Bad News For JSX The so-called “public charter loophole” allows charter companies to operate from private terminals without some of the requirements that larger carriers are subject to, such as TSA screening and pilots with more than 1,500 flight hours. The FAA says they are now going to address this situation by issuing an NPRM that would amend the definitions of “scheduled,” “on demand,” and “supplemental” operations. Titanium in Boeing, Airbus jets lacks proper documentation, companies say Spirit AeroSystems used titanium that had counterfeit documentation and which found its way into both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. U.S. and European safety regulators are investigating, while the companies involved say the titanium is not a safety issue, only the documentation is deficient. US NTSB investigating 'Dutch roll' by Southwest Boeing 737 MAX The Dutch roll occurred at 34,000 feet on a flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Oakland, California. The lateral asymmetric movements of the roll were named after a Dutch ice skating technique. Pilots regained control of the plane which proceeded without additional incident, however, Southwest found damage to structural components and the NTSB and FAA are investigating. See: Yaw Dampers and video: What is a Dutch Roll? https://youtu.be/9Gt-IcCBiQ4?si=KgbVtTW57zTTswBc The National Aeronautic Association Recognizes Lockheed Martin with Prestigious Collier Trophy The 2023 Robert J. Collier Trophy was awarded by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) to Lockheed Martin for the team’s work on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample return mission which collected an asteroid sample in 2020 and returned it to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023. The OSIRIS-Rex team includes Lockheed Martin, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center, the University of Arizona, and KinetX, among many others. A jet disappeared in Vermont over 53 years ago. Experts believe they’ve found it in Lake Champlain Air controllers lost contact with the Aero Commander Jet Commander 1121A ( N400CP) shortly after takeoff in 1971 over Lake Champlain in Vermont. It was only found after an underwater searcher located it recently at a depth of 200 feet. The NTSB will verify that this is the plane from 1971. Small plane crash-lands in Androscoggin River in Topsham
6/19/20241 hour, 43 minutes, 28 seconds
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802 Boeing Safety and Quality Plan

We take a look at the Boeing Safety and Quality Plan, the NTSB recommendations after the Southwest/FedEx near miss, the suspension of some ATC staff in India, Essential Air Service contracts, BARK Air’s lawsuit over airport-use restrictions, the sale of a B-17, and the NTSB inspection of the USAirways flight 1549 engines. Aviation News Boeing Safety & Quality Plan Boeing had 90 days to deliver a comprehensive plan to the FAA to improve the company’s safety management and quality assurance, including in the supply chain. We look at The Boeing Product Safety and Quality Plan Executive Summary [PDF, 11 pages.] The Plan includes the containment and mitigation actions Boeing took immediately after the accident. It also introduces Boeing’s new Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of production system health and associated control limits for each KPI. Boeing intends that these metrics will provide “a continuous assessment of factory health and provide early warning of emerging quality and safety risks. They also will facilitate tracking of Boeing’s improvement under the Product Safety and Quality Plan and guide decisions about system readiness for rate increases.” Boeing's Immediate Containment and Mitigation Improvements directed at the Boeing production system: Admiral Kirkland Donald Revised the build plans, training, maintenance planning, aircraft manual documentation, removal requirements and inspection criteria for the Mid-Exit Door (MED) plug; Instituted additional controls to prevent defects in the MED plug and similar structures and assemblies; Added conformance inspections to nine critical build points; Processed fleet and production inspection findings through Boeing’s SMS and Quality Management System (QMS); Published alerts on removals and rework, signed by all factory employees; Hosted representatives from 737 airline customers to review Boeing’s production and quality procedures, and to provide feedback; Appointed a recognized safety and quality leader, Admiral Kirkland Donald, to independently assess Boeing’s production system; and Implemented a revised management and salaried compensation model focused on quality and safety, with aligned key performance indicators across all programs. Improvements directed at the Boeing supply chain: Instituted additional controls at Spirit to prevent defects in the MED plug and similar structures and assemblies; Added new inspections at Spirit, as well as pre-shipment approval requirements on fuselages prior to shipment to Boeing; Added competency assessments for all supplier mechanics doing structural work at Boeing sites; and Issued supplier bulletins to strengthen focus on conformance and reduce the risks of defects being shipped. Key Performance Indicators A significant component of the Product Safety and Quality Plan is the identification of six critical, safety-focused production health KPIs: Employee Proficiency (measures share of employees currently staffed to commercial programs who are proficient); Notice of Escape (NoE) Rework Hours (measures rework due to Fabrication and supplier-provided escapes to Final Assembly); Supplier Shortages (measures Fabrication and supplier shortages/day); Rework Hours per airplane (measures total rework hours per airplane in Final Assembly); Travelers at Factory Rollout (measures jobs traveling from Final Assembly); and Ticketing Performance (measures average escapes per ticketed airplane). Each KPI also has associated control limits and defined criteria that will trigger corrective action and SMS risk monitoring. Product Safety and Quality Plan Attention Areas Safety Management System three main initiatives:  Streamlining employee reporting channels; [Submissions are up 500%] Addressing traveled work risk; [implemented a “move ready” process—737 airplanes may not move to the next factory position until identified build milestones are co...
6/12/20240
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801 Sullenberger Aviation Museum

Interviews and a tour of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. In the news, Boeing delivers its quality improvement plan to the FAA, and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby calls for more competition in the airline industry. Sullenberger Aviation Museum The museum at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina has been reimagined with new interactive experiences for visitors. The centerpiece is the “Miracle on the Hudson” exhibition featuring the jet that landed safely in New York’s Hudson River in 2009 - US Airways Flight 1549. The Sullenberger Aviation Museum (an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution) tells stories of innovation, hope, and heroism throughout the history of aviation, It seeks to inspire visitors of all ages to pursue their dreams and goals. Sully Sullenberger next to Flight 1549 We spoke with: Katie Swaringen, Vice President of Collections, took us on a walking tour of the museum and explained some of the interactive experiences. Stephen Saucier, President and CEO of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, describes the museum’s vision, the master planning process, and experience design with Freeman Ryan Design. The result meets the needs of the community (STEM education, access to careers, workforce development), the many sponsors and contributors. Todd Giles, the CTO at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, describes the company’s motivations for sponsoring the museum and the Maker Space. We talk about the Honeywell APU in Flight 1549 and touch on the SmartRunway and SmartLanding traffic awareness offerings to come, as well as new bizjet and eVTOL cockpits. Inspire, educate, and elevate: The Miracle on the Hudson – The Sullenberger Aviation Museum takes flight in Charlotte Video: The Sullenberger Aviation Museum takes flight in Charlotte https://youtu.be/FTPUgdipMi0?si=pXCW5NPmKpPlN-Ju Aviation News Boeing Gives F.A.A. Plan to Address Systemic Quality-Control Issues In response to an FAA order, Boeing delivered a “comprehensive action plan” to address the airframer's systemic issues. Boeing did not set a timeline to make changes. Boeing developed six metrics for tracking the plan’s progress. Video: FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker holds a briefing to discuss Boeing's safety issues — 5/30/2024 https://www.youtube.com/live/_DmZrP50paI?si=br5w-tIMGzeOo3iv Scott Kirby Says It’s Time to End the Big Jet Airline Duopoly United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says it’s time for more competition. From The Air Current. Mentioned Whirlwind - Wikipedia Bristol Helicopters - Wikipedia Iran President’s Crash Highlights Struggle to Upgrade an Aging Fleet - WSJ paywall Japan Air Lines Flight 123 - Wikipedia Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Rob Mark, David Vanderhoof, and our Main(e) Man Micah.
6/5/20240
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800 Tail Strike

Airplane tail strike, miracle flights, 737 MAX Deferred Prosecution Agreement, the FAA Reauthorization Act, airport name changes, and fatal helicopter crash in Iran. Also, a report on the Valdez Fly-In and Airshow, and a scenic flight around Denali Mountain. Aviation News NTSB Releases Final Report Of United Airlines Boeing 737 Tail Strike In Houston The NTSB report of the January 2024 tail strike says the 737-900ER touched down three times while landing. The aircraft's aft fuselage "impacted the runway as a result of a delayed flare and subsequent nose-high pitch inputs." The initial touchdown force was 1.87G and the second touchdown was 2.87G. An article in SKYbrary states that “various studies by several of the major aircraft manufacturers have arrived at similar conclusions regarding the primary cause of tail strike. The most significant common factor is the amount of flight crew experience with the specific model of aircraft being flown.” Studies identified eight specific Causal Factors that greatly increase the risk of a tail strike: During take-off: Improperly Set Elevator Trim or Mis-Trimmed Stabiliser  Rotation at Incorrect Speed Excessive Rotation Rate Improper Use of the Flight Director During landing: Unstabilized Approach Excessive Hold-Off in the Flare  Crosswinds Over-Rotation During Go-Around Over 65% of tail strikes occur during landings, while only 25% happen during takeoffs. With One Simple Change, Southwest Airlines Will Deal Blow To Wheelchair Scammers, Unruly Passengers And Seat Savers Southwest Airlines is considering implementing assigned seating, eliminating the need for passengers to board early to get a good seat. The change would address “the phenomenon of passengers faking disabilities to board early, end the practice of seat saving, and make it easier to identify unruly passengers on board.” Currently, Southwest is the only airline that doesn’t have passenger names and seat assignments on the flight’s manifest. DOJ Takes Key Step to Hold Boeing Accountable for 737 MAX8 Crash Deaths The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has determined that Boeing breached the January 2021 Deferred Prosecution Agreement. The Clifford law firm (which represents families of the Boeing 787 MAX8 crash victims) says that Boeing could now face a criminal trial, although more action is needed from the DOJ. Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act Signed Into Law Senate passes sweeping FAA bill focused on safety and consumer protections Unions Notch Congress Win to Keep Pilots’ Retirement Age at 65 H.R.3935 - Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act American Airlines Bus Service Connecting Wilmington Delaware Airport (ILG) to PHL to Start This Fall The Delaware River & Bay Authority announced that American Airlines and its partner Landline Co. plan to launch a bus service between Wilmington Airport (ILG) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Passengers flying out of Philly can park, check bags, and pass through security at the Wilmington Airport. Chicago-Bound United Airlines Boeing 767 Diverts to Ireland After Passenger Gets Laptop Wedged Stuck in Business Class Seat United Airlines flight 12 from Zurich to Chicago O’Hare was forced to make an emergency diversion to Shannon, Ireland after a passenger got their laptop stuck in a Business Class seat aboard the Boeing 767-300. Two More Airports Are Fighting Over Using a City Name, This Time in Canada Where a Lawsuit Is Already Underway Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is suing Saint-Hubert Airport after the smaller airport decided to rebrand itself as Montreal Metropolitan Airport. Valdez Fly-In and Airshow Listener Brian and Cora attended the 2024 Valdez Fly-In and Airshow in Alaska and provided a trip report. The couple also took a scenic flight around Denali Mountain and the report highlights the unique experiences and stunning views. ...
5/22/20241 hour, 4 minutes, 10 seconds
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799 Doomsday Planes

Korean Air 747s will become the new doomsday planes, the new ATC rest rules have been delayed by the FAA, Breeze flight attendants voted to join the union, a United jumpseat pilot has upset some Southwest pilots, the GA flyover in DC was a success, Boeing employees were found to have falsified 787 Dreamliner inspection records, Airbus hasn’t leveraged an advantage in light of Boeing’s woes, and airlines sue the DOT over a new rule requiring the disclosure of fees. Aviation News Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes Korean Air has confirmed the sale of five of its 747-8s to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which is building the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft, also referred to as “doomsday planes.” The USAF states:  The E-4B "Nightwatch" serves as the National Airborne Operations Center and is a component of the National Military Command System for the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command and control centers, the aircraft provides a highly survivable command, control, and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities. SNC acquired five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air. The current E-4B aircraft are based on the 747-200. SNC specializes in aircraft modification and integration as well as space technologies. FAA Delaying the Start of ATC Rest Rules The new FAA ATC rest requirements require controllers to have at least 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The rule was to have taken effect by mid-July. However, the FAA has delayed those requirements while it talks to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) union. FAA Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer Timothy Arel hopes to reach a joint rest period agreement for the 2025 schedule "or sooner where feasible." Flight attendants at this Utah airline just voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to unionize More than 76% of the roughly 600 Breeze Airways flight attendants voted to join the Association of Flight Attendants. AFA international president Sara Nelson said “We are inspired by their solidarity and thrilled to welcome them to our AFA family. Our labor movement is growing. Everywhere.” See: Breeze Flight Attendants Vote Overwhelmingly to Join the Flight Attendant Union. “Breeze Flight Attendants organized for a union and a contract due to ongoing issues with constantly-changing work rules, substandard pay for time on the job, inadequate hotel accommodations, insufficient work hours, and inconsistent and disrespectful treatment from management.” American Airlines is Issuing ‘Poverty Verification Letters’ For New-Hire Flight Attendants Because Their Wages Are So Low Nearly One in Ten Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Have Experienced Homelessness in the Past Year and Over a Third Have Been Forced to Use a Food Bank Poverty verification letters are being sent to some new-hire flight attendants based in expensive areas. Airline Feud Escalates: United Pilots Barred From Southwest Airlines Jump Seats After Controversial Incident This stems from an incident where a “relatively new” United pilot reported some “inadequacies” to the FAA after jumpseating on a Southwest flight. AOPA’s General Aviation Flyover in DC Video: LIVE DC Flyover - AOPA's National Celebration of General Aviation https://www.youtube.com/live/vpSaYYcljIk?si=7eb13EFMVeUZUx4o FAA is investigating Boeing for apparent missed inspections on 787 Dreamliner Boeing voluntarily disclosed to the FAA that some B787 Dreamliner inspections may not have been performed, but were signed off as completed. The inspections are intended to verify adequate bonding and grounding at the wing-fuselage joint. In a statement to NPR, the FAA said it's also investigating "whether Boeing completed the inspections and whe...
5/15/20241 hour, 24 minutes, 50 seconds
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798 Satellite Communications

Satellite communications for aviation with the Executive Director of Aviation at Iridium Communications Inc. In the news, Dick Rutan passes, a DOT Office of Inspector General report looks at NextGen, an unruly passenger pays the price, a second Boeing whistleblower dies, the delclining value of frequent flyer programs, and squawking the 7700 emergency distress code.
5/8/20241 hour, 26 minutes, 33 seconds
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797 Pilot Training

Pilot training with guest Jason Miller from The Finer Points. In the news, more pilot downsizing, new DOT rules for canceled and significantly delayed flights, the FAA reauthorization bill, a general aviation flyover of the nation’s capital, and airport vs. tornado.
5/1/20241 hour, 14 minutes, 8 seconds
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796 Air Traffic Controller Fatigue

FAA addresses controller fatigue, runway incursion, American safety issues, Boom SFA to exceed Mach 1, states can enforce airline consumer laws, bill to ban CLEAR.
4/24/20241 hour, 14 minutes, 8 seconds
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795 Airline Industry Insights

Airline industry insights, Korean and JAL orders, Frontier pilot training, frequent flyer rewards, airport name change, Boeing 797.
4/17/20241 hour, 37 minutes, 6 seconds
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794 SouthWings Environmental Flights

SouthWings volunteer pilot organization, best-selling piston aircraft, student pilot stats, LearJet world flight, Las Vegas airport, skipping TSA, flight deck features, Spirit order deferral.
4/10/20241 hour, 20 minutes, 4 seconds
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793 Hypersonic Flight

Stratolaunch Talon A2 hypersonic vehicle, COMAC C929, pilfering on Air Force One, Gulfstream G700, Spirit Airlines' credit boost, pilot therapy sessions, United pilot capacity, Frontier Airlines' prank.
4/3/20241 hour, 20 minutes, 4 seconds
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792 Boom Supersonic XB-1 Demonstrator

Boom XB-1 demonstrator, Boeing leadership changes, FBI and Alaska Flight 1282, Boeing quality, FAA United oversight, PW1100G engine issue, A-10 demonstration team.
3/27/20241 hour, 6 minutes, 15 seconds
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791 U.S. Space Force

U.S. Space Force, business aviation tax proposals, probable cause for the LATAM 787 dive, FAA production audit at Boeing, NTSB hearing on 737, JetBlue gets unfavorable response after a flight.
3/20/20241 hour, 20 minutes, 4 seconds
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790 Airline Ticket Price

Airline ticket price components, Machinist’s Union and Boeing contract, NTSB is unhappy with cooperation from Boeing, a large American Airlines order, Indonesian pilots fall asleep, Alaskan law enforcement use of aircraft, LATAM flight experiences a “technical event” with injuries.
3/13/20241 hour, 20 minutes, 4 seconds
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789 Scaled Composites

Scaled Composites president and the VP of flight operations, FAA tells Boeing to make a plan, Boeing looks at SpiritAerosystems, Skyryse fly-by-wire helicopter, V-22 Osprey returning to flight, airlines scale back pilot hiring, JetBlue - Spirit merger off.
3/6/20241 hour, 20 minutes, 4 seconds
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788 Corporate Flight Attendant

Corporate flight attendant egress training, Bombardier Challenger crash, Boeing executive shuffling, Spirit AeroSystems whistleblowers, 737 Max Service Difficulty Reports, air traffic training, Boeing safety recommendations.
2/28/20241 hour, 37 minutes, 40 seconds
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787 California Science Center Space Shuttle Endeavour

Space Shuttle Endeavour at California Science Center, T-7A Red Hawk program delay, El Al communication takeover, infrastructure grants for US airports, Delta trading cards, Boeing immunity deal.
2/21/20241 hour, 6 minutes, 47 seconds
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786 Flying Tigers

The Flying Tigers 69th DRS Association, GPS jamming and spoofing, 737 MAX 9 lawsuits, Boeing quality, SAF options, pilot retirement age, AV-8B Harrier.
2/7/20241 hour, 31 minutes, 47 seconds
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785 The Boeing Company

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, lap babies, proposed JetBlue and Spirit Airlines merger, airline route growth, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, B-21 Raider, more favorite aviation movies.
1/31/20241 hour, 26 minutes, 21 seconds
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784 Inflight Connectivity

Inflight connectivity, B737 MAX 9 inspections, unleaded avgas, an Air Force officer crowned Miss America, more favorite aviation movies.
1/24/20241 hour, 26 minutes, 21 seconds
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783 Favorite Aviation Movies

Listener’s favorite aviation movies, MAX 9 cabin door plug, British Airways pilot kidnapped and robbed, Spirit sale/leaseback, Netjets mandatory retirement age, Cirrus new generation SR-22.
1/17/20241 hour, 42 minutes, 42 seconds
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782 NASA X-59 Test Pilots

Two X-59 test pilots discuss the NASA Quesst mission, the design and technology of the X-59 aircraft, the role of test pilots, and the challenges of flying supersonic.
1/14/20241 hour, 26 minutes, 21 seconds
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781 Astronaut

The experiences of a NASA astronaut, 737 Max 9 grounded, A350 collides with Dash-8, air rage, Smart Gating, 300 hybrid-electric aircraft buy.
1/10/20241 hour, 26 minutes, 21 seconds
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780 Bits & Pieces XXXI

Flying Breeze Airways, getting into aviation, family holiday story, becoming an air marshal, Collings Foundation, getting to know Launchpad Marzari, 2023 year in review.
12/27/20231 hour, 48 minutes, 2 seconds
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779 Aircraft Leases

Aircraft leases, Southwest FAs must vote again, video stunt pilot stunt flying again, 737NG nacelle retrofits, PW1100G engine inspections, Southwest fined, museum for WWII crashes.
12/20/20231 hour, 48 minutes, 2 seconds
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778 China Aviation Market

China aviation market, V-22 Osprey grounded, JetBlue-Spirit merger, airport expansion, SAF from CO2 direct air capture technology.
12/13/20231 hour, 18 minutes, 26 seconds
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777 Aviation Accident Litigation

Aviation accident litigation, bad ATC, FAA Safety Team recommendations, United bribes, cargo drone airline, Collings Foundation air tours, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
12/6/20231 hour, 41 minutes, 25 seconds
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776 Moving to Multi-engine Aircraft

Moving to a multi-engine aircraft, a Southwest airport lounge idea, Best Restroom, hydrogen engine for GA, municipal airport challenges, GA deliveries.
11/29/20231 hour, 48 minutes, 2 seconds
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775 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

$30 Billion Port Authority capital plan, unruly passenger fine, remote airport tower certification, public charter flights, possible AA strike, ATC graduates skip FAA training.
11/22/20231 hour, 48 minutes, 2 seconds
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774 Why Flying is Miserable

Why flying is miserable and how to fix it, NTSB on increase in near-misses, ARC will examine pilot mental health, preliminary Hawker/Cessna accident report, cargo pilots offered $250,000 to go regional, UA frequent flyer program.
11/15/20231 hour, 48 minutes, 2 seconds
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773 North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco

The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, Van’s Aircraft financial issues, DOT and Schiphol airport, Federal Flight Deck Officer threatens another pilot.
11/8/20231 hour, 48 minutes, 2 seconds
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772 Managing Small Airports

Success factors for small airports, bizjets collision at Houston Hobby, airline cockpit safety, the NBAA show, new FAA administrator, Spirit halts pilot and FA training.
11/1/20231 hour, 48 minutes, 2 seconds
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771 Bits & Pieces Number 30

Interviews from Cranky Dorkfest 2023, Micah on lighter than air vehicles, and a chance encounter at Costco.
10/25/20231 hour, 4 minutes, 19 seconds
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770 Boarding the Airplane

The airline boarding process, Leap-1A engine compressor-stalls, the $19 billion Kennedy Airport transformation project, SpaceX Starlink Internet connectivity on planes, and an update on the oldest skydiver. Also, another Australia Desk report and great listener mail.
10/18/20231 hour, 24 minutes, 7 seconds
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769 Transonic Truss-braced Wing

A transonic truss-braced wing X-Plane, air travel capacity, germs on airliners, B-17 crash victim settlement.
10/11/202350 minutes, 57 seconds
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768 Xwing Autonomous Aircraft

Xwing autonomous aircraft, Delta loyalty program, GPS spoofing, Schipol capacity, crash takes two lives, a 104-year-old woman goes skydiving.
10/4/20231 hour, 32 minutes, 44 seconds
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767 Aircraft Seat

The CEO of an aircraft seat upholstery specialist company, airline loyalty programs, unapproved parts, Boeing in India.
9/27/20231 hour, 22 minutes, 49 seconds
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766 Air Travelers with Disabilities

Air travelers with disabilities, PAX compensation for delays, lux terminal services, controller shortage, social media post causes plane crash, seagliders for Hawaiian airline.
9/20/20231 hour, 30 minutes, 38 seconds
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765 Air Travel

The state of air travel and future outlook, commemorating 9/11, airlines leaving regional airports, skiplagging, FAA Administrator nomination, Air China engine fire.
9/13/20231 hour, 22 minutes, 1 second
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764 Oshkosh and Spurwink Farm

Interviews from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and from the Spurwink Farm Fly-in and Pancake Breakfast.
9/6/20231 hour, 15 minutes, 44 seconds
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763 Rigid Airships

Rigid airships and the fatal crash of R101, pilot medical conditions, Boom Supersonic XB-1, fatal military crashes, more air traffic controllers needed.
8/30/20231 hour, 30 minutes, 21 seconds
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762 A Curtis P-40 Pilot and a United Assistant Chief Pilot

We speak with a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk owner and pilot, and with an Assistant Chief Pilot at United Airlines.
8/23/20231 hour, 10 minutes, 6 seconds
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761 Airline WiFi

Roger Sands, the CEO of Wyebot, explains airline WiFi. Wyebot provides AI-driven WiFi automation for the WiFi industry.
8/16/202344 minutes, 9 seconds
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760 Brian Shul Replay

A replay of our conversation with USAF Maj. Brian Shul from Airplane Geeks Episode 375.
8/2/202338 minutes, 58 seconds
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759 Reyné O’Shaughnessy Replay, Pilot Mental Health

A replay of our conversation with Reyné O’Shaughnessy from Airplane Geeks Episode 671 about pilot mental health.
7/26/202339 minutes, 14 seconds
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758 Jeff Bolton Replay, Inside the B-2 Bomber

A replay of our conversation with Jeff Bolton, originally published as Episode 570 on September 18, 2019.
7/19/202331 minutes, 28 seconds
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757 Amy Laboda Replay

A replay of Episode 89 with guest Amy Laboda, originally published on March 16, 2010.
7/12/20231 hour, 37 minutes, 52 seconds
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756 Eileen Bjorkman Replay

A replay of our conversation with Eileen Bjorkman from Episode 618 published on August 26, 2020.
7/5/202329 minutes, 20 seconds
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755 Spurwink Farm Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast Replay

A replay of our 2022 Spurwink Farm Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast coverage.
6/28/202356 minutes, 58 seconds
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754 Ward Carroll Replay

A replay of our conversation with Ward Carroll from Episode 680, published on November 24, 2021.
6/21/202347 minutes, 32 seconds
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753 Igor Sikorsky III Replay

A replay of our conversation with Igor Sikorsky III from Episode 144, published on April 19, 2011.
6/14/202341 minutes, 5 seconds
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752 Breeze Airways, plus Cranky

Interviews from the Breeze Airways inaugural flight celebration at the Portland International Jetport (PWM), and an interview with Cranky.
6/7/20231 hour, 4 minutes, 58 seconds
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751 Providing Ukraine with F-16s

We speak with a USAF General about the challenges involved in providing Ukraine with F-16s.
5/29/202328 minutes, 52 seconds
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750 Northeast Alliance

Northeast Alliance ruling, American Airlines app, Breeze Airways, Republic Airways pilots, and Cessna Citation Ascend.
5/24/20231 hour, 32 minutes, 32 seconds
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749 Human Trafficking at Airports

How human trafficking takes place at airports, and how the problem is being addressed.
5/17/20231 hour, 16 minutes, 8 seconds
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748 JAARS Mission Aviation

Mission aviation with JAARS, airlines add staff, funding flight training, PAX compensation, Airline Customer Service Dashboard.
5/10/20231 hour, 27 minutes, 10 seconds
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747 Boeing 747, the Queen of the Skies

We look at the history of the Boeing 747, some facts and figures, our memories of the plane, the 747 in the news, and we discuss a few of the accidents and incidents. We also have some personal photos of the Boeing 747 taken by our listeners.
5/3/20231 hour, 26 minutes, 8 seconds
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746 Live ATC Transmissions

Live ATC transmissions, FAA Acting Administrator stepping down, Airbus and Air France cleared in AF 447 accident, FAA on TAWS use, ADs for 747-8s and B-17s.
4/26/20231 hour, 55 minutes, 47 seconds
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745 Air Turbulence

Air turbulence increasing, aeronautics science and technology priorities, Delta pilot raided, passengers skip immigration, prison time for pointing a laser, aborting a takeoff, flying with children.
4/12/20231 hour, 38 minutes, 5 seconds
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744 DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit

DOJ antitrust lawsuit to block JetBlue-Spirit Merger, Delta flight aborts takeoff, Shell cancels SAF plans, Delta uses Lyft, FAA travel disruption warning, aviation career advice, more lap babies.
4/5/20231 hour, 35 minutes, 22 seconds
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743 Chinese Commercial Aviation

China flies CJ-1000A engine destined for Comac C919, Chinese Airbus final assembly line delivers first A321, “Really Cool” airline, United and Archer eVTOL air taxi service, no permanent FAA Administrator, Osprey V-22 orders, Point Mugu Air Show.
3/29/20231 hour, 44 minutes, 27 seconds
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742 Condor Airlines

Condor Airlines Director of Sales on plans for the North American market, FAA Aviation Safety Summit sessions, Russian fighter and Reaper drone, CVR recording time, lap infants on commercial flights.
3/22/20231 hour, 39 minutes, 27 seconds
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741 Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance

Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance, F/A union proposal, Reno air races, parting out 787s, NASA, hydrogen fuel, F130 engine test, Aerospace Media Awards, Boeing 747-400 N401PW.
3/15/20231 hour, 34 minutes, 6 seconds
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740 Status Match

Status match and airline loyalty programs, an alleged export control violation, a hydrogen-powered regional airliner takes flight, Jetblue court cases, FAA problem impacts check rides, report from Avalon, a visit to an El Al MRO shop.
3/8/20231 hour, 54 minutes, 45 seconds
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739 Decarbonizing Aviation

Decarbonizing aviation, increasing SAF availability, the PT6, GA aircraft shipments, Continental engines AD, airport close call, pets and TSA x-Ray machines, DOJ and the Jetblue/Spirit merger.
3/1/20231 hour, 32 minutes, 38 seconds
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738 Air Traffic Control

Air Traffic Control certification program, FAA safety call to action, increased hand-flying, airport safety management systems, FAA IT system fixes, flying over Russian airspace.
2/22/20231 hour, 30 minutes, 52 seconds
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737 Flight Sim Controller

Jon Ostrower describes the exciting new flight sim controller from Yawman, Chinese balloon impact on Boeing, a United 777 experiences a steep dive, American Airlines pilots refuse to be interviewed on tape, more unidentified objects are shot down.
2/15/20231 hour, 46 minutes, 16 seconds
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736 Autonomous Aircraft

Xwing autonomous aircraft, Airbus and Qatar Airways A350 dispute, personal eVTOL, close call with two airliners on the same runway, F-22 Raptor gets first kill, a Boeing 737 crashed fighting fires in Australia.
2/8/20231 hour, 37 minutes, 58 seconds
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735 Aircraft Automation

The co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics on aircraft automation, first United Aviate Academy class, NTSB and BEA on Ethiopian 737 Max crash report, pilots making airport safer, Southwest meltdown, ADS-B Exchange and Jetnet.
2/1/20231 hour, 42 minutes, 29 seconds
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734 Grand Dames of Aviation

The Grand Dames of Aviation, Transonic Truss-Braced Wing airliner, Boeing arraignment, Southwest strike vote, JFK runway incursion, AusDesk, Seattle Aerospace BBQ.
1/25/20231 hour, 51 minutes, 44 seconds
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733 NOTAM Outage

The NOTAM outage and subsequent ground stop, why Amazon Air is selling cargo capacity, the runway incursion at JFK, the Airbus automated emergency diversion system, and an Australia News Desk report. Aviation News Here's the latest on the NOTAM outage that caused flight delays and cancellations On January 11, 2023, the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed and the FAA issued a domestic ground stop, leading to thousands of delayed and canceled flights. A corrupt database file has been cited as the cause of the failure. NAV CANADA reported issues with their NOTAM system on the same day. At the time, they did not believe the Canadian outage was related to the FAA outage. See FAA's NOTAM computer outage affected military flights. Amazon Air to Sell Surplus Capacity Onboard its Jets Ahead of Predicted Market Slump In 2023, the global air freight market is forecast to shrink by about 25%. Amazon Air has decided to sell excess air freight capacity on its fleet of 97 wet-leased planes. The FAA is investigating a near-miss between two passenger planes at JFK airport A Delta Air Lines 737-900 (Flight 1943) was on its takeoff roll when ATC noticed an American Airlines Boeing 777 (Flight 106) crossing the active runway. The Delta plane stopped about 1,000 feet before the crossing. The American 737 returned to the gate and passengers disembarked. Due to a crew resource issue, the flight resumed the next morning. Customers were given overnight accommodations. Airbus tests pilot assist that can automatically divert flights Airbus is testing a pilot assistance feature called DragonFly, which can automatically divert a flight in an emergency. The system can pick a flight path to the best airport and communicate with air traffic control and an airline's operations center. Even if the pilots are incapacitated, DragonFly can land the aircraft safely. Australia News Desk This week we have a follow-up on the news about Bonza Airline's air operators certificate, which was approved by the regulator the day last week's episode went live. There's some consternation among the travel agent sector over Bonza's decision not to service Sydney at all, but as we talked about last week, they're trying a different strategy.  Time will tell if it works or not. Australia’s Bonza awarded AOC On the tourism front, two of China's three major carriers - Air China and China Southern - are boosting their schedule for flights to Australia, in a move that many hope will see the lucrative inbound Chinese tourist market ramping back up. China Southern, Air China boosting flights to Australia And a new network of satellites from Skykraft, sporting significant levels of Australian-made components, has been successfully deployed over the country, in a move that will eventually allow more accurate and reliable tracking of aircraft and WHF communications in some of the more remote areas of the continent. Australia’s largest ever satellite constellation now active Mentioned Airline Pilot Study -  A questionnaire for pilots to learn about what aspects of innovation might make an airline more attractive to pilots when they decide which airline to apply to fly for. Rob's Newest jet: Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.
1/18/20231 hour, 11 minutes, 36 seconds
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732 Cabin Air Management

Cabin air management technology, AD for A220 engines, terrible ground crew accident, Southwest meltdown, airport without fuel, happy pets, giveaway winners, AusDesk.
1/11/20231 hour, 39 minutes, 24 seconds
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731 Bits and Pieces 30

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with the president and CFO of DG Fuels, continuous pricing models for airlines with the co-founder and chief AI at Fetcherr, an #AvGeek look-back at 2022.
1/4/20231 hour, 31 minutes, 3 seconds
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730 Christmas Trees and B-17s

A timeless story about a remarkable man named Si Spiegel who flew the B-17 in World War II and went on to develop something that was unusual for the time, but commonplace now during the Christmas season.
12/28/202221 minutes, 6 seconds
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729 Airport Lounges

We speak with the operator of the world’s largest network of airport lounges. United’s Boeing order, air travel trends, Boom Supersonic engine, Army selects Bell V-280, passengers injured by turbulence.
12/21/20221 hour, 19 minutes, 18 seconds
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728 Safety Cards and Carry-on Luggage

We speak with the owner of a company that designs and creates airline safety cards, and talk with a T-Mobile manager about an interesting new product for air travelers.
12/14/20221 hour, 6 minutes, 17 seconds
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727 Air Mobility Solutions

Air mobility grants, preliminary NTSB report on airshow collision, F-22 Raptor, B777X engine issue, Delta pilots contract, F-16 crash.
12/7/20221 hour, 56 minutes, 4 seconds
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726 One-Pilot Cockpits

One-pilot cockpits, Frontier customer service, pigeons, Real ID, A-10 pilot, A-1H Skyraider, Mooney crash, America’s best airports.
11/30/20221 hour, 24 minutes, 27 seconds
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725 Airshow Crash

Airshow crash, Flight MH17 convictions, A350 carryon weight, GA airplane shipments, A-10 attack aircraft, airport closure impacts seaplanes, G700 world tour, sustainable jet fuel plant.
11/24/20221 hour, 41 minutes, 15 seconds
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724 National Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opened the completed portion of the renovation at the National Mall in Washington, DC. The Museum calls itself “the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials.” It’s typically the most visited museum in the United States. The museum occupies two locations: The original location is in Washington, DC and the newer Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the annex, located outside DC next to Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia. That facility was made possible by a $65 million donation by Steven F. Udvar-Házy, a co-founder of the aircraft leasing firm International Lease Finance Corporation, or ILFC. In this episode, we look at the DC facility. It was established in 1946 as the National Air Museum and the main building opened on the National Mall in 1976. In 2018 the Museum started a $250 million seven-year renovation project. When the renovation is completed, all of the museum’s 23 galleries and presentation spaces will be updated or completely redone. On Oct. 14, 2022, the downtown museum reopened with eight new and renovated galleries in the west wing. Our Hillel Glazer was present representing the Airplane Geeks podcast at the press preview day, and he recorded some interviews. Christopher Browne Hillel recorded the opening video and the remarks from Christopher Browne, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Browne joined the museum as deputy director in 2017 and served as acting director from 2021 to 2022 when he was named director. Next, Hillel speaks with Dr. Jermery Kinner, the Associate Director of Research and Curatorial Affairs at the National Air and Space Museum. He leads the Museum’s three research and curatorial departments (Aeronautics, the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies or CEPS, and Space History). Kinner also provides counsel and advice on curatorial and museum affairs to the Director and the Senior Leadership Team. Finally, we’ll hear from Beth Wilson. She’s been an educator at the Museum since 2004. Video: Space For Everyone | The Reimagined National Air and Space Museum Open October 14 https://youtu.be/Ds6ILAlNUPU Hosts this Episode Max Flight and Hillel Glazer.
11/16/202235 minutes, 3 seconds
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723 Boeing MoM

No Boeing MoM for now, propellers for aviation sustainability, high-wall super suites, passenger detention, large PAX weight and balance, KC-46 Class A mishap.
11/9/20221 hour, 1 minute, 16 seconds
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722 Flight Tracking with Flighty

The founder and CEO of Flighty describes the flight tracking app that pulls together a number of tools for flyers into one application.
11/2/202229 minutes, 36 seconds
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721 Hype Aviation News Aggregator

Isaac Alexander is Chief Content Officer for Hype Aviation, a news aggregator and media intelligence service for aerospace industry professionals and enthusiasts.
10/26/20221 hour, 27 minutes, 36 seconds
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720 SkySquad

SkySquad provides an extra set of helping hands at the airport. John and Martha King talk about their new book Lift: How to start, run, and grow your own business.
10/15/20221 hour, 5 minutes, 35 seconds
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719 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2022

Max Flight reports from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta held October 1-9, 2022. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Balloon Fiesta.
10/5/202244 minutes, 30 seconds
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718 Aircraft Towing

Advances in aircraft towing systems, personal flying vehicles, and a story about becoming an airplane geek.
9/29/20221 hour, 1 minute, 23 seconds
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717 Jetblue/Spirit Merger

We talk with a mergers expert about the proposed JetBlue/Spirit merger.
9/21/202241 minutes, 16 seconds
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716 Air Navigation Services

We speak with four women working for air navigation services provider Air Navigation Solutions Ltd (ANSL). We also talk with the president of Hartzel Propeller.
9/14/20221 hour, 14 minutes, 2 seconds
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715 Airline Seats

A human factors and ergonomic expert explains how the comfort and safety of airline seats are related. We also talk with the founder and CEO of LiveATC.net and present our traditional Labor Day message.
9/7/20221 hour, 17 minutes, 27 seconds
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714 Airline Contact Centers

Airline contact centers, Top Gun Maverick, Boeing and Airbus delivery problems, new aircraft carrier, avionics market report, Air France pilots.
8/31/20221 hour, 38 minutes, 55 seconds
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713 Women Aviators

Two woman aviators: An insurance claims adjuster who became a B777 pilot, and a Marine MV-22 pilot in training. Also, DOT wants action from the airlines, an Apple AirTag leads police to a bag thief, two pilots reportedly fell asleep, and seaplane service in the eastern U.S.
8/24/20221 hour, 33 minutes, 50 seconds
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712 Digital Co-pilot

AI digital co-pilot, 787 delivery, personal eVTOL, USAF eVTOL training, A-10 updates, partnering for pilots, pilot shortage, B-52 variant.
8/17/20221 hour, 42 minutes, 29 seconds
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711 Women Student Pilots

Earning pilot’s license late in life, helping women become pilots, Cirrus Aircraft CEO, F/A landing injury, mother/daughter flying first, passenger refund NPRM, FAA seeks seat size comments, JetBlue turnover, flight cancellations and delays.
8/10/20221 hour, 55 minutes, 28 seconds
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710 Plane Crash

Inside look at a 737 plane crash from a flight attendant. JetBlue to purchase Spirit Airlines, Piper Aircraft and CAE partner on electric aircraft, 2 million aviation professionals needed, FAA wants secondary fight deck barrier, EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2022 numbers.
8/5/20221 hour, 23 minutes, 24 seconds
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709 Aviation Training

Aviation training at UMA, orders at Farnborough, Delta TechOps, fighter market forecast, open fan engine demonstrator, KC-46 co-pilots, electronic bag tags, bad airline pilots, travel demand and airline capacity.
7/27/20221 hour, 39 minutes, 48 seconds
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708 Spurwink Farm Fly-In

Fly-in conversations, lost baggage woes, airports limiting passenger volume, and a missed runway crash investigation.
7/20/20221 hour, 32 minutes, 23 seconds
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707 Boeing 707

This episode is dedicated to the Boeing 707 with guest from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute which displays a Boeing VC-137C used as Air Force One for seven U.S. presidents.
7/13/20221 hour, 32 minutes, 28 seconds
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706 Airport Flight Delays

Flight delays and cancellations, long lines, higher fares, and travel woes with Johnny Jet. Also, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tips, Spurwink Farm International Fly-In, PlaneTags Festival, ultra-efficient business plane.
6/29/20221 hour, 12 minutes, 40 seconds
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705 Air Force One

Air Force One paint scheme and production problems, F-35 Aggressors, Israeli extended range F-35s, Delta “juniority benefit,” Piedmont wage increases, U.S. Navy safety stand-down.
6/15/20221 hour, 4 minutes, 1 second