Airplane Geeks Podcast

Archer Aviation eVTOL for urban air mobility, losing your frequent flyer account, more 737 MAX woes, Airbus A380 fading, Avelo Airlines starts operation, Aviation Safety Reporting System extended to drone operators.

Breeze Airways unique flight attendant strategy, Air Force One contractor files for bankruptcy, Leap-1B engine orders drop, penalties for unruly air passengers, second Stratolaunch flight, Airbus freighters, Embraer E175-E2 delay.

Ingenuity powered, controlled flight on Mars; green aviation initiatives from IAG, Southwest Airlines, Universal Hydrogen; F-15EX new name; NASM reopens and major GA event canceled; recap of Sun ‘n Fun; Lego story.

Recorded live on the deck of Sun ‘n Fun Radio on April 14, 2021 with Lt. Col. Trevor “Boat” Boswell on NORAD interception of civil aircraft. We also announce the four winners of our Plane Tags giveaway.

The CEO of Iris Automation explains detect and avoid capability for unmanned aircraft. This technology is essential to integrating beyond visual line of sight unpiloted aircraft into the National Airspace System.

A short episode with some positive thoughts on aviation during Covid, and an Eat at the Airport review.

Glass cockpit and the Garmin G3000 and G5000 book, airline recovery, JetBlue London slots, Boeing’s big 737 MAX order, National Aviation Hall of Fame volunteer, Cessna SkyCourier update, relief for Wichita aviation jobs, fun mod for Microsoft Flight Sim.

Sporty’s Pilot Shop, startup airlines launching 2021, General Aviation shipments, F-35 software upgrade. Blue Bonnet airshow, FAA notification of construction activity, Gulfstream hush kit.

A woman aviator who became the first female FAA inspector, NTSB investigator, and a member of the “Mercury 13.” Also, AerCap/GECAS merger, Dassault Falcon 6X first flight, FAA GA award winners, Buzz Lightyear, a serial stowaway.

MotoArt turns unused aircraft parts into high-end furniture and aviation art designs. Pratt & Whitney’s new hypersonic engine project, AFRL autonomous Skyborg aircraft and Boeing Loyal Wingman, Boeing critical of A321XLR, Qantas mystery flights, Southwest Airlines grant program.

FAA aeronautical charts, TWA Flight 800 reconstruction decommissioning, Collier Trophy finalists, Flying Magazine Editors’ Choice Awards, Boeing fined by FAA, Boeing 737 MAX order, Delta reactivating pilots, Icelandair flight to Antarctica.

Aircraft line maintenance, engine failures on commercial flights, single pilot aircraft, possible all-new design for an F-16 replacement, a mid-air wedding.

AOPA events planned for 2021, Bombardier ending Learjet production, United Airlines investment in eVTOL, VFR charts move to a 56-day production cycle, F-35A engine issues impact the demo team schedule, and a TSA agent saves the day for some confused passengers.

Amazing true stories of Australian woman pilots, predicting air travel recovery, airline demand shifts, flying on the jetstream, USAF tankers, disappearing cabin crew, Alaska Airlines sweepstakes for lovers.

The new AeroEducate youth aviation initiative from the EAA, pandemic effects on airline pilots, FedEx relocating Hong Kong-based crew, 5G and satellite-based navigation, new Norwegian Air Shuttle strategy, F-18 conformal fuel tanks, first contractor-owned F-16 aggressors.

Geospatial data for airports, airport investment strategy and reductions in operations, international flights restricted, health bill for domestic air travel, aviation events, criminal conviction for unsafe drone operation, a B-21 update, and the outlook for New Zealand.

The impacts of COVID-19 and the 737 MAX on air travel. New CDC test requirements for air passengers, airlines and the relief package, booking the middle seat, growth of air cargo, F-35B qualifications, Australia orders Apache, aviation event postponements.

Boeing’s $2.5 Billion 737 MAX settlement, FAA rules for supersonic aircraft testing, O’Leary accuses government of mismanaging travel restrictions, a warning for disruptive air travelers, Sriwijaya Air flight SJ182 crash, and TSA canines.

A roundtable discussion of the positive aviation news stories from 2020, the year everybody would like to forget.

An interview with an F-35 pilot from the United States Air Force F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Team and an audio recording of her performance.

Congressional report critical of aviation safety and the FAA, Air Force flies an AI co-pilot, precision airdrops as a service, Antonov AN-124 cargo, Chinese SODramjet, world's first female aeronautical engineer, airline emissions statistics, flying through smoke.

Jason Miller (The Finer Points) produces flight training videos, a podcast, and the Ground School flight training app. Chuck Yeager dies at 97, Covid-19 flight training restrictions, airline plans to transport vaccines, insurance rates for pilots, DPEs, hydrogen fuel cell-powered research aircraft.

Airlines release plans for 737 MAX return to service, pilots advised against participating in clinical vaccine trials, Southwest warns of furlough, in-flight cell phone calls off the table, final rule for traveling by air with service animals, Paris Air Show cancelled for 2021.

Former co-host Brian Coleman recently flew from California to Florida and tells us about his experiences at the airport, inflight, and at the hotel during a global pandemic.

Interview with an Air Traffic Controller at London Heathrow, Boeing 737 MAX airworthiness directive, Delta and Airbus tariffs, UK slots and strikes at Heathrow, speed dating in the air, Norwegian Air Shuttle, autonomous airplane tugs, F/A-18C Hornet goes into the Smithsonian.

Brett Snyder, the Cranky Flier, returns as our guest. United changes MileagePlus requirements, Costco selling private jet program memberships, Korean Air and Asiana merge, outlook for business aviation, Covid testing at the airport, an immunity passport proposal.

Airline pay cuts, prospective student pilots told to wait, 737 MAX training, Boeing sells yacht, a Brit to pilot Air Force One, holiday flying festival, Kitty Hawk Flyer, A-10 Distinguished Flying Cross, electric air speed record attempt, New Zealand’s first electric airplane.

The Director of Flight Operations for Quantum Spatial talks about International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) certification and building a safety culture. Boeing 737 MAX order deferrals, best practices for small flight department maintenance, masks and Covid-19, fighter jets in the Middle East, the next generation U.S. fighter, high tech plane floats.

A former USAF combat pilot and astronaut talks about the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship that matches interns with aerospace companies. Also, EASA and the Boeing 737 MAX, NTSB crash report, U.S. Army aviation fleet, airline expansion opportunities, a dog evades capture at an airport.

GAO issues cybersecurity recommendations, Southwest pilot’s pay cut, National Center for the Advancement of Aviation, Singapore Airlines A380s, Boom Supersonic XB-1 demonstrator rolls out, all-electric airplane racing league announced.

Boeing to move 787 Dreamliner production to South Carolina, FAA Administrator flies 737 MAX, Germany halts helicopter procurement, Covid-19 testing for passengers, furloughs after the CARES Act, go-arounds and accidents, Rolls-Royce fast electric airplane, advanced preflight after maintenance, Flightradar24 DDoS attack.

Hypersonic flight and the research being conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Federal aid for the airlines, treating aircraft interiors with anti-microbial spray, a secret Air Force fighter jet, more on JSX and Orange County Airport.

We talk with Oshkosh Corporation about Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting, or ARFF. Oshkosh Corporation builds tough specialty trucks and access equipment and Oshkosh Airport Products designs and produces ARFF and snow removal vehicles.

A 737 crew couldn’t properly hand fly the airplane after autopilot failures, and we discuss the Master Minimum Equipment List. Also, airline furloughs, Austrian Eurofighter Typhoons, Air Force pilot production efforts, an engine shutdown due to rain, flights to nowhere, too much PPE for American Airlines, an airport throws out an operator.

Some Boeing 787s are grounded due to structural problems, Rolls-Royce financials don’t look good, a positive TSA story, another virtual flight option, US DOE funding for electric aircraft technologies, Pipistrel to set electric aircraft world records, Elon Musk says 3-4 years for effective electric aircraft batteries, Spirit avoids layoffs, and $200 ticket change fees are dropped.

A retired U.S. Air Force colonel tells the “leave no one behind” story of a pilot who ejected over the Gulf of Tonkin. Also, Boeing could consolidate 787 assembly lines, F/A-18 ski jump launch trials, a live air-to-air missile at Lakeland Airport, man arrested after driving under a taxiing airplane, a virtual airline, AI bests a human F-16 pilot in simulated dogfights.

We look at the Boeing 737 MAX NPRM for return to service, Phillips 66 investment in sustainable aviation fuel, JetBlue carbon neutrality on domestic flights, this year’s Collier Trophy winner, American Airlines plans to eliminate some smaller destinations, and the F-16 fighter jet sale to Taiwan.

Latinas in aviation tell their stories, Pieter Johnson talks with Matt Bone from the Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group, and Steve Vischer and Grant McHerron bring us up to date on Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways in the Australia News Desk. Launchpad Marzari reports from The Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs where the centerpiece is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker.

Boom Supersonic and Virgin Galactic supersonic commercial aircraft eye Rolls-Royce engine technology, China’s AG600 large seaplane, United’s ERJ-145 regional jets to CommutAir, pilot re-examinations, Boeing’s quarterly loss and good 737 MAX news, airline passengers and booze, the growing stockpile of airline nuts, and Allegiant Air’s clever “work from Vegas” packages.

EPA aviation climate control proposal, airline furloughs, military pilot flying experience, Airbus autonomous A350, Delta Airlines simplifying fleet, Garmin outage, Australia News Desk, discount code, choosing a flight school.

An A-10 pilot talks about flying combat missions, Boeing 737 MAX cancellations, airline layoffs and furloughs, Emirates A380 plan, American Airlines and JetBlue partner, a bizarre Icelandair plan, aviation museums re-opening, Chrome Dome mission, a drive-in airshow, Urban Air Mobility.

Possible United furloughs, airline bookings down, flight training with social distancing, enforcing airline face covering policies, airports responding to the pandemic, Boeing’s 737MAX pilot training document, Spirit Airlines helps a family in need.

Boeing 737 MAX certification flight tests, Airbus job eliminations, COVID-19 protocols, Aeromexico bankruptcy, NBAA convention, Concept of Operations for Urban Air Mobility, Ryanair 737 MAX, Austrian Airlines rail service, uncontained engine failure report, geared turbofan engine replacements, yellow warning cards at Alaska Airlines.

An air cargo pilot talks about that business, American recovery plan includes more growth than others, Allied Pilots Association proposal for the government to buy middle seats, Lufthansa bailout, Italian ban on overhead bin luggage, contracts of carriage, USAF plan for some F-22 Raptors.

United uses MileagePlus to improve balance sheet, study says Amazon Air fleet to grow to 200, British aircraft carrier closer to operational capability, Southwest requires customer health declaration, Finland fighter competition, new flight sim hardware, how old is too old to get your pilot’s license?

The president and CEO of Aerox Aviation Oxygen Systems explains the role of onboard aviation oxygen and gives us an update on the New England Air Museum and Patient Airlift Services. In the news, current industry troubles are having impacts on flight safety, a Twin Otter and an MV-22 Osprey meet on the tarmac, a lawsuit is filed over the October 2019 fatal crash of a Collings Foundation B-17G bomber, and a Senate bill might change Air Force plans to retire some legacy aircraft. Guest Scott E. Ashton is president and CEO of Aerox Aviation Oxygen Systems, which designs and manufactures aviation oxygen systems and accessories. Scott is an aerospace industry executive with more than 25 years of experience working for such leading companies as Sikorsky, General Electric, and Goodrich. Scott describes the types of aviation oxygen systems and their importance to pilots for safety and comfort. We look at the associated accessories, such as cannula, masks, and the regulators that need to be assembled without the presence of any oil or petroleum products. Scott talks about steel vs. Kevlar oxygen bottles, pressure test requirements, lifespan, and refilling. Scott currently serves as the president and board member of the New England Air Museum, based in Hartford, Connecticut. He tells us about the gradual re-opening process, starting with outside exhibits and open hangar doors, leading up to the opening of the indoor exhibits. A new women in aviation exhibit is being constructed, and a Redbird flight simulator is coming to augment the STEM program. Scott is also on the Board of Patient Airlift Services, a charitable organization that arranges private air transportation at no cost for individuals requiring medical diagnosis, treatment or follow-up, and for humanitarian purposes. That operation was temporarily shut down during the pandemic. Scott began his career at General Electric as an engineer and served in both engineering and business development capacities in both GE Aircraft Engines and Corporate Aircraft Finance. He joined forces with Don Burr, the founder of Peoples Express, and Bob Crandall, then recently retired Chairman of American Airlines, to help launch Pogo, the world’s first large scale attempt at solving the urban air mobility challenge.   In 2011 Scott became the president of Sikorsky’s helicopter fractional ownership and MRO business, Associated Aircraft Group (AAG). In 2018 he shifted his career to entrepreneurship and joined a small family-owned repair station as president (Corporate Services Supply & Manufacturing) specializing in the repair and overhaul of corporate aircraft and helicopter engine and airframe accessories. In 2020, Scott purchased Aerox Aviation Oxygen Systems and became president and CEO. Scott is an ATP and has ratings in airplanes, seaplanes, gliders, helicopters, and is a Certificated Flight Instructor, with more than 2,600 hours of flight time. Aviation News FAA warns of tail strikes, off-course flying by near-empty jets In May 2020, the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) issued more than 50 warnings to carriers about things that need to be watched carefully. The pandemic-inspired industry turmoil has opened opportunities for safety lapses. CAST was founded in 1997 to develop an integrated, data-driven strategy to reduce the commercial aviation fatality risk in the United States and promote new Government and industry safety initiatives throughout the world. The organization includes members from the FAA, NASA, Transport Canada, the unions (ALPA, NATCA, APA), and industry (airframers, A4A, ACI-NA, GE Aviation), as well as observers (EASA, IATA, ICAO, NTSB) and others. CAST aims to reduce the U.S. commercial fatality risk by 50 percent from 2010 to 2025. Twin Otter v Osprey... Both Lose On May 30, 2020, a DHC-6 Twin Otter and a USMC MV-22 Osprey collided on the ramp at Brown Field Municipal Airport, a California airfield close to the US-Mexico border. The Osprey had been on a training mission and parked at Brown. The Twin Otter started up and taxied under power into the MV-22. The Twin Otter’s right engine was left hanging from its mount. Both propellers were bent, and there was damage to the nose, right windscreen, and right windscreen frame. The Osprey’s left propeller was damaged, as was the left engine compartment, wing, and landing gear. The right engine propeller blade impacted the ground. Lawsuit filed over fatal crash of WWII-era airplane The Collings Foundation B-17G bomber crashed at Bradley International Airport in October 2019, killing seven people. A lawsuit has been filed by survivors and the families of those killed against the owners and operators. The 200-page lawsuit includes allegations such as: An engine inspection would have shown that some parts were worn beyond repair. The passengers were not given proper safety instructions (two were seated on the floor of the aircraft) “Neither the Pilot in Command, nor any of the other crew members, informed the passengers of the flight's peril, advised them what to do or instructed them to brace for a crash. The passengers were left to presume what was happening.” The flight’s departure was delayed by 48 minutes as the “crew struggled to start the engines” Unbeknownst to the passengers, the two engines on the right hand of the plane experienced roughness the day prior to the crash. “The crash and subsequent collision were violent” and “It ejected many of the passengers from where they were sitting and turned unsecured cargo into dangerous projectiles.” A couple on board were able to pull themselves out of the wreckage through a shattered window in the rear of the cockpit. They fell onto the deicing tank below the plane and sustained “serious and permanent injuries.” Senate defense bill limits Air Force’s aircraft retirement plans In the Air Force’s fiscal 2021 budget request, the service proposed retiring a number of its B-1 bombers, A-10 Warthog attack planes, RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drones, KC-135 and KC-10 tankers, and C-130H planes. However, the Senate Armed Services Committee’s proposed FY21 National Defense Authorization Act limits the cuts proposed by the Air Force.  The SASC’s defense bill “establishes a minimum number of aircraft for each major mission area … and prohibits the divestment of aircraft until the minima are reached to ensure that Air Force can meet [National Defense Strategy] and combatant command requirements,” SASC said in a summary of the bill. The bill “increases funding for critical capabilities that will help the United States maintain air superiority in contested environments, including Systems of Systems Technology Integration Tool Chain for Heterogeneous Electronic Systems (STITCHES) and advanced air-to-air weapons.” Mentioned 13 Minutes to the Moon, Season 2: The Apollo 13 story Who is that masked man?... Masked Max Trescott

The EAA plans for "Spirit of Aviation Week," their big virtual aviation event. Also, Boeing customers defer 737 MAX orders, WOW Air plans to return as a cargo airline, and commercial pilots might seek refuge with the U.S. Air Force. Plus, a new AusDesk from the boys down under!

The new Cessna SkyCourier explained, strategic moves Triumph, engine competitions for B-52 and F-15EX, Pakistani airliner crash, Delta retires MD-80 fleet, USAF drops height requirement for pilot candidates, EAA youth programs, Van’s RV formation lands at SYD.

A Memorial Day tale of the loss of a Douglas A-26 Invader, conversation with the young founder of an airship company, and flying a Focke-Wulf into a major airport.

The chief commercial officer of one of the largest aircraft maintenance, storage, and reclamation operations explains aircraft storage in light of the large number of airplanes taken out of service. In the news, members of the new Women in Aviation Advisory Board are announced, the fatal Canadian Snowbird crash, the Cessna SkyCourier first flight, airline passenger policies for wearing masks, and Airbus looks to a downsized future.