Flight Safety Detectives

Episode 75 This episode focuses on the US Navy report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). Greg, John and Todd talk about the issues covered in the report from the perspective of flight safety. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued the Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena on June 25. The Navy videos confirmed to be authentic by the US government are part of...

Episode 74 Todd Curtis of airsafe.com joins John and Greg for a look at the alarming rise in unruly passenger behavior on flights. Fistfights, attempts to open cabin doors and more are disrupting flights. They outline the federal rules and regulations in play as well as airline policies to attempt to keep everyone on board safe. Offenders are prosecuted in federal courts and risk federal prison. A...

Episode 73 Airports are humming again with COVID restrictions being lifted. That has John and Greg talking about commercial airline safety. The focus of this episode is maintenance lessons learned from the 1979 American Airlines DC10 accident in Chicago . Greg was just coming on board NTSB when the investigation began and John knows several of the key players involved. The DC10 involved had recent...

Episode 72 Rebecca Lutte from University of Nebraska and Cassandra Bosco of TailWinds Communications Inc visit to talk about attracting more people to careers in aviation. Special focus is closing gender gaps and access for underserved communities. Wide-ranging programs and resources are highlighted. Many organizations are working on efforts to create and sustain interest in aviation industry care...

Episode 71 This special episode celebrates the legacy of Charlie Taylor as the father if aircraft maintenance. Taylor built the first aircraft engine used by the Wright brothers in the Wright Flyer. He set the professional standards followed by professional aircraft mechanics today. Special guests are: Ken Mactiernan, Director at the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association David Supplee, Pres...

Episode 70 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students get real about their school and their education. Hear how COVID and online learning impacted them. Be prepared to be wowed by their passion for aviation! John and Greg talk about the many opportunities for people with the skills taught at ERAU – in aviation as well as other fields. They talk about current needs as well as what the future mig...

Episode 69 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University masters students share details from their research into safety issues in aviation. Greg and John make connections between the research and their own experiences. They go in depth on the issue of carry-on bags in cases of aircraft evacuation. Research has generated quantitative data on how passengers impact safety when they avoid the advice to leave c...

Episode 68 Live from the campus of Embry-Riddle in Daytona, Florida! John, Greg and guest Bob Joyce talk about the focus on safety, quality and professionalism in all aspects of the university. The curriculum at Embry-Riddle covers the operation, engineering, research, manufacturing, marketing, and management of modern aircraft and the systems that support them. Bob Joyce is the university’s direc...

Episode 67 The United Airlines engine failure is back in the news. Service bulletins and/or airworthiness directives may be issued soon. Investigation of fire suppression issues continue. Three months after the accident, issues related to crew performance are just surfacing. John and Greg catch listeners up on the investigation, how it is illustrating NTSB shortcomings, and the need for the FAA to...

Episode 66 The NTSB preliminary report of a March 27 helicopter crash in Alaska that killed five people sheds little light on the cause. John, Greg, and guest Jason Lukasik explore the many factors that could have contributed to the fatal accident. The onsite inspection is the most important part of the investigation. In this case, the investigation is stalled by poor weather conditions. Speaking...

Episode 65 Mandated inspections are being performed on Piper PA28 aircraft based on airworthiness directive AD 2020-26-16 . The Flight Safety Detectives offer an update on progress. Listen for what to do and what not to do for affected aircraft. Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants and former FAA inspector, returns to share preliminary data collected. The cracking issue that prompt...

Episode 64 The Federal Aviation Administration took a hit as Congress investigated issues with the 737 Max. What needs to be done to rebuild the FAA’s worldwide stature? How will they regain trust in their certification process? Guest is Sandy Murdock who served as FAA Chief Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for all rulemaking, environmental, acquisition, personnel, and ethical and litigation matter...

Episode 63 Crew resource management (CRM) and safety management systems (SMS) get the spotlight in this discussion. These systems help build safety into every flight. Special guest is listener Amy Wright, a self-professed “safety nerd” who says she gets “out of breath with excitement” talking about quality processes and safety procedures. Hear about the benefits of well-crafted processes in aviati...

Episode 62 Catastrophe averted? A Frontier A320 Airbus was set to take off from Nashville when a passenger noticed the deicing looked strange. He alerted the flight crew to the green liquid sitting on top of ice and snow on the wings. John and Greg share the details of what may have happened, going beyond news coverage of the incident . They offer their insider knowledge of deicing procedures. Amo...

Episode 61 Discussion of the United Airlines 777 engine explosion continues with guest Mike Borfitz. The focus is the three systems that make up the engine cowling. At the initial NTSB hearing, the chairman was pointed in saying that the recent event was technically a contained engine failure. Yet, most industry experts say the evidence points to an uncontained failure. Borfitz is an FAA designate...

Episode 60 John and Greg are giving meticulous attention to information available on the recent United Airlines engine explosion. In this episode they share their initial expert observations and predict what’s next. Learn what the evidence so far really shows from two of the world’s most experienced accident investigators. They explain why the crew and air traffic control personnel who handled the...

Episode 59 John and Greg talk about special considerations for pilots who rent airplanes. They share anecdotes of incidents where pilots in rented aircraft ran into safety issues. Part of the in-depth discussion is advice for pilots: Don’t assume anything when renting a plane. Check maintenance records and do a thorough preflight every time. They encourage pilots who encounter issues with rentals...

Episode 58 John and Greg catch listeners up with some major aviation news. Findings are being shared from the Kobe Bryant crash investigation. The 737-500 crash in Indonesia may be the result of a known issue. Piper single engine aircraft now have an airworthiness directive to be addressed along with two service bulletins. Kobe Bryant Crash The NTSB Sunshine Hearing about the 2020 Calabasas helico...

Episode 57 The FAA’s role in flight safety has evolved over the years. This episode covers the Safety Management System (SMS), the potential expansion into charter aviation, and the value of building a safety culture in all types of aviation. Aspects of FAA operations – past, present and future – are discussed. The episode continues a conversation with John Allen, Manager at Allen and Associates C...

Episode 56 The FAA has taken a hit following high-profile crashes of the 737 Max. Investigators and congressional hearings have laid the blame on the FAA aircraft certification process and its too-close relationship with Boeing. Will the agency be able to restore its reputation? Guest is John Allen , Manager at Allen and Associates Consulting, LLC. His resume includes service in the US military as...

Episode 55 Is complacency seeping into all areas of aviation? From pilots doing casual preflights to the NTSB’s continued refusal to do on-site investigations for most aviation accidents, John and Greg have safety concerns at all levels. The safety culture of aviation is stagnating. The findings of the Rand Report – written more than 20 years ago – have not been implemented. It outlines issues wit...

Episode 54 Light Sport Aircraft are the focus of this discussion. Changes to FAA rules and regulations now under review could result in a major loosening of safety rules for affected planes. The FAA is proposing to change the rules and regulations related to LSAs, allowing aircraft in the category to be larger and more complex. John, Greg and expert Jason Lukasik explore implications for flight sa...

Episode 53 The NTSB investigation of the tragic 2006 crash of a single-engine Cessna 206 was attributed to pilot error. Although evidence has surfaced that questions that conclusion, the findings have not been changed and appeals have been denied. Guests for this episode are Yatish Joshi, pilot Georgina Joshi’s father and an experienced pilot, and his wife Joan. They tell the story of their journe...

Episode 52 More than 430 lives have been saved by the BRS Whole Aircraft Rescue Parachute System. John and Greg welcome BRS Managing Director and President Enrique Dillon to get all the details about the system. BRS invented the Whole Aircraft Rescue Parachute System in 1980. Since then, the system has been installed on more than 35,000 aircraft. It is a safety option that can be installed on virt...

Episode 51 Experienced pilot Bob Jenkins joins Greg and John for this look at piloting challenges in business and charter aviation. COVID-19 is leading to increased interest in these flight options as a way to avoid the crowds of commercial aviation. Pilots face demands of both aircraft and flight readiness. Pilots must be prepared to make flight safety decisions, even when they are unpopular with...