21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast

We are joined by Brian Bomhoff, founder and executive director of the Pilot Mental Health Campaign. Brian shared his journey from being a pilot and political organizer to spearheading an advocacy group focused on revising FAA regulations related to mental health in aviation. Key discussions included the importance of coherent policy advocacy, the role of personal experiences in shaping policy, and...

New episode format: we're cutting the birthday cake in half! // Mailbag: Should I take the Junior Captain Upgrade at Delta, How can airline pilots earn points and hotel stays [15:00] // Flight Advice: Sir Nik Fialka joins us to advise an Army Rotor Wing pilot on his civilian job strategy [29:30]  Advanced Aircrew Academy Blog on Mental Health Connect with Sir Nik Fialka on LinkedIn 21Five's Youtub...

Airplane Management 101 and YouTuber impersinations // Mailbag: 36 year old listener wants to switch careers, What is a Financial Planner, More layover guide updates,  [12:00] // Is pilot hiring slowing down? Why have the cargo airlines stopped hiring? Plus: I have the minimums, why won't the regionals hire me? James Onieal is back to give us the latest state of the job market [22:50] Double Fligh...

Max is trying to create a bar out of an old wing and battles get-there-itis in his personal airplane // Mailbag: Dylan's Dad explains Control Line Flying, Listener shares some study tips, Updates to TEB Layover Guide, Crewise Starup Company, G280 FPA, More comments on training [19:50] // Chad Bland, Senior Production Test Pilot at Gulfstream, joins us to explore the ways in which Flight Operationa...

Dylan and Max recap the fire handle incident, discuss strategies for successfully completing pilot training, and reflect on one of Max's previous flying jobs // Mailbag: Perspective from a high time pilot, Is going to a cargo feeder a good move, and strategies for disabled pilots [56:41] // Flight Advice: I have 4 failed checkrides, will the airlines still hire me? [1:21:30] Pilot Mental Health Ca...

Dylan and Max catch up after a few weeks off and play a Louis CK clip // Mailbag: Kind reviews, Next step for CFI, LEO Pilot perspective, Jetstream 31 schedule [14:00] // Tim Pope is back to help pilots avoid mistakes and create a strategy for their retro check. Tim shares a tips for benefits enrollment and transitioning military aviators. [26:30] // Flight Advice: ULCC Pilot has it made...but sti...

Dylan and Max talk about their recent aviation adventures // Mailbag: Listener shares an old XJT Schedule, Hotel restaurants vs Chain Restaurants, The joys of commuting, flight advice follow up [14:30] // Brooks Pettit from Vaerus Jet Sales joins us to discuss the current business aircraft marketplace. Brooks gives us a DC-3 update and shares his philosophy on paint and interior for pre-owned airp...

Max updates on the joys of aircraft ownership  // Mailbag: Listeners suggest different suitcases for us to review, several listeners submit feedback on the Takeoff performance episode [6:00] // Flight Advice: James Onieal joins us to answer listener questions: Will I move up the seniority list faster at Delta or American / FO doesn't enjoy narrow-body flying, what do I need to know before switchin...

The importance of sleep and being a professional pilot  // Mailbag: Angel Flights, Vegas Ramp, Taking an Aussie Pilot to Outback, and Flight Advice follow up [9:30] // Jim Deuvall, aircraft performance expert, joins us to explain a potential short-coming in takeoff performance products that many pilots use [23:00] //  Flight Advice: Airline or Corporate? [56:00] 21Five Layover Guides Jim's Website...

The guys explain how vacation works at the airlines and in business aviation // Mailbag: How to listen to old podcasts, Defending the Violinist Pilot, Top 20 chain restaurants, Young fan asks about LBB and AMA, and Turn off the Heat [24:00] // Sir Nik Fialka, Career Coach and host of the Ready for Pushback Podcast, joins us to talk about the latest pilot career news. Should pilots consider switchi...

The guys weigh in on the violin playing airline pilot // Mailbag: Chain Restaurant Hell, AA Learning Improvement Team, and Bert from Sesame Street [17:10] // Robb Patton, the creative force behind Highbrow Safety Werks, joins us to explain how his team is using humor to educate pilots and promote aviation safety. [34:30] //  Flight Advice: Low time Wheels Up FO wonders if he should stay or go [1:3...

The tables are turned and Dylan is the one calling in from the hotel // Mailbag: Thoughts on the Cargo Pilot Interview/Single Pilot Airliners [14:10] // Delta Pilots have a big decision to make with the Market-Based Cash Balance Plan, Tim Pope joins to break it down [24:40] // Kacie Lawler, Senior Aide De Camp, US Space Force joins us to explain why the Space Force was created and what its mission...

Dylan returns to TEB after a 6-year absence and wonders if he flew the approach correctly // Mailbag: FIRC recommendation, SWA or DAL, and Contract Pilot Liability [9:21] // Dr. Chris Broyhill is back to share his quarterly insights on BizAv Pilot Compensation [19:31] // Chris and Jeremy, Cargo/ACMI pilots, educate the guys on what it's like to be a pilot on the cargo side. How far off are single-...

The guys reflect on reaching 100 episodes and recall some of their favorite moments from over the years // Mailbag: More Volunteer work Ideas, Annoyed Riddle classmate, FIRC suggestions? [???] // We did it live! To celebrate our 100th episode we went live earlier in the week with James Onieal to answer a plane-load listener flight advice questions. [???]  Watch the video version of our live show:...

The guys unveil The 'record hiring' recorder and we announce our first-ever live flight advice event // Mailbag: Volunteer work as a pilot, fun flying jobs before the airlines, Ted on the radio, and Semper Gumby [12:00] // Brooks Pettit, President of Vaerus Jet Sales , explains the latest in the aircraft transaction marketplace, how to overcome pilot training issues, and how he and others are work...

The guys discuss HAM radio, Max's latest $100 hamburger in the Moose, and listeners react to the headset discussion // Mailbag: Loss of medical from anti-depressants, and how often should pilots shine their shoes? [15:05] // Pete Scholl, warbird and B-17 pilot joins us to talk about the Commemorative Air Force and how they maintain and fly WWII warbirds and bombers. [22:30] // Storytime with Pete:...

An Aspen runway excursion ends in disaster, and the guys wonder how to theoretically total an airplane // Headset Showdown: Bose A20 vs A30, Clarity Aloft, and Pro Flight 2 [17:50] //  Mailbag with Ted: Taxiing from the right seat, restarting an aviation career, A&P to Pro Pilot, and Pilot Spouse Story [50:55] // Flight Advice: Money or commuting? [1:16:45] Video of Falcon Towing Accident in Aspen...

The guys discuss the recent incapacitated pilot incident and how they'd handle it  //  Mailbag: Listener shares a tragic story in hopes of helping other pilots, What are the differences between 135 and 121 schedules? [15:00] // Tim Pope, Certified Financial Planner for Professional Pilots, joins us to explain the ramifications of accepting regional airline hiring retention bonuses [28:30] // Shoul...

Max shares several tales of rendering aid to airmen in need  //  Mailbag: More Reaves feedback, Commuter no more, 401K Clarification, and What's your dream airplane to fly? [22:00] // Chad Irwin, Mission Aviation Fellowship's Director of Operations, joins us to share about MAF's mission and what it's like to be a missionary pilot. [32:35] // Storytime: Chad takes off with 4 souls on board, but lan...

Dylan and Max catch up on the latest aviation news including the balloon shoot down  //  Mailbag: Positive and negative listener feedback from Roger Reaves episodes, FedEx Fleet plans, more shows about aviation and family? [9:30] // Dr. Chris Broyhill joins us to share his expertise on pilot salary surveys. Where does the data come from, and how do we use it properly? Chris breaks it all down for...

Max and Dylan traveled to Santa Barbara to interview Roger Reaves, one of the most prolific smugglers of all time. Over two days, Roger shared with us his incredible life story, which includes many harrowing adventures smuggling drugs in all sorts of aircraft. In part two of our interview, Roger talks about his experiences serving time (and escaping) from multiple prisons around the world and a su...

Max and Dylan traveled to Santa Barbara to interview Roger Reaves, one of the most prolific smugglers of all time. Over two days, Roger shared with us his incredible life story, which includes many harrowing adventures smuggling drugs in all sorts of aircraft. From single-engine Cessnas to the iconic DC-3, Roger pushed the limits on his aircraft and his flying skills to deliver his cargo. In the w...

Introducing our new producer, Joel!  //  Mailbag: Can you have a criminal history and still fly, another baja airport mixup, and are regional pay increases temporary? [9:00] // Fight Advice: Are pilot wife social media groups helpful? Max's wife Mackenzie weighs in [17:05] // The guys recap and discuss major industry news from 2022  [27:50] // We look ahead to 2023 and share our thoughts about wha...

Accidentally landing a King Air at a cartel pot farm  [1:26] //  Crop Duster Ken drops flags across the countryside [16:40] //  Listener nearly has a head-on collision taking off from the Heber Airport [20:50] // Erika uses humor to defuse a tense situation in the 727 [36:18] // Dan flies through a thunderstorm [40:20] // Jepp chart explosion in the cockpit [45:45] // Dr. George Nolly shares an ep...

The guys discuss their recent cross-country flight in Max's Murphy Moose, AI describes the lift equation, and Max's study guide blunder // Mailbag: NOTAMS/Men and Equipment, Pilot reading glasses, C-FOQA [12:50] //  Will hiring slow down in 2023 due to a possible recession? James Onieal joins us for the latest pilot hiring update. [21:00] //  Story Time with Bryan: First solo flight in the RCAF Ha...