Airplane Geeks Podcast

We look at human trafficking, how airports play into the issue, and what one organization is doing at airports to address the problem. Guest Betty Ann Hagenau is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC) and Airport Initiative . BAATC has observed a “Move, Work, Sleep” pattern in human trafficking cases and the organization has created a targeted approac...

We discover mission aviation from JAARS. In the news, airlines add staff in anticipation of the coming summer travel boom, Congress looks at increased educational funding for flight training programs, compensating passengers for preventable delays, and DOT’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard. Mission Aviation Mission aviation is the use of aircraft to transport people, supplies, and medical care...

This episode focuses on the “Queen of the Skies,” the Boeing 747. The last Boeing 747. Photo by @Jetcitystar. Boeing 747 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. 35 Years Of Flight: Which Standard A...

Live and recorded ATC transmissions from LiveATC.net . In the news, the FAA Acting Administrator is stepping down, Airbus and Air France are cleared in the Air France Flight 447 accident, the FAA has some advice for terrain avoidance and warning systems, and ADs for Boeing 747-8s and B-17s. Guest Dave Pascoe is the founder and CEO of LiveATC.net , the world’s largest aviation radio voice dat...

Increased air turbulence from climate change, national aeronautics science and technology priorities, a sleeping Delta pilot is raided, international passengers skip immigration, prison time for shining a laser at an airplane, responsibility for aborting a takeoff, and flying with children. Clear-air Turbulence Aviation News Airline passengers could be in for a rougher ride, thanks to climate chan...

More states join the Justice Department antitrust lawsuit to block the JetBlue-Spirit Merger, a Delta flight aborts takeoff after another jet raises concerns, Shell cancels it’s plans for a SAF plant in Singapore, Delta uses its partnership with Lyft, and the FAA warns about summer travel disruptions. We also offer a little bit of aviation career advice and talk more about lap babies on airlines....

China reportedly flies an engine destined for the COMAC C919, the Airbus final assembly line in China delivers its first A321, a “Really Cool” airline is planned for Thailand, United and Archer plan eVTOL air taxi service in Chicago, still no permanent FAA Administrator, orders for the Osprey V-22 come to an end. Also, an Australia Desk report and interviews from the Point Mugu Air Show. C919, cou...

The Condor Airlines Director of Sales for the Americas describes the airline’s plans for the North American market and explains what an airline sales director does. In the news, we look at what happened at the recent FAA Aviation Safety Summit sessions, the Russian fighter and the MQ-9 Reaper drone, longer recording time for CVRs, and a push to ban lap infants on commercial flights. Condor Airline...

We look at how the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance advances an aerospace cluster. In the news, the American Airlines flight attendant union asks for compensation increases, the last year for the air races at Reno, and the first Boeing Dreamliners to leave service are being parted out. Also, an Australia News Desk report, the State of NASA, hydrogen fuel, Rolls Royce F130 engine testing, an Ae...

Status match and airline loyalty programs with an industry leader. Also, an alleged export control violation involving Russia, a hydrogen-powered regional airliner takes flight, Jetblue court cases, and an FAA system problem impacts check rides. We also have an Australia News Desk report from Avalon and a visit to an El Al MRO shop. Guest Mark Ross-Smith is an award-winning global airline loyalty...

Decarbonizing aviation with a Program Director from the International Council on Clean Transportation. Also, a venture capital fund to grow the availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the PT6 is 60 years old, GA aircraft shipment numbers for 2022, an AD for Continental engines, another close call at the airport, a plea to refrain from putting your pets through the TSA x-ray machine, and w...

An Air Traffic Control Tower Operator Certification program, actions from the FAA including a safety call to action, a request for increased hand-flying during normal operations, a new rule requiring airport safety management systems, and IT system fixes. Also, flying over Russian airspace. Guest Brooke Manley is an Air Traffic Controller and Adjunct Professor at SUNY Schenectady in New York. She...

We speak with Jon Ostrower, Editor-in-chief of The Air Current . He’s currently working with a team developing a new flight sim controller. In the news, how a Chinese balloon impacts Boeing, a United 777 departing Maui experiences a steep dive, American Airlines pilots refuse to be interviewed on tape, and more on unidentified objects that have been shot down. Guest Jon Ostrower is Editor-in-chief...

We talk about autonomous aircraft with an Xwing executive. In the news, Airbus and Qatar Airways settle their dispute over A350 paint problems, a personal eVTOL, the 2019 report that explains how Boeing lost its way, a close call with a B737 taking off and a B767 landing on the same runway, the F-22 Raptor gets its first kill, and a Boeing 737 has crashed fighting fires in Australia. Xwing Caravan...

The co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics explains how aircraft automation sets the path to bringing certified autonomous vehicles to commercial aviation. In the news, the first graduating class from United Aviate Academy, the NTSB and BEA comment on the Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s final report on the 737 Max crash, pilots working to make their airport safer, the gov...

We speak with the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Grand Dames of Aviation . In the news, Boeing and NASA team up to develop a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing airliner, a US judge orders Boeing to appear for an arraignment on a 737 Max fraud charge, SWAPA authorizes a strike vote, and a procedure change and the JFK runway incursion. We also have an Australia News Desk report and interviews from th...

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 domes...

We talk about cabin air management technology with the president of Pexco Aerospace. In the news, an AD for A220 engines, a terrible ground crew accident, the Southwest meltdown, an airport without jet fuel, and happy pets. Also, our safety card and T-Mobile Un‑carrier On giveaway winners and an Australia News Desk report. Guest Jon Page is the President of Pexco Aerospace , a company that produce...

We speak with the President and CFO of DG Fuels LLC about producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and the Co-Founder and Chief AI at Fetcherr about continuous pricing models for airlines. We also take a look back at 2022. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Christopher J. Chaput is the President of DG Fuels, LLC . He has over 23 years of experience as an executive, an investment banker, a restructu...

Si Seigel, standing far right. In this special holiday episode, our Main(e) Man Micah tells the story of Si Spiegel. As a young man, Si wanted to serve his country and he joined the US Army Air Corp. After completing his training, he flew his first mission over Europe in a B-17 at the age of 20. On one mission, two of the B-17 engines became disabled and Si made an emergency landing in Poland. Mic...

We speak with the operator of the world’s largest network of airport lounges. In the news, United’s order for Boeing planes, air travel trends for 2023, Boom Supersonic plans to develop its own engine, the U.S. Army selects the Bell V-280 over the Sikorsky/Boeing offering, and passengers are injured by turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight. Guest Stuart Vella is Vice President of Commercial Dev...

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. Guests The Interaction Group Trisha Ferguson is the owner of The Interaction Group , a company that designs and creates airline safety cards for leading airlines such as American, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Canadian carriers, and Etihad Ai...

A Michigan technology activation manager explains grants made to companies developing air mobility solutions at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. We also look at the NTSB preliminary report on the fatal Wings Over Dallas airshow collision, retiring the F-22 Raptor, a Boeing 777X engine issue, the Delta pilot’s “me too” contract clause, and an F-16 destroyed by a pilot. Gerald R. Ford...

Thoughts on one-pilot cockpits, Frontier drops its customer service line, pigeons on an aircraft carrier, get ready for Real ID, an A-10 pilot gets a flying award, the A-1H Skyraider joins the Museum of the US Air Force, a Mooney crashes into a transmission tower, and America’s best airports. Aviation News One-pilot cockpits? Here’s what QF32 hero and ‘Sully’ Sullenberger think On November 4, 2010...

An airshow crash involving two warbirds, Flight MH17 convictions, A350 carryon weight, GA airplane shipments, A-10s and B-1Bs as attack aircraft, an airport closure impacts seaplanes, G700 on a world tour, and a sustainable jet fuel plant. Aviation News Dallas air show crash: Two World War Two planes collide in mid-air A P-63 Kingcobra fighter and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress collided at a commem...