Australian Aviation Podcast Network

This week, the industry responded to the massive news that Australia will reopen its borders to tourists from 21 February, with airlines ramping up Australian schedules, and Tourism Australia dropping $40 million on a new campaign to drum up tourism interest. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss where we stand in terms of the mass return o...

This week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison finally revealed that Australia's last international borders restrictions would be eased, allowing double-jabbed tourists and other visa holders back into the country. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling excitedly discuss the move, and what this means for travellers and airlines alike. Plus, the crew talks...

This week, the Prime Minister hinted that tourism is soon to be back on the cards for Australia, while Qantas faced the Fair Work Commission again over its ongoing pay dispute with its international cabin crew. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss the Prime Minister's announcement, and what this could mean for local and foreign airlines. P...

This week, the Western Australia government backflipped on its promise to reopen its borders on 5 February, while Queensland opened its international border for the first time since March 2020. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss the current border situation, as well as changing entry requirements for international travellers coming to Au...

This week, Qantas swiftly followed in Virgin Australia's footsteps to announce it has been forced to slash capacity by up to 30 per cent from January through to March due to the current COVID outbreak. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn and reporter Hannah Dowling discuss the decision and the struggle for airlines in navigating the current operating environment. Pl...

After being elected as president of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots in 2018, Louise Pole became the first woman in Australia to lead a pilots' union, and the second female pilot union boss in the entire world. In this episode of Sky's The Limit, hosts Anna Grbas and Hannah Dowling speak with Louise in one of our most frank and honest conversations of this series to date – about the real ch...

After a brief period of open borders, this week, airlines have again been forced to cancel hundreds of flights and slash their flight schedules as the Omicron surge continues to send staff into isolation. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn and reporter Hannah Dowling discuss Virgin's proactive decision to announce dramatic flight schedule changes amid ongoing staff...

As the news cycle begins to slowly but surely pivot away from constant COVID-19 reporting, the ideas of sustainability, electric aircraft and urban air mobility solutions have once again emerged as key themes in 2021. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Hannah Dowling sits down with David Rottblatt, the vice-president of business development at Eve Urban Air Mobility –...

What's it like to be a senior executive in a major international airline when a once-in-a-century pandemic grounds the industry In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Singapore's regional manager for public affairs, Karl Schubert, talks host Adam Thorn through the dramatic moments the team made the crunch decisions. He reveals why the airline kept flying despite low demand and...

Jodie Bevan is a woman of many talents. After training as an aerobatic pilot early in her career, she jumped ship into business aviation and made her way up the ladder at Textron. In this episode of Sky's The Limit, hosts Anna Grbas and Hannah Dowling sit down with Jodie to hear about the opportunities and challenges of her varied career after learning to fly and starting her own business in her 2...

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn talks to Bell Flight's Terry Miyauchi, who previously headed up Arizona Police's Aviation Unit. The former pilot discusses how law enforcement agencies use helicopters in 2021 and how the technology onboard has evolved over the years. Plus, he explains why both emergency services and defence still favour the Bell 429, whic...

Queensland has opened its borders and Australia is planning to further lift international restrictions. But with Omicron lurking around the corner, could our progress be held back? In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk about what all this means for our aviation industry. Plus, new airline Bonza sprung a major surprise last week when it anno...

Australia has recently accepted its latest delivery of F-35s – the fifth-generation fighter that represents the biggest upgrade in RAAF's capability in a generation. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Lockheed Martin Australia's Andy Doyle tells host Adam Thorn how they onboarded the platform to the country. The pair discuss what makes the aircraft so special, the scale of...

This weekend's Wings Over Illawarra was probably the biggest gathering of fans of flight in two years, as attendees bid goodbye to the retiring Classic Hornet and welcomed its replacement, the F-35. Australian Aviation's Adam Thorn was there to interview some of the key industry figures in attendance. In this special episode, Adam records our podcast onboard a C-130 Hercules with one of its pilots...

Australia's unique geography arguably makes it more reliant on parapublic aviation services than most countries in the world. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn talks to Bell Flight's Dan McQuestin about how these services have evolved over the years. A helicopter pilot himself, McQuestin talks through the modern uses and advances in both police and search...

The last fortnight has seen Qantas return the first of 10 Airbus A380s due to return to service for the airline by 2023, while Rex threw ice water on Bonza's fiery launch plans. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss the triumphant return of Qantas A380 VH-OQB, a move predicted by Hannah long before the news was made public. Plus, the team t...

Australia and New Zealand's aviation industries are nearly at the end of our COVID nightmare. But now what? In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Adam Thorn and Oceania Aviation's Dwayne McCalman discuss the challenges of the last 12 months and how we can work together to conquer them. They discuss difficulties over supply chains, freight shortages and border closures, and Mc...

Where were we? Oh yes, COVID, border closures, lockdowns, thousands upon thousands of redundancies, lawsuits and the worst two years in aviation since World War II. But on the Australian Aviation podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Adam Thorn celebrate, if not the very end of the pandemic, certainly the moment the corner has been turned. On today's episode, the team discusses just what the opening of...

Earlier this month, startup airline Bonza  broke cover  to reveal a plan to fly "point-to-point" leisure routes not serviced by Qantas, Virgin and Rex with a fleet of two to three new 737 MAXs. Now founder Tim Jordan tells the Australian Aviation Podcast host Adam Thorn how he plans to find a niche for his business against stiff competition. The pair also talk about why Bonza has chosen the MAX, w...

This week saw huge announcements out of NSW and Queensland confirming their plans to reopen international borders before the end of this year. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn and reporters Hannah Dowling and Bella Richards discuss the NSW Premier's bombshell announcement to drop all quarantine requirements for returning overseas travellers. Plus, the team ponder...

Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Aimee Heal is the second-ever female member of the RAAF's aerobatic display team The Roulettes, currently serving as Roulette Seven. In this episode of Sky's The Limit, hosts Anna Grbas and Hannah Dowling sit down with Aimee to hear about her adrenaline-fuelled days piloting Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, and her role as the only full-time Roulette. Plus, Aime...

It's been a long, 18-month COVID pandemic, but it looks like commercial international flights to Australia could return sooner than we would have thought. This week, a returning Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk through what a restart could mean for our industry. Will the announcement of a firm date spark more carriers into joining Qantas from 14 November? Plus, the pair talk about the other...

It seems like an age ago now, but pre-COVID, Australia was battling another crisis with its 'Black Summer' bushfires – the worst in living memory. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, former NSW fire commissioner Greg Mullins explains why climate change means bigger fires will soon be a regular reality. He also talks to host Adam Thorn about the state of play with our aerial firefig...

This week, debate continued to wage over the state of Australia's domestic and international borders, as Queensland and Western Australia stand strong on their hard borders. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn and reporter Hannah Dowling discuss where we stand in our journey towards the re-opening of state and international borders. Plus, the team reveals NSW's road...

As Victoria and NSW's long lockdowns linger on, the aviation industry is quietly readying itself for the quicker-than-thought return of international travel. In this week's episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling ask if the industry is prepared to get planes flying again, with confusion over how COVID-safe protocols will work. And with foreign airlines circling to...