Australian Aviation Podcast Network

Domestic aviation is roaring back with aircraft back in the air and most staff now stood up. Surely, it's a time for celebration in the industry, right? Qantas and Rex have other ideas. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn discuss why Qantas' Alan Joyce and Rex's John Sharp traded withering insults in newspaper columns last week, from 'broken p...

The last 12 months have been tough for those working in the aviation industry, many of whom have had their incomes turned off for the first time in their lives. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Adam Thorn speaks to MGD Wealth's Richard Marsden and Alec Berry to find out the stories they're hearing from their clients first-hand. The pair discuss what options are available...

This week marked the most significant moment since the start of the COVID crisis as the trans-Tasman bubble opened. And being the intrepid reporters we are, Australian Aviation's own Blair Dods was on one of the very first flights from New Zealand to Australia on Monday (in what we called the Blair Ditch Project, naturally). On this week's episode, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn ask Blair...

Last week, a mini-RAAF revolution took place when the Air Force decided to drop the term airmen in favour of aviators. But on this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, our chief pilot Christian "Boo" Boucousis tells stand-in host Adam Thorn they've got it all wrong. The pair discuss whether the move wrecks tradition or will be an important part of modernising the organisation. What should the RAAF...

This week marked the 100-year anniversary of the RAAF, which culminated in one of the most ambitious flypasts attempted in years. And a special occasion demands a special podcast. This week, host Phil Tarrant brings together Australian Aviation's Adam Thorn and Defence Connect's Liam Garman to discuss the past, present and future of our Air Force. The team analyses how well equipped the RAAF is to...

What is the RAAF's greatest ever aircraft? The Classic Hornet? F-111? Or perhaps, the Boomerang? In this week's episode, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn discuss Australian Aviation's poll to find out which should win out, timed to coincide with our Air Force's 100th birthday. Plus, the pair chat about the Network Wars between Qantas and Rex, which have been launching flights on each other's...

After months of rumour and speculation, the industry finally found out that the wage-subsidy replacement for JobKeeper would be, well, exactly the same as JobKeeper. In this week's episode, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn discuss what it all means and the story behind how we ended up back to where we started. Plus, the pair continue to rant and rave about their favourite RAAF aircraft, as A...

A nervous aviation industry finally got the news that it will get further financial help when JobKeeper ends. But will it be any good? In this week's episode, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk through the details of the government's plan to bankroll half-price tickets. The pair ask why certain locations have been picked, whether it will stop lockdown-happy Premiers shutting down their st...

COVID has caused untold damage to pilots currently working in the industry, but the plight of those taking their first steps into the profession is often forgotten. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks to Mark Dixon and Lyn Gray, from training school Fly Oz, to get advice and reassurance for those thinking about climbing into the cockpit. They highligh...

In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn geek out discussing which was the greatest RAAF aircraft ever. Adam chooses the Caribou, but reserves the right to change his mind as the team begin their challenge to edit our unrivalled photo archive. Plus, to more immediate matters, the pair discuss the latest in the industry's battle to secure a JobKeepe...

As birthdays go, it's a big one. Not just for the RAAF but really for aviation in Australia, which owes its start to the world's second independent air force. In this episode, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn reveal how Australian Aviation will celebrate the milestone, as well as asking for help from our listeners and readers. Plus, the team digs into the big issues of the last week, includi...

If the last year was stressful, then spare a thought for the one man directly involved in every twist and turn, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Adam Thorn speaks to one of the industry's most influential figures about the biggest stories of the last few months. The pair discuss the union's rocky relationship with Qantas and its chief execut...

In this episode of Australian Aviation Podcast, Mark Burgess, managing director and CEO of Quickstep, joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss his firm's growing contribution to Australian Industry Capability. Burgess explains how Quickstep has transformed in recent years to become one of Australia's most promising defence and aerospace companies, supporting key Defence projects, including the Joint Str...

As the industry starts to – haphazardly, maybe – emerge from COVID crisis, there are worries as to whether we're going to have enough skilled professionals left when normality returns.  This week, host Phil Tarrant and guests Christian "Boo" Boucousis and Adam "Brains" Thorn talk about how a perfect storm of factors, from stand-downs to retirements and young people looking elsewhere, could damage...

From age seven, Damien Toohey dreamed of becoming a pilot but took up law instead, before retraining to fulfil his true aviation ambitions in 1999. But when COVID hit, he combined the two: working in law as a barrister but on aviation-related matters. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant speaks to a man who thought on his feet to survive as the industry wen...

While 2020 was a challenging year for traditional aviation, COVID encouraged many airline pilots to transfer to flying drones, while governments began to embrace the burgeoning UAV revolution.   In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks to Ross Anderson and Rowan Kimber from leading drone training centre Aviassist. The panel discusses the raw skills require...

After Victoria welcomed thousands of tennis players and coaches into the country for the Australian Open, a fuming Alan Joyce returned serve to point out its hypocrisy. Why, he asked, was Victoria allowing people to enter from where "the virus was raging" but not from Sydney, where case numbers are some of the lowest in the world? This week, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn take to their soa...

As the domestic aviation industry entered Christmas, it looked like COVID was beat with almost all borders open. Australia was united again. But the celebration quickly became a nightmare as an outbreak in Sydney's Northern Beaches sent the area into lockdown and spooked state leaders into reimposing restrictions. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and Adam Thorn...

Australia, relatively speaking, seemed to have won COVID and performed well. But how and when the country opens poses a huge challenge. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk about how politics, science and aviation will collide in 2021. Will hotel quarantine remain? Will we need to be vaccinated to travel? Are airlines sticking or t...

After the year from hell comes the year of change. 2021 will see airlines scramble to regain market share and stake their claim in the post-COVID world. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn run through what are likely to be the biggest stories of the new year. Will Rex muscle their way into the Golden Triangle? Can Virgin win the mid-ma...

Where were we again? Oh, yes. Border closures, stand-downs, union rows, arrival caps, parked planes, hotel isolation and lockdowns. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn run through the biggest-rated stories of the year. They talk about the moments that made the headlines, as well as the context behind it. Plus, the team reflects on the...

COVID has been the biggest shock traditional aviation has ever seen. Still, in the background, the UAV industry is booming, with drones taking on tasks from fighting bushfires to delivering medication and filming movies. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation podcast, UAV Training Australia's Wayne Condon reveals how savvy pilots of major airliners are now retraining to take advantage...

If 2020 was a year to forget for aviation, there's reason to hope 2021 could be much better for both enthusiasts and the industry. In this week's Inside Aviation catch-up, Phil and Adam discuss the return of Australia's Outback Air Race: the 3,800-kilometre time trial across the country set to come back in 2021. Plus, after Ryanair threw its weight behind the MAX last week with more orders, are ot...

Captain Tom House is Babcock Australasia's chief pilot and head of flying operations (onshore). In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Captain House tells host Adam Thorn how Babcock collaborates with customers to provide critical emergency medical services, search and rescue, and law enforcement within Australia's aviation sector. He also discusses the history of the company...

The first COVID vaccination has been approved in the UK – but what does this mean for Australia and international travel? In this week's Inside Aviation catch-up, Phil and Adam discuss why the approval could pose questions in many countries, and what this means for life returning to normal. Plus, European budget airline Ryanair has ordered an additional 75 MAX jets in a deal worth more than $9 bil...