Behind the Prop

In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive into the full pilot journey, starting with the critical early lessons for student pilots and moving all the way through those pivotal first hundred hours after earning your certificate. They break down common red flags like poor preparation, attitude issues, and lack of consistency that can derail training, while sharing practi...

In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive deep into the essential soft skills that set exceptional flight instructors apart from the rest. They explore why teaching ability often outweighs raw flying proficiency when it comes to developing great CFIs, emphasizing the need to hire teachers rather than just pilots. The discussion highlights how emotional intelligen...

Bobby and Wally kick off this episode by posing a tough question to all pilots: could you handle an emergency tonight? They stress that you don't rise to the occasion but fall to the level of your training, sharing examples of how complacency creeps in during checkrides and real flights. The hosts dive into memory items every pilot should know cold, like engine fire during start procedures, glide...

Episode Overview This episode of Behind the Prop, hosted by Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn, dives into the hidden costs associated with rushing through flight training. Bobby shares a real-life story from United Flight Systems about a student who paused training due to lack of preparation and motivation, only to return years later with a renewed drive. The hosts explore why accelerated training pro...

Show Notes for Episode: When FINE Isn't FINE Introduction to Weather Discussion: Bobby and Wally kick off the episode by sharing their experiences with poor weather in Houston, Texas, highlighting how a seemingly "fine" day can quickly turn dangerous. They discuss the impact of weather on flight training and general aviation operations. Personal Stories of Weather Mishaps: Bobby recounts a flight...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn tackle one of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of flight training: how pilots respond to setbacks. From checkride disapprovals to frustrating training plateaus, they break down how resilience, self-awareness, and honest self-talk can turn mistakes into meaningful progress. The conversation explores the reality that m...

NFL wide receiver Brandin Cooks isn’t just known for his speed on the field—he’s also building a reputation in the cockpit. In this episode of Behind the Prop , Brandin joins us to share his aviation journey, from earning his private pilot certificate to advancing through instrument training and flying his own Cirrus SR22. What started as a curiosity quickly turned into a serious commitment to lea...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss, Wally Mulhearn, and guest Jay Robinson tackle one of the most stressful moments in a pilot’s journey—receiving an FAA checkride disapproval—and, more importantly, how to recover from it. The conversation starts by normalizing the experience, emphasizing that disapprovals happen at every level of aviation and do not define a pilot’s ability or future...

Tammy Barlette Former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and instructor with experience flying the A-10 Warthog , MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper. She now teaches mental performance training specifically designed for aviators through her company Crosscheck Mental Performance. Tammy combines lessons from aviation, elite athletics, and performance psychology to help pilots improve focus, confidence, and de...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern are joined by United Flight Systems Vice President Jay Robinson to break down one of the most debated topics in flight training: Part 61 vs. Part 141. If you’ve spent any time researching flight schools, you’ve likely heard strong opinions—141 is faster, cheaper, more structured… or maybe rigid and bureaucratic. So what’s actually t...

Buy the 3rd edition here: https://asa2fly.com/the-killing-zone/ This episode of Behind the Prop takes a deep, practical look at aviation safety culture, pilot decision-making, and the human factors that continue to drive accidents across all experience levels. Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern are joined by Paul Craig, author of The Killing Zone , to discuss why judgment—not just skill or legal minimum...

This episode of Behind the Prop focuses on what truly determines student pilot readiness for solo flight, emphasizing judgment, consistency, and safety over simply meeting legal minimums. Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern explain that solo readiness is not a checklist item but a mindset. Students must be willing to cancel a solo flight when conditions are not right, whether due to weather, aircraft con...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern explore how pilot training can—and should—better integrate ground knowledge with real-world flying skills. Titled “From Ground to Sky: The Equal Journey,” the discussion challenges the long-standing separation between classroom learning and cockpit experience, arguing that true pilot proficiency comes from blending the two from the...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern reflect on the lessons learned from flying in 2025 and use those experiences to frame practical pilot resolutions for the year ahead. The conversation opens with an honest discussion about why there is no such thing as a perfect flight, even for pilots with tens of thousands of hours. From automation surprises in advanced aircraft t...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern unpack one of the most persistent and underestimated threats in aviation: cockpit distraction . Drawing from both historical airline accidents and modern general aviation trends, they explore how small lapses in attention can escalate into major safety events. The hosts revisit the tragedies of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 and United...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern welcome Mark Patey — entrepreneur, aviator, and co-founder of Best Tugs and Best Aviation Products — for a powerful conversation on aviation innovation, safety, and personal growth . With over 12,000 flight hours and nearly three decades of flying experience, Mark shares how his passion for engineering and aviation led to buil...

In this episode of Behind the Prop , hosts Wally Mulhern and Bobby Doss dive into one of the most important and often overlooked stages of a pilot’s development — the period right after earning a Private Pilot Certificate , when decision-making truly begins. While training provides structure and supervision, real pilot-in-command judgment is built through solo experience, reflection, and continuou...

In this episode, Wally Mulhern and Bobby Doss take listeners deep into the mindset and methods behind effective flight planning. They break down how professional pilots think, plan, and prepare—long before the engine ever starts. Wally explains why smart flight planning begins weeks in advance , sometimes as early as 20 days before departure , especially for longer trips. He shares how to select f...

In this episode, host Bobby Doss and co-host Wally Mulhearn dive deep into what it truly takes to run a modern flight school day to day. Bobby offers a transparent look at the enormous scope of responsibilities behind United Flight Systems—from facilities and fleet management to staff culture and student success—illustrating that being a flight-school owner is far more than “counting gold bars.” T...

What happens when a tech executive with a passion for flying gets the chance to combine both worlds? In this episode of Behind the Prop , hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn welcome Barry Knuttila, President and CEO of King Schools, to explore that exact story. Barry recounts his early flying background, how a corporate collapse unexpectedly redirected his career, and the fateful moment he reached...

Mastering energy management is one of the cornerstones of becoming a safe and confident pilot. In this episode of Behind the Prop , Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn unpack the topic in detail, showing how altitude, airspeed, and power all work together as “energy assets” that must be carefully managed throughout every phase of flight—especially on approach and landing. Drawing from countless check ri...

Aviation Career Foundation & Philosophy Darren Pleasance's aviation journey began serendipitously at age 13 in Livermore, California, sparked by witnessing model airplane flying in a local park (02:32) Boy Scouts aviation merit badge provided first airplane flight experience with troop leader who was also a flight instructor Airport proximity advantage allowed daily after-school bicycle rides to L...

Do you have a solo coming up soon?  Check out this week's episode and grab some great tips and tricks to make sure you're prepared for your big day!

This week we look back on our incredible week at Oshkosh 2025 and talk about the brand new MOSAIC program, and what it means for you as an aviator!

Check out more from Operation Airdrop here -- https://www.operationairdrop.org