Airplane Geeks Podcast

We discuss recent aviation accidents, explore potential litigation, and consider changes to the U.S. Air Traffic Control system.

Guest

Erin Applebaum returns as our guest for this episode. Erin is a Partner in the aviation practice of Kreindler & Kreindler LLP, a New York law firm. She specializes in litigation for passengers who were injured or killed in general aviation accidents and commercial airline disasters. Erin previously joined us in Episode 831 Advocating for 737 MAX Crash Victims and Episode 777 Aviation Accident Litigation.

We discuss the Delta Air Lines CRJ-900 regional jet crash at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. Because this occurred the same day the episode was recorded, few verified facts were available. Erin also helps us consider the Washington National midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Blackhawk helicopter. We look at the U.S. air traffic control system, including staffing needs, outdated systems, and alternatives such as privatization such as that used by other countries.

Along the way, Erin explains litigation under the Montreal Convention and how aviation attorneys obtain clients. We look at the quality of communications between controllers and pilots, the types of altimeter types and implications for safety, traffic screens, the current status of the B737 MAX litigation, and the Federal Tort Claims Act. We also have thoughts on how to respond when people outside the industry ask, “Is it safe to fly?”

Erin has devoted her career to advocating for justice and fighting for the advancement of aviation safety. She serves on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Boeing 737 MAX litigation. Erin is part of the legal team representing the 737 MAX crash victims in the federal criminal case against Boeing.

Aviation News

We used the following sources for our conversation. Note that some are behind a paywall and others require free registration.

Black Hawk crew might not have heard crucial tower instruction, NTSB says

Pilots got 100 collision warning at DCA

From 1920s Thinking to Digital Autonomy: After 100 Years, It’s Time To Rethink How Air Traffic Control Works

US senators call for increased funding, staffing for air traffic control

How Elon Musk Will Bring ATC Under Control, By Robert Poole, Reason Foundation.

Victims’ Families of Boeing Crash Ask New US Attorney General for Meeting on Criminal Plea Agreement

Elon Musk Vows To Cut FAA’s “Senseless” Supersonic Boom Noise Regulation

Mentioned

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.

UAP safety risks with Todd Curtis, a troubling wave of US Army aviation accidents, the impact of aviation accidents on public perception of safety, the Flexjet order for Embraer jets, and Boeing’s worries about the future of the Space Launch System.

Guest

Todd Curtis is a risk consultant who systematically uses data to understand and reduce aviation incidents. He is also a co-host of the Flight Safety Detectives podcast, which evaluates accidents, incidents, and risks from all areas of aviation.

Todd explains that UAP safety risks are not separate and distinct from other safety issues, and lessons learned from UAP encounters may carry over to one or more other aviation risks. The recent interview with the Flight Safety Detectives about the UAP’s close encounter with a sailplane (Hair-Raising UAP Encounter Shared by Pilot – Episode 252) illustrates a key crossover between UAP and other aviation risks. Todd argues that the key challenge is to develop a fundamental understanding of UAP and a set of shared goals and definitions that will serve to support processes that will identify, reduce, or eliminate UAP-related aviation risks.

Todd has spent most of his aviation career focusing on aviation safety. After earning electrical engineering degrees at Princeton University and the University of Texas, he served as a flight test engineer in the U.S. Air Force. After earning master’s degrees from MIT, one in policy and another in management, he was a safety engineer at Boeing, where he supported accident investigations and conducted safety analyses during the development of the 777. His 2000 book, “Understanding Aviation Safety Data,” described his approach to analyzing aviation risk and evaluating accident and incident trends.

See:

• AIAA UAP Integration and Outreach Committee
• 767 Encounters UAP – Episode 256
• Flight Safety Detectives on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.  

Aviation News

For The Army, the D.C. Crash Is the Latest In A Wave Of Troubling Accidents

[Paywall] The Army had 15 Class A flight accidents in fiscal 2024 that claimed 11 lives. In 2023 there were 9 Class A flight accidents that killed 14. Army crash investigators say 82% of the accidents over the past five years were primarily caused by human error. The Army has acknowledged that inexperienced aircrews are a problem.

Recent aviation disasters cause fears about the safety of flying

Public concern about air safety is growing with news of the fatal crashes in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and Alaska, as well as other incidents such as the wing of a Japan Airlines 787 striking the tail of a stationary Delta Airlines 737, and a United A319 with an engine fire during takeoff. Experts point out the overall safety of the system, but is it enough to influence perception?

Flexjet signs $7bn order for 182 aircraft with Embraer

Global fractional ownership provider Flexjet announced the order for 182 Praetor 600, Praetor 500, and Phenom 300E models to be delivered over the next five years. The deal includes 30 options and an enhanced services and support agreement. 

Boeing has informed its employees that NASA may cancel SLS contracts

Boeing’s vice president and program manager for the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket announced to employees at an all-hands meeting that Boeing’s contracts for the rocket could end in March. Boeing was planning for layoffs of about 400 in case the cost-plus contracts were not renewed. Boeing is the primary contractor for the Space Launch System rocket. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (or WARN) Act requires US employers with 100 or more full-time employees to provide a 60-day notice in advance of mass layoffs or plant closings.

Memorable Flybys

Listener Tom describes a low-level flyover by a pair of F-84 jets.

Mentioned

Asking Why After an Accident? Consider the Source

Boom or No Boom could determine overland operations

Boomless Cruise: How Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 breaks the sound barrier quietly

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, David Vanderhoof, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.

A look at aviation ground operations technology, recent fatal aviation accidents, fire aboard an A321, the successful XB-1 supersonic flight, the sentencing of a drone operator, and the threatened readiness of the US Air Force.

Guest

Loren Mathis is the Chief Strategy Officer of INFORM GmbH’s Aviation division. INFORM is a worldwide aviation ground operations resource management technology provider that leverages AI and advanced optimization to increase efficiency and improve operations.

Loren describes three general use case categories for AI in aviation: creating value from very large amounts of data, digital decision support, and proactive rather than reactive action.

We look at real-world examples of aviation applications, including predictive maintenance, service recovery after disruptions, and management of airport gates, baggage belts, and check-in counters. Also, ground equipment and staff planning, scheduling, allocation, and analysis.

Loren is a thought leader and passionate advocate for ground operations. During his 15 years in aviation, Loren has led workforce planning teams responsible for budgeting over $2 billion of annual headcount expenses and $1 billion of GSE-related expenses. He most recently helped define airport operations technology strategy for one of the world’s largest airlines.

For over 50 years, INFORM has been engaging in the art of solving complex business problems with mathematical models. The company is committed to ethically responsible AI and sustainable business practices.

Aviation News

AA Regional Jet Collides with Army Blackhawk Helicopter

Video: DC Mid Air Update 2/3/25

https://youtu.be/n9mAUks0krI?si=f37mdgvVKmpaDT2z

NTSB forces reporters to get plane crash updates on X

‘Open the Door, Open the Door!’: How Dozens Fled an Inferno on a Plane

Air Busan Flight ABL391 was waiting to take off from Busan Airport (PUS) in South Korea, bound for Hong Kong. Passengers spotted flames in a rear overhead bin of the A321. The captain declared an emergency evacuation and shut off hydraulic and fuel systems. Flight attendants and passengers opened exit doors, but there was no evacuation announcement.

Video: XB-1 First Supersonic Flight

https://www.youtube.com/live/-qisIViAHwI?si=3qg_QuNVRWv-W5E2

Ex Skydance Exec Was Piloting Drone During Palasides Fire

The man who crashed his DJI Mini3 Pro drone into the wing of a CL-415 Super Scooper waterbomber (reportedly costing $65,169 to repair) has been identified. The man pleaded guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft (a misdemeanor) and agreed to 150 hrs of community service for wildfire relief and paying restitution. The charge carried a possible sentence of up to one year in federal prison.

Fighter Pilot Shortage Threatening Readiness

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies says the shortage of Air Force fighter pilots, declining pilot experience, and a shortage of airplanes threaten combat readiness. “The Air Force’s pilot corps is now too small and poorly structured to sustain a healthy combat force that can prevail in a peer conflict and meet the nation’s other national security requirements.”

Listen to Episode 218 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Air Force Readiness Crisis: Time for a Reset.

Mentioned

FlySafair Statement on Flight FA711

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, David Vanderhoof, and our Main(e) Man Micah.

Boom Supersonic’s first supersonic flight with the XB-1, the Jeju Air crash in Korea, final NTSB report on United Airlines hard landing, and a hydrogen-steam hybrid cycle engine for single aisle aircraft. Also, small DJI drones, the upcoming FlightSimExpo, personal flying devices, SAF for supersonic aircraft, a mid-air collision final report, and a waterbomber damaged by a drone.

Aviation News

Boom Supersonic XB-1 first supersonic test flight

The first supersonic flight of the XB-1 demonstrator occurred January 28, 2025. The Boom XB-1 is the first independently developed supersonic jet, and the first civil supersonic jet built in America. The XB-1 first flew in March of 2024 and has been through a rigorous program of 11 test flights at steadily increasing speeds.

Video: XB-1 First Supersonic Flight

https://www.youtube.com/live/-qisIViAHwI?si=MZlE45Otsf0X81Z4

The Starlink Connection: XB-1 Flight Tests Harness Satellite Internet Streaming

The XB-1 team used a Starlink Mini to live stream XB-1 flight tests from the Northrop T-38 chase plane. Boom worked with SpaceX to pair the Mini with an aviation data plan. The Mini fits into the T-38’s rear cockpit, allows for an occupant of that seat, and does not impede the safe operation of the aircraft or the ejection seat.

Korean Airport Exec Dead Of Suicide After Jeju Air Crash

The executive was president of the Korea Airports Corporation from 2018 to 2022 and in charge of the 2020 renovation of Muan International Airport in South Korea. He was found dead at his home of an apparent suicide. Last December, a Jeju Air Boeing 737 ran off the runway and into a concrete support surrounding the localizer antenna, killing 179 of the 181 on board. South Korea has mandated the removal of concrete barriers at seven airports. 

NTSB Faults United Airlines Pilot For Hard Boeing 767-300ER Landing That Cracked Fuselage

United Airlines flight 702, a Boeing 767-300ER (registered N641UA) flying from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Texas, experienced a hard landing. The First Officer had control of the plane as the mains touched down but the nosewheel hit hard and bounced a total of three times. The fuselage skin was buckled and fractured, and the underlying stringers and frames were damaged. The aircraft was repaired and eventually returned to operational service.

In its report [PDF], the NTSB found that the FO made nose-down inputs, contributing to the nosewheel abnormally impacting the runway, and were contrary to United Airlines’ procedures and training. In addition, the NTSB believes that deployment of the speed brakes and thrust reversers while the nosewheel was still in the air likely contributed to the second runway contact of the nosewheel and the subsequent damage to the airplane.

Simple Flying Video: NTSB: United Airlines Pilot At Fault For Boeing 767 Hard Landing That Cracked Fuselage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF3_m7hBmrk

Pratt & Whitney Unveils Details Of Hydrogen-Steam Hybrid Engine Cycle

Pratt & Whitney has unveiled details of their Hydrogen Steam Injected Intercooled Turbine Engine (HySIITE) concept. Although much more work remains to be done, the concept could lead to commercial geared turbofans with zero carbon emissions and vastly reduced nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Neil Terwilliger, technical fellow for advanced concepts at Pratt, said “HySIITE is about us imagining if there were going to be hydrogen and that it was a viable decarbonization pathway, what kind of engine would take the best advantage of it? Should it look like engines do today, or should we do something different?” The steam injection increases mass flow, improves efficiency, and—Pratt says—dramatically lowers NOx emissions.

Pratt & Whitney Hydrogen Steam and Inter-Cooled Turbine Engine (HySITE)

HySIITE was studied under a two-year $3.8 million U.S. Energy Department Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) project that concluded in December 2024. HySIITE innovation could disrupt the aviation industry and represents an opportunity to preserve U.S. primacy in commercial aviation with novel fuels. The HySIITE concept aims to eliminate carbon emissions associated with aviation, make flying more efficient and significantly reduce NOx inflight emissions for commercial single-aisle aircraft. HySIITE could save the U.S. single aisle fleet an estimated $90B annually relative to SAF.

Cat mistakenly left on plane, makes three trips between New Zealand and Australia in 24 hours

A Maine Coon cat named Mittens traveled freight on Air New Zealand as her family flew from Christchurch, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia. After arriving and waiting three hours, Mittens didn’t show up. That was because Mittens was still in the cargo hold, on the way back to New Zealand, a 7.5-hour flight. Back in New Zealand, the pet moving company met Mittens and made sure she was on a flight to Melbourne where she was reunited with her family.

This World War II-Era Airport in Central California Needs a New Owner

Eckert Field Airport (1Q1) in Strathmore, California is for sale. The airport was first used by the U.S. Army Air Force for training during World War II.

Mentioned

FlightSimExpo 2025 takes place June 27-29 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.

Apply for FlightSimExpo’s Weekend Community Seminars.

30 Coolest Machines That Makes you Fly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7V76B1RTY0

Pilot’s errors, other issues cited as probable causes in fatal NLV midair plane crash

Little Drone, Big Damage

Alberta Wildland Firefighters posted images of the damage on their facebook page.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott.

The SpaceX Starship explosion causes airline flight diversions, DJI changes its geofencing feature for drone flights, synthetic aviation fuel eyed for military aircraft, Boeing resumes 777X certification flight tests.

Aviation News

SpaceX Starship Explosion Causes Flight Diversions

The January 16 launch of the SpaceX Starship was successful, and the launch tower caught the returning booster with its “chopsticks,” but the spacecraft was lost about 8 minutes into the flight. According to data from FlightRadar24, multiple aircraft, including those flying routes for American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, were placed in holding patterns or landed prior to reaching their final destination.

The impact of space launches on airline operations and the FAA notification process:

• FAA: Airspace Integration
• FAA Safely Keeps More Airspace Open During Most Florida Space Launches
• Impacts of Space Launch Operations on Florida East Coast Airspace Users
• Impact of Commercial Space Launch Activities on Aviation [PDF]

Video: Safe Integration of Space Launches

https://youtu.be/bTfEykjnbek?si=RiIaUCqefR6SwCbi

DJI will no longer stop drones from flying over airports, wildfires, and the White House and DJI Updates GEO System in U.S. Consumer & Enterprise Drones

DJI drone control software includes a geofencing feature called Geospatial Environment Online (GEO). It’s designed to preventing drones from flying in restricted or sensitive areas. DJI’s geofencing will now use FAA data instead of DJI datasets. What was previously defined as a Restricted Zone (also known as No-Fly Zone) will be called Enhanced Warning Zones with a warning that the operator can dismiss.

DJI says “this shift puts more responsibility on drone operators to comply with airspace regulations and avoid restricted areas.” The company also notes that Remote ID solutions make detection and enforcement “much easier.”

Lockheed Martin Approves Use of Synthetic Aviation Turbine Fuels for F-35 Fleet

See:

• Sustainable aviation fuel approved for Boeing-built military aircraft
• The Air Force partners with Twelve, proves it’s possible to make jet fuel out of thin air
• Twelve Announces $645 Million in Funding Led by TPG to Transform CO2 into Jet Fuel and Electrochemicals at Scale
• Twelve to produce 50,000 gallons of SAF annually at pilot plant, CEO says

From Twelve: “E-Jet® SAF jet fuel made from air with up to 90% lower emissions than conventional fuel. It’s a Power-to-Liquid e-fuel made from CO2, water, and renewable energy.” $645M in funding was announced in September 2024 to support the development of future AirPlants, which will supply Twelve’s E-Jet fuel to customers like Alaska Airlines and International Aviation Group (IAG).

Boeing Set To Resume 777X Certification Flight Tests

During flight testing, technicians discovered cracks and failures in the engine thrust links of the 777X test aircraft. This issue was first detected in mid-August 2024 on the aircraft registered as N779XY, after a five-hour test flight in Hawaii. The problem led to the grounding of the entire 777X test fleet, halting the certification campaign. The thrust link is a critical component that connects the engine to the aircraft’s wing, and its failure posed a significant safety risk. Boeing engineers replaced the faulty thrust links and conducted thorough inspections of the other test aircraft. The issue was resolved, and certification flights resumed in January 2025.

Mentioned

On Jetwhine: Flying Aero: One Passenger’s Experience

Video: CES 2025 Keynote with CEO of Delta, Ed Bastian

https://youtu.be/CV8V6oqP4pw?si=wCmRL4RucL8eqD2D

Remos

Crop Duster’s Wings Collapse During Flight

Jeppesen FliteDeck Advisor and FliteDeck Pro

From the Flight Safety Detectives podcast, Video: Hair-Raising UAP Encounter Shared by Pilot – Episode 252

https://youtu.be/nM0Q-hR6vGY?si=-aYTDIb2f4rK78Oq

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott.

We speak with a Partner at an aviation practice who advocates for 737 MAX crash victims. In the news, we look at the Azerbaijan and Jeju crashes, Boeing’s safety and quality-control plan update, Delta’s plan for an AI-rich future, and V-22 Osprey catastrophic failure risks. Also, favorite flybys from listeners.

Guest

Erin Applebaum is a partner in the aviation practice at Kreindler & Kreindler LLP, specializing in high-stakes litigation for passengers injured or killed in general aviation accidents and commercial airline disasters. 

Erin has devoted her career to advocating for justice and fighting for the advancement of aviation safety. She serves on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Boeing 737 MAX litigation. Erin is part of the legal team representing the 737 MAX crash victims in the federal criminal case against Boeing.

Erin updates us on the status of the 737 MAX crash civil litigation. The criminal case is ongoing but likely nearing an end. Boeing was found in violation of the deferred prosecution agreement but the judge rejected the negotiated plea deal. The families of the victims are unhappy because the criminal case focuses on the single charge of defrauding the FAA, and not on those who lost their lives.

Erin maintains a robust practice of litigating tort claims governed by the Montreal Convention, the global treaty governing international commercial flights. She teaches a popular aviation CLE course for other attorneys on how to litigate personal injury claims for international airline passengers. Erin has published a comprehensive update on the law governing international aviation claims in the highly respected legal journal of McGill University, “Annals of Air and Space Law.” 

Erin serves as Co-Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Aeronautics Committee, Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Aviation and Space Law Committee, and is an active member of the American Association for Justice and the International Aviation Women’s Association.

Aviation News

Russian Air Defence System Caused Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash

On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines ERJ-190 flying from Baku Azerbaijan to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya crashed in Aktau Kazakhstan leaving 38 people dead. The plane diverted from Grozny due to dense fog and ultimately made an emergency landing an hour later in Grozny. On final approach, the Embraer lost altitude and impacted the ground off the runway. Twenty-nine people, including the cabin crew, survived. Thirty-eight, including the flight crew, did not

IATA Statement on Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 says, in part:

“Civil aircraft must never be the intended or accidental target of military operations. The strong potential that Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 could have been the victim of military operations, as indicated by several governments including Russia and Azerbaijan, places the highest priority on conducting a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation. The world eagerly awaits the required publication of the interim report within 30 days, in line with international obligations agreed in the Chicago Convention. And should the conclusion be that this tragedy was the responsibility of combatants, the perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to justice.”

See also:

• Accident: Azerbaijan E190 near Aktau on Dec 25th 2024, lost height and impacted ground after being shot at
• EU issues new alert for planes flying in Russian airspace

Boeing Shares Details of Safety Plan One Year After Door Plug Incident

Boeing provided an update of its plan to address systemic safety and quality-control issues, which included:

• Reducing 737 fuselage assembly defects at Spirit AeroSystems through increased inspection and a customer quality approval process; 
• Addressing more than 70% of the action items from employee feedback
• Managing traveled work at final assembly with “move ready” criteria
• Adding hundreds of hours to employee quality and safety training programs
• Performing random quality audits of documented removals
• Mapping thousands of governance documents and work instructions for revision.
• Strengthening the Speak Up program to ensure whistleblower confidentiality and keep employees informed about the status and resolution of their reports.

US FAA will maintain enhanced oversight of Boeing after door panel incident

In One Year after Boeing Door Plug Incident, FAA Administrator Whitaker says “We have conducted an unprecedented number of unannounced audits; and we conduct monthly status reviews with Boeing executives to monitor progress. Our enhanced oversight is here to stay,” 

Delta hypes GenAI, new content partners in 2025 CES keynote

By Seth Miller (@wandrme.paxex.aero on Bluesky.) Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian described the airline’s future in his keynote presentation at CES in Las Vegas: A system powered by Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) will predict where it can help travelers and provide assistance. Bastian described it as “A thread across your experience, a GenAI-powered assistant that anticipates your needs and provides recommendations.”

Delta also announced some major IFE content partnerships, including:

• YouTube will provide “highly curated” ad-free content on personal devices and seatbacks that will include music, podcasts, and regular videos.
• Retired quarterback Tom Brady will host a video series called “Well Traveled.” 
• DraftKings will provide “gaming” offerings on the in-seat IFE.

Video: CES 2025 Keynote with CEO of Delta, Ed Bastian

https://youtu.be/CV8V6oqP4pw?si=wCmRL4RucL8eqD2D

V-22 Ospreys will face ‘serious’ risks from flawed gears for the foreseeable future

A Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) system safety risk assessment found that the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey fleet will continue to face a “serious” risk of catastrophic failure. This is despite actions to mitigate the failure of transmission gears due to an impurity in the X-53 steel used to make the gears, creating a weak point. The inclusions were estimated to result in a catastrophic failure frequency of seven per million flight hours. Serious risk is considered to be one failure per million flight hours.

True V-22 geeks will enjoy the technical details in the United States Air Force, Aircraft Investigation Board Report, CV-22B, T/N 10-0054.

Crash: Jeju B738 at Muan on Dec 29th 2024, gear up landing and overrun

The Jeju Boeing 737-800 was performing a flight from Bangkok to Muan in South Korea. The plane attempted to land with all gear up, slid down the runway, and impacted a concrete embankment about 300 meters (1000 feet) past the runway. The 737 burst into a fireball. Of the 175 passengers and six crew, two people were rescued alive, both cabin crew. The investigation is considering the possibilities of bird strikes and landing gear problems.

Black boxes’ from crashed South Korean plane stopped recording about four minutes before disaster, officials say

Video: Jeju Air back boxes stopped recording before flight crash

https://youtu.be/ZqPavpjJhV0?si=D_DjvJyA-md6OTPR

Mentioned

Mark Your Calendars: Cranky Dorkfest 2025 is September 13

In-N-Out at LAX

Meet the Quokka

The story behind the experimental collar worn by Luke Kuechly

From Brian’s most interesting flybys:

• Video: Toyota Tundra Commercial Super Bowl XLVII 2013 HD
• Video: Toyota Presents: The Tundra Endeavour – The Mission
• Video: Toyota Tundra tows space shuttle Endeavour
• Video: Toyota Tundra Heaviest Towing of Space Shuttle Endeavour
• Air Traffic Controller Accidentally Sends Plane Close to Mountains: FAA

Video: TIME TO BUZZ THE TOWER – Edwards AFB Tower Flyby at USAF Test Pilot School

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, David Vanderhoof, and Max Trescott.

A flight review of the luxury airline Aero, and a product review of the Bose A30 Aviation Headset.

Aero

Brian Coleman took a media flight on the luxury airline Aero from Van Nuys, California, to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Brian discussed the airline with Liz Mazzei, Aero’s Head of Marketing, and Mikael Pelet, Aero’s COO. He then shared his experiences with our Main(e) Man Micah.

Aero is a luxury airline based at Van Nuys airport in Southern California. The airline operates a fleet of 16-seat Embraer ERJ135 jets and Legacy 600 jets that accommodate 10 passengers. The company offers a seamless booking process and a concierge service. Cabins are spacious and comfortable with gourmet food and drink offerings. Aero provides an alternative for discerning travelers looking for a premium flying experience. Service started in 2021 with flights from Van Nuys, CA to select destinations, including Aspen, Sun Valley, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Napa Valley, and Cabo San Lucas.

Bose A30 Aviation Headset

At EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2024, Bose Corporation provided an A30 Aviation Headset to Hillel Glazer, our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Correspondent. Hillel is a pilot who owns and uses an A20 headset, so he was eager to try the new model as he flew home from Oshkosh.

The Bose A30 is a high-performance, comfortable around-ear aviation headset for pilots. It combines comfort, audio clarity, and active noise cancellation. In his report, Hillel describes the headset and its new features. He comments on the lighter clamping force, the easy mic side change, and the now-standard Bluetooth. Hillel has many positive things to say about the A30, and he also offers a few opportunities for improvement.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, Brian Coleman, and Hillel Glazer.

A longtime educator discusses getting an aviation education. In the news, companies partner to address corporate aviation safety and security, an A321 engine shutdown after a birdstrike, a proposal to remove ATC from the FAA, and when pigs fly. Also, notable flybys, AI flight controls, taking care of business on long flights, and an aircraft incident investigation on another planet.

Guest

Dr. Stanley Harriman is the Department Head of Aviation Science at Orange Coast College (OCC) in Costa Mesa, California. OCC focuses on getting students certificates that allow them to move into the workforce. The College partners with flight schools for those who want to become pilots and with Southern Illinois University to earn a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management. In our conversation with Stanley, we looked at aviation education, what students should look for in a school, and a tip for getting into the industry.

Degrees and Certificates offered by OCC:

• Aircraft Dispatcher, Certificate of Achievement
• Airline Transport Pilot, Certificate of Specialization
• Aviation Science, Associate in Science Degree
• Aviation Science, Certificate of Achievement
• Commercial Pilot, Certificate of Specialization
• Flight Operations, Certificate of Achievement
• Instrument Pilot, Certificate of Specialization
• Private Pilot, Certificate of Specialization
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Certificate of Achievement

Stanley earned a Master’s in Aviation Safety and a Doctorate in Aviation Education from Purdue University. During his time at Purdue, his research focused on cognitive learning styles, scenario-based training, and aviation human factors. 

Following his graduate studies at Purdue, Stanley joined the Aviation Department at Lewis University near Chicago, Illinois. He continued his aviation safety research by investigating nano-particle coatings and their application on aircraft windshields to minimize environmental effects on pilots. He also led a team to design infrared warning systems to prevent airport runway incursions. 

Along with his research, Stanley’s teaching experience involved many facets of aviation. He taught courses in the Professional Pilot program, Aviation Maintenance program, and the Master’s program as the Director of Graduate Research. 

Stanley sits on national aviation committees providing aviation curriculum ideas and reform, aviation scholarships, and aviation safety research. He has been a safety research consultant and has traveled the country implementing these organizational and cultural changes within various aviation institutions, airlines, and maintenance facilities. 

Aviation News

Aviation Safety Solutions and Corporate Aviation Security International Join Forces to Fill Needed Gap in Aviation Safety and Security

Aviation Safety Solutions is a Safety Management Systems (SMS) consultant, and Corporate Aviation Security International (CASI) provides specialized security services for business aviation. The two companies have created a strategic partnership to address security shortfalls in the corporate aviation industry by integrating advanced safety and security services.

Bird strike disables a jetliner engine and forces an emergency landing at JFK airport

American Airlines flight AA-1722 departing from New York La Guardia to Charlotte, NC, an Airbus A321-200 (N133AN), experienced a bird strike that disabled one of the engines. The Aviation Herald reports the plane “was in the initial climb out of La Guardia’s runway 31 when the right-hand engine (V2533) ingested a bird and suffered stalls. The crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet, shut the engine down, and diverted to New York JFK Airport for a safe landing on runway 31L about 20 minutes after departure.”

See Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States 1990 – 2023 from DOT/FAA and U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. The report presents an analysis of data from the National Wildlife Strike Database. Also The FAA National Wildlife Strike Database: A Research Tool to Improve Aviation Safety.

Proposal to strip ATC from FAA reappears ahead of second Trump term

Air Traffic Control is under the FAA Air Traffic Organization. Previous efforts have sought to move ATC from under the FAA, but they didn’t progress. The notion returned at a Senate aviation panel hearing.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flying to Mexico City Was Forced to Divert to Bermuda Because 100 Live Pigs in the Cargo Hold Made Such a Stench

The pilots of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight KL685 flying from Amsterdam to Mexico City contacted ATC and requested an unscheduled stop in Bermuda. The Captain reported that  there was “a lot of obnoxious cargo coming from pigs probably, which may have something to do with the oxygen environment in the cockpit, so that’s why I’m diverting.” Upon landing in Bermuda, the pigs disembarked and were taken to a “secure location” under the care of a veterinarian.

Memorable Flybys

From @Skippyscage.bsky.social: Video: Gulfstream IIB N779LC HALO4 final flight

https://youtu.be/5fiSaDKEjb0?si=nhk8o6z1elMJX20H

@kenmist.bsky.social‬ Canadian Snowbirds. “Earlier this year at OSH. Made my old Canadian heart swell with pride.”

@brentmo.bsky.social‬ – Terrafugia Transition roadable aircraft.

@dmvanderhoof.bsky.social The Space Shuttle Discovery on the way to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Chantilly, Virginia.

Mentioned

Discount coupon for The Air Current. $15 for a three-month subscription. Use coupon code AGPOD. Offer good through December 31, 2024. Note: This offer is not sponsored.

NASA Performs First Aircraft Accident Investigation on Another World

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, David Vanderhoof, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott.

The U.S. Senate hearing on airline fees, a Boeing employee surveillance program, the judge rejects the 737 MAX plea deal, Airbus floats a cockpit idea for Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO), and a study will look at how high-G flying might affect Naval fighter pilots. Also, ticket sales for EAA Air Venture Oshkosh 2024 and FlightSimExpo, Brian’s 2024 travels, fly-by-wire airplanes and smuggling Cessnas into Russia.

Aviation News

US senators grill airline officials about fees for seats and checked bags

The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing on December 4, 2024 about airline fees charged for baggage, seat selection, and other services. Executives representing American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines testified. Testimony included:

Airline fees – Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Blumenthal consistently referred to these as “junk fees.” In opening remarks, airlines characterized fees as allowing the consumer to create and pay for the experience they want – unbundling.

“Bag bounty” programs – Sen. Hawley was quite antagonistic. Frontier removed their program September 30 that paid gate attendants for checking carry-on bags.

Pricing – The Senators wanted to know why personal information is collected before the ticket price is given and the use of dynamic pricing based on the personal data. They also (unsuccessfully) probed the airline executives for the cost of the services covered by fees, assuming that price is related to cost.

Family seating – Sen Hassan and others argued for fee-free family seating and sometimes confused a fee and the ability to accommodate.  See the DOT Airline Family Seating Dashboard.

Loyalty programs – Sen Marshall characterized credit card programs as being about “voodoo miles” and the revenue to the airlines as a “kickback.”

Competition – Spirit Airlines Matthew Kline was very critical of legacy airlines saying Spirit is at a competitive disadvantage over slots. Also that the majors paid pilots to retire during Covid, then poached Spirit pilots when demand returned.

Overall, there was bipartisan demand that the airlines change junk fee practices, and two people should not be charged different prices for the same service on the same flight. It was evident that AI was on the minds of all, with airlines starting to think about applications and Senators afraid of what the technology could do.

Speaking for their respective airlines were 

• Steve Johnson, vice chair and chief strategy officer, American Airlines; 
• Peter Carter, chief external affairs officer, Delta Air Lines; 
• Andrew Nocella, EVP and chief commercial officer, United Airlines; 
• Robert Schroeter, SVP, chief commercial officer, Frontier Airlines; 
• and Matthew Klein, EVP and chief commercial officer, Spirit Airlines

See also Airline executives blasted at Senate hearing over carrier fees

Video: Airline executives testify on junk fees before Senate committee

https://www.youtube.com/live/jYNbu7E8gj8?si=VygQRsTGV7J-BvLD

Boeing cancels its workplace surveillance program, will remove sensors

Boeing had started to install sensors “in ceiling tiles above workstations, conference rooms, and common areas.” The sensors included motion detectors, cameras, and light, heat, and noise detectors. Boeing the data on building use for “managing energy and space usage.” According to Boeing, the cameras could take only blurry photos and AI would analyze the occupancy of the space. Only aggregated data would be presented to management.

After details of the program appeared in the Seattle Times, Boeing employees reacted as expected. Within a day, a Boeing email stated the program “has been canceled, and we are removing the sensors that have been installed.” See Surveilling Employees Erodes Trust — and Puts Managers in a Bind

Judge tosses Boeing plea deal opposed by families of MAX crash victims

The U.S. Department of Justice brokered a plea agreement with Boeing over the fatal 737 MAX crashes under which Boeing would plead guilty to deceiving the FAA. However, a U.S. district judge has rejected the deal saying the agreement was “not in the public interest.”

The judge questioned the selection of the independent monitor by the Justice Department and not the court. In his opinion, the judge wrote “It is fair to say the government’s attempt to ensure compliance has failed. At this point, the public interest requires the court to step in. Marginalizing the court in the selection and monitoring of the independent monitor as the plea agreement does undermines public confidence in Boeing’s probation.”

Boeing and the DOJ now have 30 days to update the court on how they plan to proceed in the case.

See:

• US judge rejects Boeing plea deal in fatal 737 MAX crashes
• FAA administrator says Boeing still not producing MAX planes after strike
• Air Force awards Boeing $2.4 billion contract for KC-46 tankers

Airbus Wants a Radio Equipped Toilet in the Cockpit

The European Air Safety Agency (EASA) is evaluating how to safely implement Extended Minimum Crew Operations (or eMCO) with the regulatory processes expected to begin in 2025 and implementation by 2027. Under eMCO, Airbus is exploring ideas to reduce the number of pilots on ultra-long-haul flights, which might be three or four. Currently, two pilots remain on the flight deck at any one time while others can sleep in the crew rest compartment. With eMCO, only one pilot would be in the cockpit and the other would be sleeping. Pilot unions are not enthusiastic.

See eMCO-SiPO – Extended Minimum Crew Operations – Single Pilot Operations – Safety Risk Assessment Framework

The Extended Minimum Crew Operations – Single Pilot Operations (eMCO-SiPO) project is funded under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022. The project focuses on two concepts of operations:

Extended Minimum-Crew Operations (eMCOs) where single-pilot operations are allowed during the cruise phase of the flight, with a level of safety equivalent to today’s two-pilot operations. Offering at least an equivalent overall level of safety through compensation means (e.g. ground assistance, advanced cockpit design with workload alleviation means etc.) eMCO is, in particular, relevant to large aeroplanes operated in CAT [commercial air transport] operations, for which no fewer than two flight crew members are currently required as per the Air Operations Regulation. 

Single-Pilot Operations (SiPOs), where, at a later stage, end-to-end single-pilot operations might be allowed, offering at least a level of safety equivalent to today’s two-pilot operations provided that compensation means are in place (e.g. ground assistance, advanced cockpit design with workload alleviation means, capability to cope with pilot incapacitation etc.). 

Top-Gun Navy Pilots Fly at the Extremes. Their Brains May Suffer

“Odin’s Eye” is a confidential Navy project looking at the possibility of warfighter brain injury. It was originally created to look for brain injuries in Navy SEALs, but is now expanded to include TOPGUN aviators who take frequent high-G flying flights in the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The project will look at about 1,500 data points on brain function for the TOPGUN pilots to understand the cumulative effect and identify any injured pilots.

Brian Coleman’s 2024 Passport

Brian recorded a year-end summary of his 2024 travels. [4:14]

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Flighty flight tracking app. 

Avelo Starts Service to Portland, Maine

Registration for FlightSimExpo 2025 opens on December 14, 2024.  The 2025 Expo is June 27-29, 2024 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence RI. FlightSimExpo welcomes devs to register to sponsor, exhibit, and speak. Details at flightsimexpo.com/partner. Attendees can book discounted hotel rooms and airfare deals now. Details at flightsimexpo.com/travel.

Tickets are now on sale for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025, July 21-27.

Attempt to Smuggle Cessnas From U.S. Into Russia Ends in Arrest

DOJ press release: Russian National Arrested for Attempting to Illegally Export Aircraft to Russia by Transshipping Through Armenia

GSA Auctions

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and David Vanderhoof.

An AI governance framework for aerospace and defense, airlines pad flight times and improve on-time performance, record numbers of travelers over the Thanksgiving holiday, stowaways on airline flights, and executive-level cost-cutting at Boeing.

Guest

Tim White is the Vice President of Engineering and Technology at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), where he advocates for the technical workforce to policymakers. In this role, he leads AIA staff and members in identifying, developing, and executing consensus programs and activities aimed at enhancing cost savings, performance, and efficiency within the aerospace and defense industry.

AIA Unveils AI Flight Plan Documenting Best Practices for AI Governance in Aerospace

The AIA released the AI Flight Plan, Best Practices for AI Governance in Aerospace, a first-of-its-kind document outlining comprehensive best practices for the governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) use for aerospace and defense. The framework outlines the elements of an AI governance program that targets three primary usages of AI in aerospace:

• Business operations enhancement
• Generative systems design and development
• Integration into customer-delivered products, software, and services.

Tim has over 20 years of experience in operational and consulting roles within the aerospace and defense industry, having worked for companies such as Raytheon, Honeywell, and Bechtel. Throughout his career, he has contributed to commercial and defense products and held leadership positions in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality. Most recently, he has collaborated with advanced technology companies like Interos and Mosaic Data Sciences, focusing on delivering cutting-edge solutions in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and digital transformation.

Tim holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University. He is also certified in Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, and Change Leadership.

Related articles:

• UK CAA announces new AI strategy for aviation sector
• IAG: How AI is Impacting the Aviation Industry
• GE Aerospace Develops AI Maintenance Records Tool

Aviation News

Airlines Are Padding Flight Times. It’s Not Your Imagination

According to a NYT Upshot analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics data, airlines strategically add extra time to their flight schedules, effectively “padding” their flight durations. This leads to a higher percentage of flights arriving on time or early even if the actual flight time hasn’t significantly changed. This improves airline on-time performance metrics.

Jammed Thanksgiving Flights Push U.S. Air Travel to Record

The Transportation Security Administration said it screened about 3.09 million people on Sunday, the peak of the busy Thanksgiving travel period. The previous record set in July was 3.01 million travelers. The TSA reports that their 10 busiest days were recorded in 2024.

Stowaway caught after getting aboard Delta flight from New York City to Paris

The woman, a U.S. resident, boarded a Delta flight from JFK to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and was discovered midair. She had been hiding out in the lavs and the flight attendants noticed the strange behavior. The TSA said the woman passed through a body scanner at JFK, evaded the document and ID check portion, had her bags scanned, proceeded to the gate, and snuck onto the flight.

The Delta Paris Stowaway Incident Keeps Getting Stranger – The stowaway was a 57-year-old woman living in the Philadelphia area. She’s a Russian national who holds a US Green Card. She requested asylum in Paris, which was rejected. The woman was placed on a return flight but pulled off after a disruptive outburst.

Is Delta the Official Airline of Stowaways? – This was not the only stowaway incident involving Delta Air Lines.

Flight Attendants On Delta Air Stowaway Flight Were Meant to Check the Toilets For Hitchhikers Before Plane Pushed Back From the Gate – Flight attendants “were meant to have checked the toilets for hitchhikers before the aircraft pushed back from the gate” and “Most commercial airlines have specific procedures in place designed to prevent precisely this kind of scenario whereby a ticketless passenger hides in an onboard lavatory before departure.”

Boeing’s new CEO Ortberg clips corporate jet trips in show of restraint

The 19 members of Boeing’s executive council have access to five Bombardier Challenger 650 business jets and two Boeing 737’s. To cut costs, CEO Kelly Ortberg grounded some of the corporate fleet and asked executives to fly economy on scheduled airline flights. For security reasons, Boeing’s CEO is required to avoid commercial flights, even for personal trips. But Ortberg is relocating to Seattle.

In other cost-cutting moves, Boeing is eliminating 17,000 jobs that include management and making a list of non-core businesses to potentially sell or close. The company canceled the lavash rooftop party at the Singapore Grand Prix, pulled sponsorship of the Washington International Horse Show, sat out a commercial and defense air show in China, and did not attend the annual meeting of Asian airlines.

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Hurricane Helene Recap from the Jungle Aviation And Relay Service.

AOPA et al. Update Complaint Protesting California 100LL Ban

Listener Adam on TikTok and YouTube.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and David Vanderhoof.

We talk to a youngster who sells the Polish Ekolot Special Light-Sport Aircraft. In the news, the Spirit Airlines CEO gets a retention bonus, an FAA review board will look at smoke in the cockpit after bird strikes, JetBlue plans to reduce the number of pilots, and a United Airlines captain delights passengers with pizza. In listener mail, we look at jet emissions and what the industry is doing. Guest Ethan Lin is a 13-year-old who sells the Polish Ekolot Special Light-Sport Aircraft. His family purchased an Ekolot Topaz (N717KM) S-LSA in December 2022 after his father decided to switch careers and become an Air Transport Pilot. Ethan and his father started flying the Ekolot together, and because Ethan loved the plane so much, he contacted the distributor in December 2023 and asked about becoming a dealer. He’s been selling Ekolots ever since. Because he is only 13 years old, his father has a role in the dealership, but Ethan handles customer service, selling the airplane, and coordinating meeting times. His father does the test flights with people who are interested in buying Ekolots, and he handles the financial side, including filing taxes. Ekolot Special Light-Sport Aircraft We discuss the difference between LSAs and S-LSAs and the proposed Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, which would redefine the light sport aircraft category. Ethan explains why his family bought the plane and what he likes about it. He markets the plane with the Ekolot Texas Instagram. Also, Ethan and his father attend aviation events, such as Airplanes and Coffee, a monthly fly-in in the Dallas, Texas area at Addison Airport (KADS). Ethan tells us how he learned the Ekolot’s specs, and about his plans to fly for an airline and sell planes “on the side.” He also offers his advice to other youngsters who have a passion. Video: Ekolot Topaz Walkaround https://youtu.be/ryNPVaMcBuY?si=VVIGcAXhFC63wreQ Aviation News Spirit Airlines CEO Gets $3.8 Million Bonus 1 Week Before Company Files Bankruptcy An SEC filing says Spirit Airlines, Inc. paid CEO Ted Christie a $3.8 million retention bonus the week before the airline filed for bankruptcy. The bonus is effective if Christie stays with Spirit for another year. Under the restructuring plan, Spirit bondholders would take a $350 million ownership position, erase $795 million of debt, and provide $300 million of debt-in-possession financing. The New York Stock Exchange delisted Spirit stock which now trades in the over-the-counter marketplace.  FAA plans to review 737 MAX engine issue after bird strike incidents Two bird strike events in 2023 with Southwest Airlines aircraft (one in March and one in December) have caused the FAA to assemble a review board that will evaluate the safety of the CFM LEAP-1B engines. After the bird strikes, smoke entered the cockpit although the pilots landed the planes safely. The review board will assess safety data and suggest fixes for manufacturers or airlines. These might lead to mandates. A Seattle Times article suggests that any mandated modifications could delay further the certification of the MAX 7 and MAX 10 models. JetBlue Looks to Trim Pilot Workforce Captain downgrades and base displacements are coming to JetBlue late next year. The airline says it will cut 343 captain positions out of the airline’s roughly 4,500 pilots. JetBlue lost $60 million in the third quarter and plans to ground more Airbus A220 and A321neo aircraft in 2024 as a result of ongoing Pratt & Whitney engine troubles. The airline is talking with the Air Line Pilots Association to offer early retirements. United Pilot Orders 30 Pizzas to Feed Passengers After Emergency Landing for Medical Care Pilot Scott Wardle was flying a United Airlines plane to Phoenix via Houston, but partway into the flight, a patient fell unconscious. By coincidence, three medical professionals were on board but Wardle felt it best to mak...

A contrails study by GE Aviation and NASA, an F-15E Strike Eagle downs drones, Iberia’s new A321XLR in service, the Phillippine Mars moves to its final destination, an airliner and a UAP come close together, Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy, and the environmental impact of private jets. Also, AvGeeks flock to Bluesky, a STEM author at the NASM, and F-35B trials on a Japanese flattop. The contrails of an Airbus A340 jet, over London, England. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone in March 2007. Aviation News GE and NASA to accelerate understanding of contrails The "Contrail Optical Depth Experiment" (CODEX) is a research project conducted through a NASA and GE Aerospace partnership to study the formation and behavior of contrails. Contrails are clouds of ice particles that airplanes can create when they fly through cold and humid air. Persistent contrails are thought to contribute to climate warming. The primary goal of CODEX is to accurately measure the optical depth of contrails, which indicates how much light is blocked by the contrail. In the project, a GE Boeing 747-400 creates the contrails and NASA's G-III research aircraft (a modified Gulfstream III business jet) follows and scans the 747’s wake with Advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to analyze the contrails produced by different engine configurations. This will hopefully lead to the development of engine technologies that reduce contrail formation. NASA Gulfstream G-III NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, operates the Gulfstream G-III aircraft, NASA tail number 804, as an aerodynamics research test bed. Work with the aircraft is funded through NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) as part of the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project under the agency’s Integrated Systems Research Program. GE 747-400 Flying Test Bed Since 2010, this former Japan Airlines plane has been used by GE to test new jet engines, such as the GE90, GEnx, LEAP, and the GE9X. The plane is based at Flight Test Operations (FTO) in Victorville. F-15E Pilot Recounts Having To Switch To Guns After Missiles Ran Dry During Iranian Drone Barrage An F-15E Strike Eagle shot down so many Iranian drones aimed at Israel that they ran out of air-to-air missiles. The crew was ordered to continue and use any weapon available, which left the Strike Eagle’s 20mm Gatling Gun, capable of firing around 6,000 rounds per minute. Operating this gun is said to be risky with small, low, slow-moving targets. In this instance, the F-15 did not stop the drone. Feel Sorry For the Flight Attendants: Iberia’s New A321XLR Long-Haul Jet Features Tiny Galleys That Even Contortionists Would Struggle to Work in Iberia is the launch customer of the Airbus A321XLR (extra long range) single-aisle jet. The airline is flying the plane on a Madrid and Boston route. According to Saffran, the Airbus SpaceFlex V2 galley and lavatory allows for 6 more seats in the A321. The Airbus Space-Flex galley and lavatory concept. Airbus says the A321XLR features a 4,700 nm range, 180-220 seats, and 30% lower fuel burn per seat than previous generation aircraft. The plane was launched in 2019 at the Paris Air Show. Compared to other A320 family aircraft, the A321XLR carries more fuel, has strengthened landing gear, and includes a revised wing trailing-edge flap for takeoff performance. Airbus offers two engine options: the CFM LEAP-1A and the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G. The first A321XLR was delivered to Iberia on 30 October 2024 and conducted its first revenue flight on 6 November 2024. The first long-haul flight with passengers was on 14 November 2024, from Madrid to Boston. Martin Mars To Visit San Francisco, San Diego On Final Flight The Philippine Mars is destined for the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. In preparation, the plane is undergoing taxi tests in Port Alberni, British Columbia.

A Robinson hydrogen helicopter, Boeing machinists' new contract, furloughed Boeing staff and impending layoffs, Jeppesen possibly for sale, incendiary devices at DHL, Boom Supersonic XB-1 test flight, shots fired at Spirit, and air tanker minimum drop height. Aviation News Unither Bioelectronics Signs Agreement with Robinson Helicopter Company Unither Bioelectronics Inc. (UB) and Robinson Helicopter Company have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to accelerate UB’s development and certification of hydrogen-powered helicopters based on Robinson R44 and R66 models. UB is a subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation and CEO Martine Rothblatt said “...we look forward to using protons from green hydrogen to drive the membrane-based fuel cell powerplants in our Robinson R66 organ delivery electric helicopters.” Robinson R66 (Courtesy Robinson Helicopter Company) United Therapeutics adds hydrogen to its electric helicopter plans United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that says it has been working on a hydrogen-powered R44 prototype for about a year and a half, and its first hover is “hopefully imminent.” In 2016, United Therapeutics began developing a battery-electric-powered Robinson R44 through a partnership with Tier 1 Engineering. A Guinness World Record was set in 2018 for the farthest distance traveled by an electric helicopter—30 nautical miles. UT also has partnerships with eVTOL developers EHang and Beta Technologies. Boeing strike ends as workers accept new contract The Machinists Union members accepted the contract with Boeing. Workers will get pay rises over four years. The union had demanded a 40% wage increase and restoration of a defined-benefit pension. The 38% wage increase plus a $12,000 bonus amounted to a 40% increase. The new contract does not restore the pension but promises that the next Boeing airplane will be built in the Seattle area. According to some analysts, the strike cost Boeing around $100 million a day in lost revenue. Boeing to repay furloughed staff, proceed with job cuts During the strike, Boeing furloughed some salaried employees, but CEO Kelly Ortberg said they would be repaid for lost wages. At the same time, Ortberg said a 10% cutback of the global workforce would proceed. A Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) spokesperson said it was informed that 60-day notices of job losses would be issued to its members on Nov. 15, 2024. SPEEA has reached a tentative agreement with Spirit AeroSystems on a new four-year contract that offers at least a 19% pay increase over four years. It includes provisions for greater increases if needed to keep up with labor market conditions, and a guaranteed minimum 5% bonus in the spring of 2025. Report Says Boeing Eyeing Sale Of Jeppesen As Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg looks to sell off non-core assets, Bloomberg quotes unnamed sources as saying Jeppesen is a candidate. Jeppesen is the world's largest provider of aviation charts and air navigation materials. Boeing may be looking to get $6 billion for the company. Boeing paid bought Jeppesen in 2000 for $1.5 billion. Boeing also owns ForeFlight but the Bloomberg report does not mention that company, Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S. Bound Planes Electric massagers that held a magnesium-based flammable substance were shipped via DHL from Lithuania and ignited at DHL logistics hubs in Germany and England. Security officials say this was part of a covert Russian operation seeking to start fires on aircraft flying to the U.S. and Canada. Boom Supersonic's XB-1 jet sets new speed record during 7th test flight Boom Supersonic plans ten subsonic test flights of their XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft before supersonic speed testing begins. Boom has now completed the seventh of those ten subsonic test flights reaching an altitude of 23,015 feet (7,

We visit the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum in Maine and speak with the Vice President and Operations Manager, and the Executive Director. In the news, more furloughs and cost-cutting measures at Spirit Airlines, the FAA’s final rule is out on powered-lift vehicles such as eVTOLS, a fuel top-off assumption leads to the loss of a Beechcraft B-60, the “doomsday plane” gets an official designation, and Boeing machinists vote again on a contract proposal. Guests At the Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum we spoke with Vice President and Operations Manager Jeff Smat and Executive Director John B. Briley. The Museum was founded in 2009 as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with a mission to preserve the rich heritage of NAS Brunswick (NASB) by honoring the tens of thousands of men and women who served here, educate the public about the history of maritime patrol aviation and NASB, and maintain a memorial for those NASB-based airmen who gave their lives in service to their country. The museum is located at 179 Fitch Avenue, Brunswick, ME 04011. Currently, the Museum and Memorial Gardens are open Wednesdays (10:00 am-4:00 pm) and Sundays (12:00 pm-4:00 pm). For more on SERE, see Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape. Jeff Smat on the flight simulator. Aviation News Spirit to Furlough More Than 300 Pilots as Losses Mount Spirit Airlines is experiencing financial difficulty and a second-quarter net loss of $158 million. More red ink is expected for the third quarter. Last month the airline furloughed 186 pilots and plans to do the same for 330 more pilots effective January 31, 2025. (Spirit has 3,500 pilots.) About 120 captains are to be downgraded. Spirit says it will sell 23 of its Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft next year. That’s a fleet reduction of about 11 percent. Energy Reserves and Pilot Training For eVTOLs Addressed in FAA's SFAR Rules The FAA issued its final rule for powered-lift vehicles, such as eVTOLS. The Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes - Final Rule adopts permanent amendments and a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for ten years to facilitate the certification of powered-lift pilots, clarify operating rules applicable to operations involving a powered-lift, and finalize other amendments which are necessary to integrate powered-lift into the National Airspace System (NAS). The Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes NPRM was issued in June 2023. Standing order to top off fuel tanks backfires on pilot In November 2022, the pilot of a Beechcraft B-60 (N51AL) assumed the FBO topped off the fuel tanks, per his standing fueling order, before hangaring the aircraft. But fuel was not added this time and the pilot landed in a cemetery when both fuel-starved Lycoming engines quit. The pilot and his wife sustained minor injuries. See Project Summary: Aviation Investigation - 3 Docket Items - ERA23LA050 from the NTSB. SNC Receives Second Boeing 747-8 for SAOC Conversion as Aircraft Gets E-4C Designation Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) now has the second of five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air for conversion to “Doomsday aircraft,” which become airborne command centers during national emergencies. These provide critical command, control, and communication (C3) for the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The E-4C will replace the current fleet of E-4B Nightwatch B747-200 aircraft. The contract notice says the award was for $13 Billion. SOC recently cut the ribbon for its Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) at its Aviation Innovation and Technology Center (AITC) in Dayton, Ohio. This 100,000 sq. ft. hangar is located near Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Boeing Machinists head to the polls in decisive vote that could end strike

We hear from participants at this year’s Cranky Dorkfest, the U.S. Marine Corps flew the XQ-58A Valkyrie drone with four F-35B fighters, American Airlines flew a B787 from Dallas to Brisbane in a 15 hour and 44-minute flight, a pair of corporate flight attendants are suing their employer, airlines are reacting to flight restrictions over Russia, and the Portland Jetport is replacing the firefighting foam with something more environmentally friendly. Also, a self-propelling ionic thrust wing, an exploding satellite, and thoughts on DB Cooper from an expert parachutist. Cranky Dorkfest 2024 Brian Coleman recorded interviews at Cranky Dorkfest on September 14, 2024: Melissa - Why she keeps coming back. Her husband is former military mechanic. Benny - A first-timer with a unique Boeing airplane-related telephone number. Jvan - He took home last year’s brick mosaic. This is his 3rd year participating. Matt Sauchelli - He’s shooting with a Nikon mirrorless camera and a long lens. Ben Grenuchi and Heather - From NYCAviation. Ian Petchenik - Director of Communications at Flightradar24 the live, global flight tracking service. Also, the co-host of AvTalk podcast. Brett (Cranky) Snyder. The man behind it all. For Those Who Didn’t Attend, Here’s What You Missed at Cranky Dorkfest This Weekend Aviation News Marines score aviation firsts with F-35 squadron, drone test and more A Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie drone completed a test flight last week at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Col. Derek Brannon, branch head for the Cunningham Group, deputy commandant for aviation said “The flight focused on the use of tactical data links to enable digital communication between the XQ-58A and an airborne four-ship of F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 and other joint aircraft.” XQ-58A Valkyrie, courtesy AFRL. The XQ-58A Valkyrie is a low-cost, high-performance, reusable unmanned air vehicle developed through an Air Force Research Laboratory partnership with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. This vehicle is an example of an “attritable” aircraft designed to be used for several missions, but built at a cost that permits it to be a combat loss. American Airlines’ longest flight set to be one of the most tracked in the world The American Airlines inaugural flight from Dallas to Brisbane in Australia was heavily followed on Flightradar24. Director of Communications Ian Petchenik said people worldwide “are especially keen to watch the livestream of the landing.” The Boeing 787-9 (N825AA), flight AA7, made the trip in 15 hours and 44 minutes covering a great circle distance of 13,363 KM. See Flight history for American Airlines flight AA7. Overworked Private Flight Attendants For Co-Founder of The Home Depot Claim ‘Inept’ Colleagues Kept Their Jobs Because They Were in ‘Romantic Relationship’ With Boss Two private flight attendants filed a lawsuit claiming they were overworked while working for the co-founder of The Home Depot, while “inept” co-workers had romantic relationships with their bosses. The two FAs, who quit their jobs, said they sometimes worked 26 days per month and around 90 hours per week. Why It’s Harder Getting to China As a result of the war in Ukraine, non-Chinese airlines are no longer entering Russian airspace, so some are discontinuing service to China, or reducing frequency. Demand for flights to China is down, and the cost of avoiding Russian airspace in time and fuel is significant. Virgin Atlantic is dropping its flight connecting Shanghai to London, LOT Polish Airlines is suspending its Warsaw-to-Beijing flights, and SAS plans to stop direct flights between Copenhagen and Shanghai. Chinese airlines are adding capacity. PFAS-free firefighting foam coming to jetport The Portland (Maine) Fire Department plans to replace the AFFF firefighting foam used at the Portland International Jetport with PFAS-free foam.

Airline sustainability with the founder and CEO of the SimpliFlying aviation marketing, branding, and communications consultancy firm. Also, actions by Boeing, the outcome of the American Airlines vs. Skiplagged.com suit, US airlines performing poorly in a global ranking, United Airlines and passenger accessibility, and the U.S. Army looks for a new heavy-lift helicopter. Guest Shashank Nigam is the founder and CEO of SimpliFlying, one of the world’s largest aviation marketing, branding, and communications consultancy firms. Shashank’s new area of interest is airline sustainability. Shashank explains that airline brand experience and engagement are longer than other products and services, especially with long-haul flights. The branding fundamentals remain the same, but how airlines build trust has changed. In 2008 it was airline presence on Twitter and Facebook. During the pandemic, it was health and safety. Now, airline sustainability has grown in importance. The Sustainability in the Air podcast explores what airline, airport, and technology firm CEO innovators are doing. Shashank gives an example of how creative financing is needed for airline sustainability. We also consider what Boeing must do to restore trust and hear about the very interesting company culture at SimpliFlying. SimpliFlying was founded in 2008 and has worked with over 100 aviation clients in airline branding, customer experience, digital marketing, crisis communications, and sustainability initiatives. SimpliFlying’s analysis and insights have been featured in leading international media outlets such as BBC, CNN, CNBC, Reuters, Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. Shashank is the author of Soar: How the Best Airline Brands Delight Customers and Inspire Employees and Sustainability in the Air: Innovators Transforming Aviation for a Greener Future. Look for him on LinkedIn and join over 4,000 Sustainability in the Air subscribers which separates the signal from the noise in sustainable travel. Aviation News United teams with United Spinal to strengthen accessibility Under a new agreement, the United Spinal Association will help advise and support United Airlines to improve the travel experience for customers with disabilities. The United Spinal Association represents 5.5 million American wheelchair users.  United Spinal Association CEO Vincenzo Piscopo said “This partnership demonstrates that accessible travel is a reality, and every step forward brings us closer to a more inclusive travel experience for the disability community. I hope to see continued improvements not only from United Airlines but also throughout the entire travel industry.” The Runway Girl Network reports that the FAA “is working to define the criteria necessary to allow someone to remain in their personal wheelchair during flight using a tie-down similar to what’s used in the automotive industry, and as the US Department of Transportation prepares to initiate rulemaking in that regard.” Boeing’s CEO Is Shrinking the Jet Maker to Stop Its Crisis From Spiraling With all its troubles and difficult financial position, some Industry insiders and analysts are thinking about a possible Boeing breakup or even bankruptcy. In a note to employees, new CEO Kelly Ortberg said Boeing has spread itself too thin: “We need to be clear-eyed about the work we face. We also need to focus our resources on performing and innovating in the areas that are core to who we are.” Boeing is exploring asset sales and pruning non-core or underperforming units. Boeing machinists to vote on new proposal with 35% raises that could end strike The new proposal includes 35% in wage increases over four years, a $7,000 signing bonus, increased 401(k) contributions, and guaranteed minimum annual bonus payouts. The ratification vote is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Why US airlines are loathed around the world - as they take up bot...

An aviator’s journey from a former commercial airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight examiner, and author. In the news, the SpaceX Starship first-stage booster returns to the launch pad, the NTSB reports on two B737s that were cleared for the same runway at the same time and the incident where an A350 clipped the tail of a CRJ-900. Also, navigating airline dress codes, an airport executive director resigns, and an air museum plans to expand. Guest Lola Reid Allin is the author of Highway to the Sky: An Aviator’s Journey. She’s a former commercial airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight examiner, and SCUBA divemaster. Lola’s work has appeared in national newspapers and publications, and in juried national and international shows. Her professional aviation affiliations include Women in Aviation International, The 99s: International Organization of Women Pilots, and the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. In her book, and with us, Lola shares personal aspects of her flying experiences and aviation career. She describes things she has learned from her student pilots, her relationships with others, the Cessna 150 she owned, and some particularly interesting flights she has piloted. Lola’s story is about how learning to fly gave her wisdom and taught her to live her life. She had to defy the societal norms of the era, such as the notion that “women belong in the kitchen and the bedroom” and "they shouldn't take jobs from men who need to support their families.” An adventurer who lived with the Maya in Mexico and Belize for three years, Lola has explored more than sixty-five countries in depth. When she isn’t backpacking Baffin Island, trekking the Andes or the Himalayas, forging deep into the Guatemalan jungle, summiting Kilimanjaro, or guiding a dogsled team in the Yukon, she lives with her husband of twenty-six years in a small community east of Toronto, Canada. She is a professional speaker and co-lead of the First Canadian 99s Education & Outreach Committee and for the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. Find Lola on her website, X, and Facebook. Aviation News Two planes cleared to use same runway in Nashville near-collision, NTSB says In September, Alaska Airlines Flight 369, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was cleared for takeoff at Nashville International Airport. At the same time, Southwest Airlines Flight 2029 was cleared to cross the same runway. The Alaska Jet aborted the takeoff, which blew out the plane’s tires.  The NTSB said one ground controller cleared the Southwest jet, just 23 seconds before another controller cleared the Alaska plane. Pilot of larger plane was looking away from smaller plane in Atlanta airport mishap, report says A Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Endeavor Air, a Delta regional subsidiary, was waiting on a taxiway. A taxiing Delta Air Lines Airbus 350 clipped the tail of the CRJ with it’s wingtip, knocking the tail off the smaller plane. The NTSB preliminary report finds the CRJ stopped 56 feet (17 meters) short of the hold line painted on the taxiway. As the A350’s right wing extends 106 feet (32.3 meters) from the center of the jet to tip, that 56-foot distance may have been the margin between a hit and a miss. Do Airlines Really Have Dress Codes? What to Know Every airline has a contract of carriage and these typically include a cause addressing attire. These leave a lot of discretion to the airline staff and each airline is different: Southwest Airlines: Wearing clothes that are lewd, obscene, or patently offensive. American Airlines: Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed. Delta Air Lines: When the passenger’s conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers. United Airlines: Passengers who are barefoot, not properly clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene or offensive. Spirit Airlines: Barefoot or inadequately clothed,

We talk with the Long Beach Airport Public Affairs Officer. In the news, watching racy movies on the inflight entertainment system, a fatal crash at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York, the competition for the main operating base for a fleet of Boeing KC-46A Pegasus air refueling tankers, and the AeroSHARK film that reduces fuel burn. Guest Kate Kuykendall has been the Public Affairs Officer at the Long Beach Airport (LGB) for over five years. She previously worked for the National Park Service and the Peace Corps. Our Main(e) Man Micah and Brian Coleman recorded a conversation with Kate covering various topics, including the airport's history, noise complaints, the new plane spotting area on private leasehold, and Corporate tenants at the airport, such as JetZero. Also, community outreach programs and tours, sustainability, and leaded aviation fuel for piston-powered aircraft. The airport’s annual Festival of Flight is scheduled for Oct 19, 2024. Aviation News Passengers on Qantas flight to Tokyo endure ‘super uncomfortable’ experience as racy movie is played on every single screen The IFE system was broken and the crew had to make a movie selection that would be seen on every screen. They chose Daddio from 2023 starring Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn. One passenger said, “Qantas played an inappropriate movie to the whole plane, there was no way to turn it off.” Another said, “It featured graphic nudity and a lot of sexting – the kind where you could literally read the texts on screen without needing headphones.” Experienced Aviator and Master Plane Craftsman Dies in Crash During Saturday Aerodrome Airshow Brian Coughlin, 60, died in a crash during an Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome show. He was flying a replica of a World War I Fokker D-VIII that he had helped to rebuild. A preliminary look at the accident indicated an engine fire during the airshow. Coughlin was a volunteer, an experienced pilot, and a mechanic craftsman who rebuilt World War I aircraft as a hobby. Bangor Air Guard Base Competing for New Refueling Tankers A competition is underway for the main operating base for a $1.3 billion fleet of Boeing KC-46A Pegasus air refueling tankers. The Bangor Air National Guard Base is one of the seven remaining finalists. The KC-46A tankers would replace the Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers operated by the Maine Air National Guard's 101st Air Refueling Wing, also known as the MAINEiacs. DAF announces seven candidate locations for KC-46A Pegasus MOB 7 The Department of the Air Force has selected seven bases as candidate locations to host the KC-46A Pegasus Main Operating Base 7. The candidate locations are: Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine Forbes Field Air National Guard Base (Topeka), Kan. Key Field Air National Guard Base (Meridian), Miss. McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (Knoxville), Tenn. Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base (Birmingham), Ala. Lufthansa Technik Upgrades LATAM’s Boeing 777 Aircraft With Fuel-Saving AeroSHARK Film LATAM Airlines Group S.A. will become Lufthansa Technik AG's first external customer in the Americas to equip its Boeing 777s with AeroSHARK film. Lufthansa Technik calls AeroSHARK “a durable bionic film that successfully mimics the skin of sharks and optimizes the airflow, thus enabling significant fuel savings.” The film was developed in conjunction with BASF.  Lufthansa Cargo, SWISS, All Nippon Airways, and EVA Air have already adopted AeroSHARK, with promising results. Mentioned Northrop X-21 Operation Airdrop: Hurricane Helene Volunteer pilots are flying supplies to trapped Hurricane Helene victims Martin J. McNally – Part 1 Airways, Nov/Dec 2021, “Terror in the Air,” Clipper 93, September 6, 1970 Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, David Vanderhoof, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott.

The mystery of D.B. Cooper with the host of The Cooper Vortex podcast. In the news, automatic takeoffs from Embraer, Southwest’s business improvement plan and the reaction by the activist Elliott hedge fund, the airship crash in Brazil, the Rolls-Royce electric propulsion unit, and the bad air travel decisions allegedly made by the Mayor of New York City. We also hear from Hillel and a listener about the Boeing Starliner, and from several listeners about executive jets. D.B. Cooper artist sketch. Guest Darren Schaefer is the host of the The Cooper Vortex podcast. Darren grew up in Woodland, Washington next to where D.B. Cooper is believed to have landed, and had been passionate about the mystery for a decade. In the podcast he started years ago, Darren interviews experts who have something to contribute to the conversation about the mystery, such as authors, pilots, aircrew, paratroopers, and skydivers. D.B. Cooper hijacked Orient Airlines Flight 305, a B727, on November 24, 1971. Cooper said he had a bomb and demanded $200,000 in ransom. Upon landing in Seattle, Cooper requested parachutes, released the passengers, and told the crew to refuel the aircraft and fly to Mexico City after refueling in Reno, Nevada. During that flight, Cooper opened the airplane’s aft door and parachuted into the night over Washington state. He was never seen again. This remains America's only unsolved skyjacking. Darren helps us understand why the public remains intrigued with D.B. Cooper after decades have passed, how “Dan Cooper” became “D.B. Cooper,” and how that helped the FBI weed out those who claimed to be Cooper. Darren tells us about Cooper copycats, available physical evidence, and changes to commercial aviation made to reduce airliner hijacking. That includes the “Cooper vane” which locks the B727 aft stairs. (Darren wants one so contact him if you know a source.) He also describes how the three segments of the DB Cooper community (aviation people, skydivers, and true crime fans) view the mystery. We note D.B. Cooper’s thoughtfulness toward the passengers and crew, and his apparent technical knowledge suggesting an aerospace background. Darren will be the master of ceremonies at CooperCon 2024 the annual DB Cooper Convention being held at the Seattle Museum of Flight November 15-17, 2024. Books of interest: The Skies Belong to Us, Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking by Brendan I. Koerner. Skyjack: The Hunt for D. B. Cooper, by Geoffrey Gray. See FBI Records: The Vault, D. B. Cooper and Key piece of evidence in D.B. Cooper investigation to be displayed at Tacoma museum. Aviation News Automatic takeoffs are coming for passenger jets and they’re going to redraw the map of the sky Along with other improvements announced at Farnborough, Embraer is introducing the “E2 Enhanced Take Off System,” an automated takeoff system designed for the company’s E2 jets. Embraer says “This automatic take off system produces a more precise and efficient rotation moment and flight trajectory, reducing the required field length and pilot workload; meaning more payload and more range from challenging airports. This gives the E2 best in class performance from airports like London City, Florence, and Santos Dumont. Adding 350NM in range from LCY for example.” Embraer has started flight testing and aims for approval by aviation authorities in 2025. Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs According to a company memo seen by CNBC, for the April 2025 bid, Southwest is planning to reduce service in Atlanta and cut as many as 140 pilot and 200 flight attendant jobs. Southwest will reduce Atlanta gates to 11 from the current 18. Activist hedge fund Elliott Investment Management continues to call for Southwest CEO Bob Jordan to resign. The CEO of Southwest Airlines called an activist investor's criticisms 'inane' Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said it is inane that Ellio...

A former Naval Aviator tells us about his life after Naval aviation, the content he’s produced, and the pivot he’s making. In the news, the optics of flying in a corporate aircraft, the Boeing Starliner is back to earth with a few problems, a new Navy policy for aviator sea tours, and noise complaints at Australian airports. Guest Rob Roy is a former Naval Aviator who produces a YouTube channel with over 100k subscribers. He’s also the founder of the weekly Flybuyer newsletter with curated aviation news that focuses on general and business aviation. It targets people who fly airplanes, potential owners, and enthusiasts. Rob’s YouTube channel currently includes videos of carrier landings and catapult launches made during his 2015-2016 deployment. We hear about some of Rob’s Naval aviation experiences flying the C-2 Greyhound cargo plane and training for carrier landings. Not this Rob Roy… The big news is the pivot Rob has taken with his life after naval aviation. He’s shifting his focus to making airplane walk-around videos full-time that will appear on his YouTube channel. Rob intends to create a large body of review videos for people who want to buy airplanes. If you’d like to have your airplane filmed by Rob, he’s created an Airplane Filming Form form where you can express your interest. And be sure to sign up for the Flybuyer newsletter and visit Rob’s YouTube channel. Here’s the video Rob mentioned when talking about the arresting cable that snapped during an E-2C Hawkeye's landing in March 2016 aboard the USS Eisenhower: Video: Cable snaps on USS Eisenhower during landing https://youtu.be/r-EHwYOfY94?si=zO93Cjtq13exFr2X Aviation News Managing the Optics of Flying in a Corporate Aircraft Corporate executives, athletes, pop stars, and celebrities often travel by corporate or private aircraft. This sometimes brings them public scrutiny due to the perceived environmental impact of their wealth or fame. The optics can generate unwanted attention. This article looks at why private/corporate might be used, the financial case, and using executive time productively. A study says executives are productive for about 80 percent of travel time while using business aviation and 30 percent while flying commercial. It's a good thing NASA sent the Boeing Starliner back to Earth empty because it had even more problems The Boeing Starliner experienced problems on its crewed flight to the Space Station and returned to Earth without the astronauts. The capsule did stick the landing, but other problems surfaced. An additional thruster failed (5 of 28 had failed when Starliner docked) and the Starliner guidance system temporarily blacked out. The thruster failures were attributed to Teflon seals swelling under heat and blocking propellant flow. The helium leaks compounded the situation. A software glitch caused the temporary blackout of the Starliner guidance system during reentry. Boeing’s space and defense chief exits in new CEO’s first executive move New CEO Kelly Ortberg has removed Boeing’s head of its space and defense unit, effective immediately. Steve Parker, the unit's chief operating officer, will assume the position until a replacement is named. Starliner has cost Boeing $1.6 billion in overruns since 2016, according to a Reuters analysis of securities filings. Navy will force aviators to remain in service to complete sea tours The US Navy wants to increase aviation community retention and will require naval aviators to serve a pair of two-year sea tours. The new policy applies to officers serving on their first shore tour with a projected rotation date of October 2025 and beyond. It is reported that about 25% of unrestricted line aviators want to leave the Navy after their minimum service requirement. Some even request to leave the Navy when their second two-year sea tour is underway. A Naval Air Forces spokesperson says the new policy will extend most officer's servi...