Aviation Week’s Check 6 Podcast

The commercial aviation supply chain is at a crossroads. In this sponsored podcast two McKinsey & Co. experts explain why—and what it means for the next generation of single-aisle aircraft.

Read More: Commercial Aerospace At A Crossroads: Balancing the Present and the Future

Amid growing skepticism that airlines can achieve net zero emissions in 2050, a report lays out a road map for rapidly scaling up sustainable aviation fuels. Listen in as one of those skeptics, Aviation Week’s Graham Warwick, talks with Claudia Galea, a co-author of that report, which was put together by the World Economic Forum and Kearney.

Thank you to our sponsor GE Aerospace. Find out more at GEAerospace.com

Airbus is really excited about an open-rotor engine. Boeing not so much. Listen in as Aviation Week's Guy Norris explains the background behind his recent story on Boeing's current assessment of CFM International's RISE open fan concept. He is joined by colleagues Jens Flottau, who weighs in on the strategic implications, and Sean Broderick, who provides an update on how Pratt & Whitney is managing issues with its GTF engine. Hosted by Joe Anselmo.

As the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' flagship Aviation Forum and Ascend conferences come together for the first time in Las Vegas, Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Graham Warwick and Garrett Reim review some of the cutting-edge developments shared there.

Kelly Ortberg has a stellar track record as an aerospace CEO, but he faces momentous challenges in Seattle.

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Michael Bruno discuss Ortberg's appointment with guests Kevin Michaels, a contributing columnist and managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, and analyst Scott Mikus, who covers aerospace and defense at Melius Research.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Tony Osborne and Brian Everstine discuss their highlights from Farnborough Airshow, sharing their thoughts on GCAP, CCAs, FLRAA, tankers and more.

At Farnborough Airshow 2024, an absence of new aircraft orders spoke volumes. Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Jens Flottau, Guy Norris and Daniel Williams analyze the week, breaking down the deals that did take place and sharing the buzz from airlines, suppliers and manufacturers. 

The NATO Summit in Washington and Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference in London both had Cold War undertones. Listen in as editors Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble unpack why long-range missiles in Europe and deterrence are back on the national security agenda. 

Listen in to hear from Accenture leaders John Schmidt and Joyce Kline on why supply chain and workforce challenges remain vexing, but technological solutions such as generative AI point to a brighter future in this sponsored podcast.

In the defense industry, all eyes are on the UK in July for RIAT and Farnborough. Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Tony Osborne and Craig Caffrey kick off the conversation with a special episode about the British elections and what they (and those in France) mean for A&D.

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Sean Broderick and Jens Flottau unpack a week that started with a unique media briefing at Boeing's Renton facility and ended with the purchase of Spirit AeroSystems.

U..S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall cast doubt on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program in an interview with Aviation Week. Listen in as editors Brian Everstine, Steve Trimble and Robert Wall break down what we know—and what we don't know.

Aviation Week editors go back through the archives to the origins of supersonic flight, revisiting key programs and exploring the issues that are still challenging high-speed aircraft designers today.

Check 6 Revisits delves into Aviation Week's more than 100-year archive. Subscribers can explore our archive here and read key Aviation Week articles relating to this podcast here: 

• Letter from Oklahoma City resident on Project Bongo (AW&ST, March 2, 1964, p. 98)
• Sonic Boom Report Expected in October (AW&ST, July 13, 1964, p. 28)
• Boom Restrictions May Swell SST Costs (AW&ST, Aug. 3, 1964, p. 38)
• Concorde is Coming (AW&ST, Feb. 8, 1971, p. 11) 

Audio Clips:

March 2, 1969: Concorde's first Toulouse test flight (BBC)

June 5, 1963: President John F. Kennedy spoke at U.S. Air Force Academy (JFK Library)

June 4, 1963: JFK phone call to Treasury Secretary C. Douglas Dillon (JFK Library)

Airlines are on the verge of placing hundreds of orders for widebody jets. Listen is as Aviation Week Network's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau, Lori Ranson and Daniel Williams discuss what’s behind the impending order boom.

Read Jens' article here: Multiple Airlines Prepare Large Widebody Orders

Check 6 will be back with a regular episode next week. Today we are sharing an episode of Aviation Week's MRO Podcast.

Listen in to hear Aviation Week Network editors James Pozzi, Lindsay Bjerregaard and Michael Bruno discuss the novel applications MROs are finding for generative AI and the technology’s workforce implications.

Read Lindsay's article: AI Fever Sweeps MRO, But Will Excitement Last?

You can follow the MRO Podcast wherever you get Check 6.

Listen in as Aviation Week editors Robert Wall, Steve Trimble and Tony Osborne discuss the GAO's recent report on the F-35 and explain what's hampering the now $2 trillion program.

In 2021 airlines pledged to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Aviation Week experts debate their progress so far and what approach should be taken going forward ahead of airline CEOs convening in Dubai for IATA's AGM at the start of June.

Eliminating contrails would cut aviation's climate impact by half, but can it be done? Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Thierry Dubois and Graham Warwick are joined by NASA scientist Richard Moore who shares the latest research on a problem that some consider to be the low-hanging fruit of sustainability.

A full transcript of this podcast will be available here.

Read Guy's story about the last flight of NASA's DC-8 and see video of it chasing contrails here.

According to new Accenture reports this year, Gen AI is poised to provide the most significant economic uplift and change to work since the agricultural and industrial revolutions, and it will lead to a reinvention of work with more—not less—human-centric work processes.

In this sponsored podcast Aviation Week talks with Accenture aerospace and defense practice leaders on how aerospace and defense businesses are using AI now.

The last company to take on Airbus and Boeing was crushed, but market conditions could be ripe for another challenger. Bank of America analyst Ron Epstein joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau and Guy Norris to discuss what Embraer might do.

Aviation Week subscribers can read more:

• Airbus, Boeing And Embraer Begin Defining Next Narrowbodies
• Embraer CEO: Next Development Program Decision To Come ‘In A Couple Of Years’
• Opinion: Industry Must Make Developing A New Aircraft Affordable

Investors have ploughed billions of dollars into eVTOL ventures but now many are running out of cash. Listen in to hear Aviation Week's Jens Flottau share what he found on recent visits to Lilium and Volocopter. SMG Consulting's Sergio Cecutta also joins to break down the AAM funding environment and the advantage Chinese startups have. 

Boeing never built the 7J7, but its legacy continues to be felt to this day. Listen in to hear how technology once studied for the highly advanced program could re-emerge on the company’s next new airplane almost 40 years later.

Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Steve Trimble and Christine Boynton are joined by former Boeing 7J7 program manager Peter Morton to delve into the program. 

Designed in an era of spiraling fuel costs, the 7J7 was ahead of its time. The program marked a profound change in the way Boeing did business and designed its airplanes. Morton, who served as director of cost and program management for the 7J7, provides an insider's account and shares his unique perspective on the effort.

Aviation Week editors Brian Everstine, Steve Trimble and Tony Osborne assess the recent performance of Israel’s air and missile defense umbrella and discuss new missile defense technology needed to address potential and evolving threats.

Boeing acknowledges that production-quality issues meant the first 1,000 or so 787s delivered did not meet its specifications. But it insists the productions issues have been corrected, and that the in-service fleet is not at risk. 

A Boeing engineer has come forward to challenge these claims, sparking a new round of scrutiny for the beleaguered manufacturer. Aviation Week Network's Jens Flottau, Sean Broderick and Graham Warwick break it all down.

Industry analysts Ron Epstein and Richard Aboulafia join Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Michael Bruno to discuss the momentous challenges facing Boeing’s next leader—and who that leader might be.

Read: The Quarter When Boeing Broke

The paper trail on the secretive Xian H-20 had gone cold for a couple years, but recent comments from a PLAAF general suggest the program is coming along. Aviation Week Network's Guy Norris, Steve Trimble and Matt Jouppi dissect what was said and look at where the bomber would fit in China's air force structure.

On March 25 Boeing signaled the departures of President and CEO Dave Calhoun, Chairman Larry Kellner and Stan Deal, president of its Commercial Airplanes division.

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno, Jens Flottau and Guy Norris break down the seismic leadership changes and what they mean for the company's future.

Listen in as former Space Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale joins Aviation Week's Irene Klotz and Guy Norris to unpack Starship's third flight test.

Having seized the pole position in electric vehicles, Chinese industry is racing ahead in advanced air mobility. SMG Consulting's Sergio Cecutta joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Graham Warwick and Ben Goldstein to discuss how the market is developing.

Read Ben's latest story: Autoflight’s CarryAll eVTOL To Be Certified Imminently, CEO Says

Subscribe to Aviation Week Intelligence Network's AAM Report here

Talks to acquire troubled aerostructures supplier Spirit Aerosystems hold big implications for Boeing—and Airbus. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno, Jens Flottau and Steve Trimble break it down.

On the 60th anniversary of an LBJ press conference, Aviation Week editors revisit the moment Lockheed’s YF-12 was revealed for the very first time, and discuss what similarities that unveiling might have with recent developments of today...

Check 6 Revisits delves into Aviation Week's more than 100-year archive. Subscribers can explore our archive here and read Aviation Week's coverage of the "A-11" in the March 9, 1964, edition of the magazine: A-11 Proven In Reconnaissance Missions

Read the CIA memo on former Aviation Week editor Bob Hotz relating to the "A-11" here.

Listen to President Johnson's full speech here courtesy of the University of Virginia's Miller Center.

While Heli-Expo's organizers have moved to embrace eVTOLs, updates on a number of rotorcraft programs have stolen the headlines. Listen in to hear from Aviation Week's Guy Norris and Tony Osborne on the ground in Anaheim, California.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Chen Chuanren, Jens Flottau and Guy Norris at Singapore Airshow discuss Comac's starring role, the C919's prospects in today's market and what this could mean for the Airbus-Boeing duopoly.

Listen in as Aviation Week Network's Program Excellence Editor Mike McClary talks to two 2023 finalists from Honeywell and Skunk Works respectively as well as a reviewer from Raytheon about what goes into a winning submission.

Nominations for the 2024 Aviation Week Program Excellence Awards are open through March 30. Click here to find out more.

A father of the design and development of the F-16 explains the unique philosophy and processes used to bring the most popular fighter of the post-Vietnam era from an idea to a finished product. Listen in as Gen. Michael Loh speaks to Aviation Week's Steve Trimble.

Listen in to this sponsored episode as PwC's Sarah Senyo and Michael Holland discuss current aerospace and defense M&A trends, and insights related to driving deal value and synergies.

Learn more here: Aerospace And Defense: US Deals 2024 Outlook

As Boeing's 737 program has dominated the headlines, more details are emerging about Airbus' plans for a new clean-sheet narrowbody, but when could it launch and will it generate significant emissions savings? Aviation Week editors are joined by Sash Tusa, an analyst with Agency Partners and regular guest columnist, to discuss.

Aviation Week Network's Joe Anselmo sits down with AeroDynamic Advisory's Richard Aboulafia, Aviation Week's Michael Bruno and Bank of America's Ron Epstein to discuss aerospace suppliers and investors—and what the new MAX woes could mean for their businesses.

As bad as it is for Boeing, it could have been a lot worse. Listen in as our editors discuss the Alaska Airlines midair blowout.

In this sponsored episode Deloitte’s Lindsey Berckman and Ajay Chavali share their insights into the rapidly growing advanced air mobility sector and where it’s heading.

An Aviation Week/Siemens survey uncovers some disturbing trends as big labor negotiations loom. Aviation Week editors are joined by special guest Todd Tuthill, vice president of aerospace and defense at Siemens Digital Industries Software.

In this sponsored podcast leaders from Siemens explain how aerospace companies can embrace digital transformation and invest in market intelligence to manage their supply chain.

They break down the results of a Siemens supply chain survey conducted by Aviation Week. Watch Siemens' full webinar here.

As the year draws to a close, listen in as editors from across the Aviation Week Network reflect on 2023 and share what they think lies ahead in 2024.

As Boeing elevates a possible successor to CEO Dave Calhoun, industry guru Richard Aboulafia joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Sean Broderick to discuss the company's 2023 and its path forward. 

The year that ends Dec. 31, 2023, will hold some surprising results for the aerospace and defense industry, and the year ahead in 2024 will too. 

In this sponsored podcast Aviation Week talks with experts from Accenture’s aerospace and defense practice as they review exclusive results from their latest Commercial Aerospace Insight Report and Accenture’s own survey of C-suite executives.

A new scholarly book takes the wraps off the secret flight-test history of the U.S. Air Force facility in the Nevada Test and Training Range like no one ever has before. Listen in as Aviation Week editors Guy Norris and Steve Trimble discuss with author Peter Merlin. 

Merlin's voluminous work is titled Dreamland: The Secret History of Area 51 and has been published by Schiffer. More information can be found here.

Former NASA chief Dan Goldin oversaw creation of the station. What does he think of it now? He speaks to Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Irene Klotz a quarter of a century on from the U.S. Unity module docking with Russia's Zarya module to form the ISS.

India's airlines have ordered thousands of aircraft this year, but economic realities will keep it from replicating Beijing's growth miracle anytime soon.

Emirates leads a long list of commercial aircraft orders announced at Dubai Airshow, but the fortunes of Airbus and Boeing differed. 

Listen in as Aviation Week editors Christine Boynton, Guy Norris and Jens Flottau talk about the key developments in commercial aviation from the show.

Impressive fly-by-wire F-15 flying, unique displays from around the world and the absence of Israel are all discussed by Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Tony Osborne and Steve Trimble at Dubai Airshow. 

To read all our coverage download our ShowNews app.

Aviation Week editors take a break from Day 2 of the A&D Programs conference in Washington to tease out the intractable issues facing the industrial base—and some of the programs that are getting it right.

A new rocket engine for military uses could be repurposed for Mach 9 air travel. Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Graham Warwick talk with the founders of far-out startup Venus Aerospace, which has already raised more than $40 million from investors.

As U.S. companies rethink their presence amid heightened political tensions, some in Europe are doubling down on the Chinese market.

Listen in as Aerodynamic Advisory's Kevin Michaels joins Aviation Week editors to discuss how Western planemakers and suppliers are adjusting to the shifting geopolitical situation.

As NBAA BACE show opens, industry coalesces around a new campaign to reach net zero. Will it work? Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Lee Ann Shay discuss.

Tom Burbage, the former executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program during its first decade of development, discusses what it took to get the world’s largest and most complex fighter program off and running with Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio and Michael Bruno.

As Christian Scherer takes up the mantle of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business CEO, Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau and Tony Osborne are joined by Agency Partners' Sash Tusa to discuss why Airbus is making the change.

Capital Alpha Partners’ Byron Callan and Sam Bendett from the Center for Naval Analysis join Aviation Week editors Jen DiMascio and Steve Trimble to discuss challenges with the Pentagon’s initiative to manufacture masses of uncrewed vehicles learned from the war in Ukraine and posed by the Indo-Pacific theater.

Bank of America’s Ron Epstein talks with Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Graham Warwick and Michael Bruno about the business and technical implications of his call for Boeing to act fast.

Record at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio, Brian Everstine and Garrett Reim discuss Northrop Grumman starting tests on the next stealth bomber and industry floating multiple concepts for collaborative combat aircraft.

Listen in as Aviation Week editors Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Graham Warwick discuss NASA’s recent contract awards to study technology for high-speed airliners flying faster than Mach 2—and the one supersonic project that is still pushing forward, Boom Supersonic.

Aviation Week & Space Technology has covered supersonic flight since the first programs began. Beginning in 1964, watch the history of supersonic civil transports unfold on our covers in the gallery here.

As Russia pulls out of the CR929 and Airbus and Boeing sit on their hands, JetZero is showing that its radical new concept just might be for real. Aerodynamic Advisory's Richard Aboulafia joins Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau and Guy Norris to discuss.

The advanced air mobility market is at a critical juncture—and the hard work is just beginning. Listen in as expert guests Sergio Cecutta and Kirsten Bartok Touw join Check 6 to discuss the latest developments and what comes next.

The differentiator in military programs is shifting from platforms to software. Defense industrial specialist Steve Grundman joins Aviation Week Network's Joe Anselmo, Graham Warwick and Jen DiMascio to explain the generational change—and how it will transform industry. 

In this sponsored podcast PwC's Scott Thompson shares his insights on what to expect in the second half of the year across commercial aviation and the supply chain.

Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio, Steve Trimble and Michael Bruno discuss Northrop Grumman’s exit from the U.S. Air Force’s competition to replace the F-22 Raptor and the implications of L3Harris Technologies’ acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

A new report projects the smallsat industry will gather about $110.5 billion in market value over the next 10 years.

Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio, Garrett Reim and Irene Klotz discuss the meaning of that growth, new technologies for flying satellites in autonomous formations and the U.S. Space Force’s national security space needs.

The Boeing 777X looks poised to hit the market at the perfect time, but its long-range variant has been a tough sell with airlines. Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau, Guy Norris and Sean Broderick discuss the 777-8's prospects.

The definition of air power has remained the same for more than a century, but the doctrine, tactics and technology continues to evolve.

As the Russia-Ukraine war rages on and the U.S.-China rivalry heats up, Aviation Week invited the former "chief futurist" of the U.S. Air Force, retired Lt. Gen. Clinton Hinote, to talk what the application of air power means today and how it is likely to evolve over the next decade.

Read Aviation Week's coverage of GASCC & RIAT on the ShowNews app. Download here 

Tens of thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled in the U.S. Northeast over the past few weeks. Airlines blame the FAA, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has his eye on airline performance—Aviation Week editors Lori Ranson, Christine Boynton, Sean Broderick and Jens Flottau discuss the real reasons.

Aviation Week talks to George Nield, who led the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, about how to manage the risks of private space travel without harming innovation in the wake of the OceanGate deep-sea submersible loss.

This year’s highlights from Le Bourget include a massive airplane order and the looming AAM shakeout. Listen in as Aviation Week break down the developments.

To read all our coverage download our ShowNews app.

Hypersonics, missile defense, UAVs and next-generation fighters are in vogue amidst a surge in spending by NATO members. Listen in as our defense editors share what has stood out to them at this year's Paris Air Show.

We asked Dave Calhoun when the company is going to roll out its next airplane. Listen in to hear his answer.

The Paris Air Show is almost upon us. For updates throughout the event download Aviation Week's ShowNews app here.

Listen in to this sponsored podcast as Accenture leaders John Schmidt and Joyce Kline delve into key themes to watch for at the Paris Air Show as the industry returns to Le Bourget after four years.

Demand has come back, but a lot of workers haven't. Listen in to hear what that means for commercial aviation, defense and MRO as Aviation Week editors are joined by special guest Todd Tuthill, vice president of aerospace and defense at Siemens Digital Industries Software.

Ted Colbert, the president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, vows to bid differently for future programs in a conversation with Aviation Week's Jen DiMascio and Brian Everstine.

Airlines committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from their operations by 2050 at the IATA AGM in 2021.

As this year’s edition of that event fast approaches, American Airlines’ Jill Blickstein, IATA’s Marie Owens Thomsen and PwC’s Jan Wille join Aviation Week Network’s Karen Walker for a special edition of The Outlook With PwC podcast to explore what it will take for IATA member airlines to meet that goal.

The U.S. Air Force plans to award a contract for a fighter aircraft to replace the F-22 Raptor in 2024. Aviation Week editors discuss how the service got to this point, and where the competition might be headed.

Aerospace Industries Association chief Eric Fanning joins our reporters to talk about the FAA's leadership woes and chronic underfunding of ATC.