Episodes

A Michigan technology activation manager explains grants made to companies developing air mobility solutions at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. We also look at the NTSB preliminary report on the fatal Wings Over Dallas airshow collision, retiring the F-22 Raptor, a Boeing 777X engine issue, the Delta pilot’s “me too” contract clause, and an F-16 destroyed by a pilot. Gerald R. Ford International Airport Guest Charlie Tyson is the Technology Activation Manager at the Michigan Economic...

Thoughts on one-pilot cockpits, Frontier drops its customer service line, pigeons on an aircraft carrier, get ready for Real ID, an A-10 pilot gets a flying award, the A-1H Skyraider joins the Museum of the US Air Force, a Mooney crashes into a transmission tower, and America’s best airports. Aviation News One-pilot cockpits? Here’s what QF32 hero and ‘Sully’ Sullenberger think On November 4, 2010, Flight QF32 from Singapore to Sydney experienced a massive engine failure on the A380. Captain Ri...

An airshow crash involving two warbirds, Flight MH17 convictions, A350 carryon weight, GA airplane shipments, A-10s and B-1Bs as attack aircraft, an airport closure impacts seaplanes, G700 on a world tour, and a sustainable jet fuel plant. Aviation News Dallas air show crash: Two World War Two planes collide in mid-air A P-63 Kingcobra fighter and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress collided at a commemorative air show near Dallas. The P-63 pilot and all five occupants aboard the B-17 died. Video: ...

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opened the completed portion of the renovation at the National Mall in Washington, DC. The Museum calls itself “the world’s largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials.” It’s typically the most visited museum in the United States. The museum occupies two locations: The original location is in Washington, DC and the newer S...

Boeing won’t pursue a new middle-of-the-market airplane, propellers for aviation sustainability, high-wall super suites, passenger detention, large PAX and weight and balance, a KC-46 Class A mishap. Aviation News Boeing: “We won’t contemplate a new airplane” Concerning a Boeing MoM, president and CEO David Calhoun, said, “We won’t contemplate a new airplane; we won’t even put it on the drawing board until we know we’re capable of doing that. So this is strategy for us. Capabilities. And then ...

Ryan Jones, founder and CEO of Flighty, describes the flight tracking app that pulls together a number of tools for flyers into one application. It features fast push notifications, flight delay predictions, and pilot-grade data. Ryan is giving away lifetime subscriptions to two Airplane Geeks listeners. At the end of the interview, Ryan describes that if you install the app and leave a comment, you’ll be entered in the drawing. We really appreciate that Flighty is doing this for you. Follow @...

Isaac Alexander is the Chief Content Officer for Hype Aviation, a news aggregator and media intelligence service for aerospace industry professionals and enthusiasts. Hype Aviation was founded, designed, and developed by Robin Koenig in 2017 with the goal of making it easy to stay up to date on aviation news without having to follow hundreds of separate sources. The service organizes content into aviation, defense, and space categories. An extensive events database in those categories and a dai...

We have two interviews recorded by Hillel Glazer, our Innovations and Entrepreneurship Correspondent, and our Main(e) Man Micah. Julie Melnick The first is with Julie Melnick the founder and CEO of SkySquad. SkySquad provides an extra set of helping hands at the airport for people who need assistance. It’s a very creative business idea. Lift by John & Martha King Then we hear from John and Martha King. When it comes to pilot training programs, King Schools is legendary. Now the couple has writ...

Max Flight reports from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta held October 1-9, 2022. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Balloon Fiesta. Balloon Fiesta mass ascension. Interviews with: Katie, the Crew Chief for Team Coddiwomple, talks about crew chief responsibilities, getting started in ballooning, and buying a balloon. Coddiwomple Ballooning offers a unique specially-fitted wheelchair-accessible balloon. Jim Lynch from Destin, Florida pilots the “Whirlaway” balloon and descr...

Advances in aircraft towing systems, personal flying vehicles, and a story about becoming an airplane geek. Aircraft Towing Systems Vince Howie Micah and Max interview Vince Howie, the CEO of Aircraft Towing Systems World Wide, LLC (or ATS). We learn how this company is working to lessen the considerable cost and environmental impact of aircraft movement on the ground. ATS aircraft towing system. Films With My Father Our Main(e) Man Micah brings us a story he calls Films With My Father which ...

We talk with a mergers expert about the proposed Jetblue/Spirit merger. Jetblue/Spirit merger Amira elAdawi Amira elAdawi is an expert merger consultant who has worked with Fortune 100 companies, government entities, and international organizations on mergers and acquisitions. Amira has been featured in Digital Journal, CEO World, Startup Nation, and others. We talk about the details of the Jetblue/Spirit merger, or perhaps acquisition is a better term. Amira helps us understand the value of ...

We speak with four women working for air navigation services provider Air Navigation Solutions Ltd (ANSL). We also talk with the president of Hartzel Propeller. Air Navigation Solutions Ltd. (ANSL) Sophie Mills, Sharon Utting, Emma Hawksworth, and Vicky Bhogal-Hunt work for Air Navigation Solutions Ltd. ANSL is the air navigation services provider for Edinburgh and Gatwick airports. They also provide simulation training for Cambridge City Airport. We discuss their experiences as women in the a...

A human factors and ergonomics expert explains the importance of airline seat comfort and safety. We also talk with the founder and CEO of LiveATC.net and present our traditional Labor Day message. Airline Seats Dr. Mica Endsley Dr. Mica Endsley is the Government Relations Chair for the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES). She’s also president of SA Technologies, a situational awareness research, design, and training firm. She was formerly the Chief Scientist of the United States Air For...

We learn about airline contact centers with an expert in that field, and we talk with a Hollywood pilot and aerial coordinator who is widely known for his work on Top Gun Maverick and other major blockbusters. In the news, Boeing and Airbus are both having narrowbody delivery problems, a new US aircraft carrier reaches a milestone, a new avionics market report has some good news, and the French BEA investigates pilots who didn’t follow procedure. Airline Contact Centers Justin Robins Justin Ro...

We talk with two women aviators. The first had a dream of flying, changed careers, persisted, and eventually became a Boeing 777 pilot. Then a Marine pilot in training from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 tells us about flying the MV-22. In the news, the DOT wants to see action from the airlines, an Apple AirTag leads law enforcement to a bag thief, two pilots reportedly fell asleep and overflew the runway, and seaplane service expands in the eastern U.S. Tami Ueda-Heuer Tami Ue...

The founder and CEO of AeroSys describes the company’s digital co-pilot. Deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner resume, a personal eVTOL, USAF eVTOL pilot training requirements, A-10 Warthog modernization updates, Wheels Up partners with ATP to draw in pilots, the Regional Airline Association disagrees with ALPA over the pilot shortage, and the B-52H may receive a new designation. Digital Co-pilot In this Beyond the Press Release installment, we talk with Mirko Hahn, founder, and CEO of AeroSys. The ...

A woman earns her pilot’s license at age 68 and now helps women of all ages successfully become pilots. We also have an interview with the CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. In the news, a hard landing injures a flight attendant, a mother/daughter flying first, JetBlue’s high turnover rate, flight cancellations and delays, a proposed rule for passenger refunds, and the FAA asks for public comments on seat size. Maria Harrison-Dooley in the Diamond DA42 Guest Maria Harrison-Dooley is the founder of You Fly...

A 737 plane crash flight attendant tells her story. In the news, JetBlue plans to purchase Spirit Airlines, Piper Aircraft and CAE partner on electric aircraft, 2 million aviation professionals needed, FAA wants secondary fight deck barrier, EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2022 numbers. Miami Air crash site, courtesy NTSB. Guest Melissa Gonzalez Melissa Gonzalez was a flight attendant aboard Miami Air International Flight 293 on May 3, 2019. The charter from Guantanamo Bay carried military and civilian...

Aviation training at the University of Maine Augusta, Boeing and Airbus orders at Farnborough, Delta TechOps LEAP-1B MRO, a fighter market forecast, an open fan engine demonstrator, dropping the KC-46 co-pilot, electronic bag tags from Alaska Airlines, airline pilots who decide to exit the plane, and rebalancing travel demand and airline capacity. Aviation Training at the University of Maine Augusta UMA’s new Cirrus SR20 G6 UMaine at Augusta prepping a new generation of students for the airlin...

Fly-in conversations, lost baggage woes, limiting airport passenger volume, and a missed runway crash investigation. 25th Annual Spurwink Farm Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast Max Flight and our Main(e) Man Micah attended the fly-in on July 10, 2022, at the Spurwink Farm in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. This annual event is held at the grass strip on the Farm and is hosted by EAA Chapter 141 on the first Sunday after Independence Day. The fly-in is well-attended with a wide variety of aircraft flown in fo...

This episode is dedicated to the Boeing 707. Our guest is the facilities manager for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute which displays a Boeing VC-137C used as Air Force One for seven U.S. presidents. In the news, Lufthansa looks to reactivate some A380s, sometimes it’s a good idea to toss something into the cockpit, and how old planes are repurposed. Boeing 707, courtesy Boeing. Guest John Lehne is the facilities manager for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Instit...

Flight delays and cancellations, long lines at the airport, higher fares, and travel woes with travel guru Johnny Jet. Also, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tips, Spurwink Farm International Fly-In, PlaneTags Festival, and an ultra-efficient business plane. Guest Johnny Jet is a well-known travel and technology expert who provides tips, guides, articles, and a newsletter to help the traveler with ticket booking, points and rewards, and credit cards. He offers information about travel apps, products,...

Air Force One paint scheme and production problems, F-35s as Aggressors, Israeli extended range F-35s, Delta’s “juniority benefit,” Piedmont wage increases, and a U.S. Navy safety stand-down. Air Force One Aviation News Hot mess: There’s a problem with Trump’s Air Force One paint job Former President Donald Trump decided to replace the traditional Air Force One paint scheme with a different design that includes dark blue paint on the underbelly and engines. Reports say the dark color may cause ...

The fascinating development and operational history of the B-1 BONE bomber, certifying the last models of the 737 Max, the Air Force Next Generation Air Dominance fighter (NGAD), Germany selects its heavy-lift helicopter, piloting an A330 while sleeping, prison time for an unruly passenger, and staff shortages impact service at European airports Guest Kenneth P. Katz recently published his book titled The Supersonic BONE: A Development and Operational History of the B-1 Bomber. Highly research...