Episodes

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, TCAS comes to the rescue, averting a mid-air collision off the coast of Florida between an Allegiant Air A320 and Gulfstream. NASA is flying low over major US cities for science. And a United 767 makes a landing hard enough to wrinkle the fuselage. NASA AEROMMA NASA’s AEROMMA mission was in Chicago this week, flying the NASA Armstrong Research Center’s DC-8 as low as 2,000 feet above the ground. Dorkfest is coming CrankyFlyer’s Dorkfest and NYC Aviation’s Sp...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, very expensive news for Pratt and Whitney and more headaches for A320neo operators. Go First gets the green light to relaunch if they can meet specific conditions. A Delta 767 suffers heavy hail damage over Italy. And passengers on a British Airways flight end up with less than they bargained for. Up to 1200 Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines affected by defect Up to 1200 of the more than 3,000 PW1100G engines produced so far will need to be thoroughly inspected ...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a United 767’s escape slide escapes the aircraft just before landing in Chicago, Northern Pacific is off to a shaky start, and some airline worker unions are quite pleased while others are ready to strike. Escape slide escapes A United Airlines 767 on approach to Chicago from Zurich lost one of its off-wing escape slides on Monday. No one on the ground was injured as the slide landed on a house. The FAA is now probing why the slide deployed. And this isn’t the...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren returns as resident Avgeek-in-Chief to talk about his behind the scenes look at how airline safety cards are designed. And a United passenger had their journey from Houston to Amsterdam end in Chicago after their unruly behavior led the captain to divert the flight. The unruly passenger A United flight from Houston to Amsterdam was diverted to Chicago due to an unruly passenger. The aircraft dumped fuel in preparation for its diversion. ...

On this week’s episode, we give United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby some friendly advice, JetBlue tries to make nice with the DOJ by not appealing the ruling invalidating the Northeast Alliance, and Ian has some choice words for one news outlet regarding their coverage of a recent incident. Scott Kirby’s private jet in the middle of a meltdown United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby chartered a private jet last week in the middle of United Airlines’ operational meltdown. We discuss if and why that matters...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, the first major operational meltdown of the summer hits the US, a Delta 717 lands without its nose gear, and we chat with Zac Brown, founder of European Pride in Aviation Network (EPAN), about the work his organization is doing to make sure everyone feels like they have a place in the aviation industry. Flightradar24.com Beta is now Flightradar24.com We’ve released the new version of the Flightradar24 website. Check out all the new features today! Summer prob...

On this week’s AvTalk, we break down all the news from the 2023 Paris Air Show, from IndiGo’s record breaking order to the new propulsion technologies just over the horizon. The 2023 Paris Air Show IndiGo kicked off the show with a record-breaking order for 500 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft. At 500 planes, it is the largest single order in commercial aircraft history. But just behind IndiGo comes Air India firming its commitments for Airbus and Boeing aircraft totally 470 across a variety of ...

On this episode of AvTalk, Air India’s diversion to Russia ends up being about as easy as it gets. The FAA has a new acting administrator and the FAA reauthorization bill currently working its ways through the US Congress has some interesting provisions. Secondary flight deck barriers are finally coming to new aircraft. And Tecnam halts efforts on its electric aircraft. Air India’s best case scenario The worst case scenario that we laid out last week for Air India’s 777 that diverted to Russia...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, an Air India 777 diverts to Russia and we walk through the challenges of getting an aircraft repaired in a country under US sanctions. Boeing is dealing with a fresh 787 quality issue. And Seth Miller of PaxEx.aero joins Jason in Hamburg, Germany to report on the newest passenger experience developments from this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo. Air India flight to San Francisco diverts to Magadan, Russia An Air India 777 en route from New Delhi to San Francisc...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a passenger opens an exit door just before landing in Daegu, a new entrant for the most unrealistic airline business model emerges, and Boeing tries to kick start things ahead of the Paris Airshow. American to appeal NEA decision American Airlines CEO Robert Isom says the airline will appeal a ruling invalidating its alliance with JetBlue. Asiana’s open door policy A passenger on an Asiana A321 opened the L3 exit door just before landing in Daegu. Global Ai...

On this episode of AvTalk founder and editor of The Airline Observer, Brian Sumers, joins us to discuss the ruling by a US judge dissolving American Airlines and JetBlue’s Northeast Alliance and what that could mean for JetBlue’s acquisition of Spirit Airlines. NTSB hosts runway incursion round table NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy hosted a runway incursion round table discussion this week. Tumult continues for Indian airlines Go First has won a second victory against its lessors in court to kee...

On this episode of AvTalk, former NTSB Chair and member of the FAA’s recently formed Independent Safety Review Team, Robert Sumwalt joins the program to discuss the state of aviation safety in the United States and how industry and regulators are reacting to a recent spate of serious incidents. YouTuber pleads guilty to obstruction in intentional crash YouTuber Trevor Jacob has pleaded guilty to obstructing the federal investigation into his intentional crash of his Taylorcraft BL-65 in 2021. ...

On this episode of AvTalk, Ryanair commits to up to 300 Boeing 737-10 MAX, Go First receives bankruptcy protection, frustrating lessor attempts to repossess their aircraft, and we talk with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions Chief Strategy Officer Jenny Kavanagh about their merger with Britten-Norman and plans for a hydrogen powered Islander. Ryanair orders up to 300 737-10 MAX The Irish low-cost carrier placed a firm order for 150, plus 150 options of Boeing largest 737 MAX variant. We discuss the...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a swarm of bees delays a Delta flight to Atlanta. Go First declares bankruptcy and places the blame at Pratt and Whitney’s feet. And Ian wants to drive ZeroAvia’s HyperTruck. Covered in bees! An Atlanta-bound Delta Air Lines A320 was delayed in Houston thanks to a swarm of bees taking up residence on the wingtip fence. This twitter thread perfectly captured the unfolding scene. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200 Indian low-cost carrier Go First filed for ba...

On this episode of AvTalk, Boeing reports its first quarter results, more airlines are grounding Pratt and Whitney GTF-powered aircraft awaiting engine repair and overhaul, and a leaking lavatory jams a Delta 767’s flight controls. FAA unveils safety review panel The FAA has created an independent safety review panel to study ways to “enhance safety and reliability in the nation’s air traffic system.” The panel, consisting of former FAA, NTSB, NASA, and union officials, will work from May to O...

On this episode of AvTalk, Boeing stops deliveries of most 737 MAX due to a “non-standard manufacturing process” on the fuselage-vertical fin joint. Sudanese airspace is closed after renewed fighting. And some former Polar Air Cargo executives and suppliers could be facing lengthy prison sentences. Sudan airspace closed, aircraft destroyed Multiple civilian aircraft were destroyed in clashes at the airport in Khartoum last Saturday and Sudan’s airspace is now closed to commercial traffic. 737...

On this episode of AvTalk, Sheveluch is disrupting flights. The volcano causing problems this time isn’t as bad (yet) and isn’t nearly as hard to pronounce as Eyjafjallajökull. Airbus and Boeing report their first quarter delivery numbers and Aeroflot leans on Iran’s sanctions-busting experience for maintenance. Sheveluch volcano erupts in Russia Ash from the Sheveluch volcano on the Kamchatka peninsula is leading to reroutes and some flight cancellations. Alaska Airlines began canceling some ...

On this episode of AvTalk, a Dutch court halts plans to cull flights in Amsterdam, a SkyUp Airlines 737 escapes Ukraine, and the FAA has finally issued new certification guidelines for engine encounters with “medium flocking birds.” Dutch court halts flight cuts in Amsterdam A Dutch court ruled this week that cuts imposed by Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam for the 2023-2024 winter season to meet pollution and noise targets did not follow proper procedures, allowing airlines to continue operating...

On this week’s AvTalk, Ian flies solo with Jason under the weather. This week’s show is on the shorter side, with 100% less repartee, but we hope you’ll enjoy it nonetheless. Washington withdraws as FAA nominee Phillip Washington, the current CEO of Denver Airport has withdrawn his nomination to be the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Washington’s nomination was opposed mainly by Republicans in the Senate, but some Democrats had expressed skepticism of his qualifications a...

On this episode of AvTalk, the FAA tells pilots to fly better, ATC staffing is bad enough to allow slot waivers for this summer, and the 25 hour cockpit voice recorder is finally in progress. Plus, an update on the Flair Airlines 737 repossessions and Emirates debuts a refreshed livery. The FAA’s post-Safety Summit week The FAA issued a memo on Wednesday basically reminding pilots to fly better. On the same day, the organization also issued proposed rules for summer 2023 allowing airlines to r...

On this episode of AvTalk, Jason steps off a flight from Japan and immediately records a podcast. Flair Airlines says lessors and another airline are conspiring to take their aircraft. Saudi Arabia makes a huge order for its new airline Riyadh Air, and the FAA holds its aviation surface safety summit. FAA Safety Summit The FAA held its Aviation surface safety summit this week, bringing together industry stakeholders to discuss what can be done to “tighten the safety net” and make flying in the...

On this episode of AvTalk, our resident numbers expert Gavin Werbeloff sits in for Jason, who is in Japan this week. We take a close look at the US Department of Justice’s anti-trust suit to block the JetBlue takeover of Spirit Airlines. We walk through the new Flightradar24 beta and discuss the rare instance of a passenger death possibly due to severe turbulence. The DOJ finally files suit In a move expected by, well, everyone, the US DOJ has filed suit to stop the takeover of Spirit Airlines...

On this episode of AvTalk, a close call in Boston, another in Burbank, and an inflight break up over Nevada. Plus, Lufthansa reveals its new Allegris cabins and we pick through the seven—count ‘em seven!—different configurations of the Business class seat on offer. Links to click * Data from close call in Boston * Data from runway incursion in Burbank * Lufthansa new Allegris cabin Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for fu...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss Alaska Airlines’ response to two tail strikes in Seattle within minutes of each other, debate the wisdom of Air New Zealand’s turn back to Auckland last week, and find that missing curfew isn’t just a problem for teenagers. Alaska Airlines tail strikes halt airline operations On 26 January, two Alaska Airlines 737s suffered tail strikes on departure within just a few minutes of each other. According to reporting by The Seattle Times, that raised ala...