Airplane Geeks Podcast

A human factors and ergonomic expert explains how the comfort and safety of airline seats are related. We also talk with the founder and CEO of LiveATC.net and present our traditional Labor Day message.

Airline contact centers, Top Gun Maverick, Boeing and Airbus delivery problems, new aircraft carrier, avionics market report, Air France pilots.

Two woman aviators: An insurance claims adjuster who became a B777 pilot, and a Marine MV-22 pilot in training. Also, DOT wants action from the airlines, an Apple AirTag leads police to a bag thief, two pilots reportedly fell asleep, and seaplane service in the eastern U.S.

AI digital co-pilot, 787 delivery, personal eVTOL, USAF eVTOL training, A-10 updates, partnering for pilots, pilot shortage, B-52 variant.

Earning pilot’s license late in life, helping women become pilots, Cirrus Aircraft CEO, F/A landing injury, mother/daughter flying first, passenger refund NPRM, FAA seeks seat size comments, JetBlue turnover, flight cancellations and delays.

Inside look at a 737 plane crash from a flight attendant. JetBlue 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.

Aviation training at UMA, orders at Farnborough, Delta TechOps, fighter market forecast, open fan engine demonstrator, KC-46 co-pilots, electronic bag tags, bad airline pilots, travel demand and airline capacity.

Fly-in conversations, lost baggage woes, airports limiting passenger volume, and a missed runway crash investigation.

This episode is dedicated to the Boeing 707 with guest from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute which displays a Boeing VC-137C used as Air Force One for seven U.S. presidents.

Flight delays and cancellations, long lines, higher fares, and travel woes with Johnny Jet. Also, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta tips, Spurwink Farm International Fly-In, PlaneTags Festival, ultra-efficient business plane.

Air Force One paint scheme and production problems, F-35 Aggressors, Israeli extended range F-35s, Delta “juniority benefit,” Piedmont wage increases, U.S. Navy safety stand-down.

The B-1 BONE bomber, certifying the 737 Max, NGAD, Germany heavy-lift helicopter, piloting an A330 while sleeping, prison time for unruly passenger, staff shortages at European airports.

FAA IASA program, Bombardier’s biz jet strategy, another AN-225, American/Sabre antitrust verdict, ALPA and pilot retirement age, Southwest safety defect lawsuit, Facebook scam, NEXUS interview report.

Remembering Glen Towler, pilot shortage, Icelandic Air, air mobility, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Boeing E-7, airborne nuclear command and control, aviation media awards, careers, eVTOL certification, BA pilots, 1,500-hour rule, electric seaglider.

How aviation weather intelligence affects airlines and airports, the FAA wants radio altimeters replaced, Easyjet has a solution to fly with less crew, Spirit Airlines says no to JetBlue, an electric airplane first, jail time for some unruly passengers, and Virgin Atlantic flight training requirements. Guest Scott Gilmore is the Global Vice President and GM of Aviation at Tomorrow.io, a company that provides an aviation weather and climate security platform. Scott has over 40 years in the aviation industry, including 27 as a pilot. He drives Tomorrow.io’s aviation go-to-market offerings, including sales activity, revenue management, and the product roadmap. Scott explains the sources and uses of aviation weather data, and how weather intelligence results in fewer turnbacks, more payload, and better fuel load. He also tells us about the impact on airport ground staffing and de-icing planning. Tomorrow.io is deploying its own constellation of LEO weather satellites equipped with radar and microwave sounders. This will provide global coverage with a significantly improved refresh rate. Scott describes the goal of being able to machine generate a custom “TAF” (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) for any selected location. It’s with noting that the non-profit TomorrowNow.org is committed to helping vulnerable populations adapt to the climate changes that are happening now. Prior to Tomorrow.io, Scott served as the Head of Flight Deck Solutions with The Weather Company, an IBM Business; Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships at the International Air Transport Association (IATA); and Director Of Business Development Airline Industry Solutions, and Head Of Application Development Aircraft Mission Kit / Electronic Flight Bag at Unisys. Scott was a Senior Strategic Airlift Manager C-5, C-17, and Tanker Operations with the United States Air Force. He’s an FAA Rated Flight Engineer with over 21,000 hours in the flight deck, an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, and a member of the American Association of Airport Executives. Aviation News FAA wants U.S. airlines to retrofit, replace radio altimeters The FAA wants to establish "an achievable timeframe to retrofit/replace radar altimeters in the U.S. fleet" due to possible interference from C-Band 5G wireless service. So they are meeting with telecom and airline industry officials where they can hear "options and commit to actions necessary to meet these objectives." EasyJet to take out seats so it can fly with fewer crew Staff shortages are affecting commercial flight schedules globally and EasyJet has a solution to reduce its cabin crew from four to three legally: Take out the back row of seats in its A319 fleet. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates the number of cabin crew based on seats, not passengers on board. Nigerian airlines are threatening to ground domestic flights amid soaring jet fuel prices Nine Nigerian airlines issued a statement saying that the cost of imported jet fuel had increased nearly fourfold as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that they are threatening to stop domestic flights. Airline operating costs have increased from about 40% to nearly 95% Frustrated Alaska Airlines Pilots to Vote on Strike Alaska Airlines pilots have been without a contract for some three years. Pilots started voting on May 9 on whether to strike. Balloting will end on May 25. The Air Line Pilots Association is seeking higher pay and better scheduling for its pilots. Spirit Airlines rejects JetBlue’s buyout bid,