On this week’s episode of AvTalk, escalating retaliatory attacks between Iran and Israel and their effects on global air travel, congressional hearings sharpen the focus on Boeing’s problems, and United Airlines makes big changes to its order book. Plus, we’ve got stolen gold, expensive eels, and a unique competition. Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on...

Thousands of extra planes take to the skies and New Jersey experiences an earthquake. And that’s just through Monday this week. We then hear from a fresh whistleblower at Boeing who alleges that some 787 and 777 aircraft could experience structural failures. Plus, the NTSB issues its preliminary report on the United flight that went off the runway in Houston, Spirit Airlines announces pilot furloughs, and a Southwest 737 loses its engine cowling. Thank you for listening! Thank you so much...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a plane crash lands and then crashes into another plane that crashed a few months earlier. Pratt and Whitney may have a new problem on their hands. The FAA’s mental health panel makes its recommendations. And the French pilot union is calling for a strike to protest a proposed law that would limit their ability to strike. Helpful links for this week’s episode * Photos of the Safe Air 727 after crash landing in Malakal * JetBlue’s stricken A321neo *...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we welcome AIN Media Group editor-in-chief Matt Thurber to discuss how the aviation industry is reacting to GPS spoofing and jamming. Plus, major leadership changes at Boeing could take the company in a new direction. And the FAA continues to clamp down, this time taking a closer look at United’s operations after string of recent incidents. But has the agency gone too far? Helpful links from this week’s episode * Matt Thurber’s excellent article on GPS...

On this episode of AvTalk, an update on the inflight upset experienced by a LATAM 787, the problem with popular media’s hyper focus on aviation incidents, and we dig in to the report detailing what actually happened when an errant flight plan shut down UK airspace last August. Plus, we discuss Flightradar24’s new GPS jamming map. Helpful links and reading for this week’s episode * The Air Current: Pilot seat movement at center of LATAM 787-9 dive investigation * Are flights squawking...

On this episode of AvTalk, Batik Air pilots asleep on the flight deck, a LATAM flight experiences an inflight upset, and Boeing’s problems only seem to be getting bigger. Batik Air pilots were asleep for nearly 30 minutes during their flight to Jakarta. Over the sea between Australia and New Zealand, a LATAM flight experienced an inflight upset that injured 50 people, including 13 who required hospitalization. Boeing’s problems continue to compound with the US Department of Justice, the FAA,...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, JetBlue and Spirit walk away, American Airlines adds to its order book, and the NTSB isn’t pleased with Boeing. JetBlue and Spirit call it quits JetBlue and Spirit agreed to terminate their merger agreement, deciding that it would be impossible to meet regulatory conditions by the time their agreement ended in June. American Airlines expands its order book, but there’s a catch American Airlines order 260 narrowbody aircraft this week. Lots of attention...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, following a highly critical report by a panel of aviation safety experts, the FAA gives Boeing 90 days to explain how its going to get its act together. We review a collection of aviation safety reports, including the final report on PK8303. And a TCAS incident between Qatar and Ethiopian highlights the need for extra vigilance when flying over Somalia. Plus, one airline now has its own barbecue sauce. Section 103 Organization Designation Authorizations...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a Marathon Airlines E195 operating for Air Serbia strikes the ILS array on departure, rogue ATC on the radio over Somalia, Air Canada fire its chatbot, and updates from this year’s Singapore Airshow. Marathon Airlines E195 hits ILS antennas on departure A Marathon Airlines E195 operating for AirSerbia struck the ILS array for runway 12R while departing Belgrade’s runway 30L. The aircraft returned safely to Belgrade shortly after departure. Somaliland...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, United Airlines’ fleet of A321neos is temporarily grounded for the dumbest of reasons. Plus the NTSB comes out swinging at the FAA demanding new rules requiring 25 hour cockpit voice recorders apply to existing aircraft as well. And the preliminary report on the Atlas Air 747 engine fire points to a missing plug (no, not a door plug) and fire coming out the wrong hole. You must comply with all lighted signs and placards The small fleet of five United...

On this episode of AvTalk, we review the NTSB’s preliminary report on Alaska Airlines flight 1282, fresh quality issues affecting some 737 MAX, and Finnair gets out the scales to weigh some of its passengers. AS1282 preliminary report The NTSB released its preliminary report on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 this week. Plain and simple, the evidence indicates that the bolts that supposed to hold the exit door plug in place just weren’t there. Download the report here to follow along with our...

On this episode of AvTalk, we welcome back The Air Current’s founder and editor Jon Ostrower to pull back from Boeing’s immediate crisis and take stock of the state of the company. We look at the challenges facing Boeing, including regaining the trust of its regulator, certifying and delivering a slate of long-delayed aircraft, and eventually needing to design and build a brand new aircraft. It’s also fitting that Ostrower joins the show this week, because we borrow his phrase, “there’s...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a bit of a different kind of episode to start. And then its onto more Boeing 737 inspections, angry airlines, and a perfectly executed emergency landing. This episode of AvTalk was recorded on Tuesday, 23 January 2024. More inspections and angry airlines The FAA expands inspection recommendations to include the 737-900ER. This affects Alaska, Delta, and United for the most part. And for its part, United Airlines is not happy with Boeing in the least....

On this episode of AvTalk, we take a deep look at the actions by the FAA, airlines, and Boeing in the wake of the accident involving Alaska Airlines flight 1282. Working through the time line of statements, regulatory actions, and investigations we build a picture of what’s happened so far and what the next steps will be. We also discuss the ruling this week by a federal judge preventing the merger of JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines. From Les Misérables quotes to an almost poetic...

On this episode of AvTalk, Ian and Jason are joined by Nomadic Aviation Group’s Steve Giordano to discuss the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 accident. We break down what we know so far about the explosive departure from the aircraft of the mid-cabin exit door plug, how the 737-9 MAX fleet has been affected, and we close with a discussion about where Boeing goes from here. Click here for a transcript of this episode Associated reading Below are a collection of links that are helpful to have...

On this episode of AvTalk, we explore what we know so far about the collision between Japan Airlines flight JL516 and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft in Tokyo on 2 January. We spend time laying out the facts we know so far and then work through some of the areas of focus for investigators as the begin the task of understanding what happened and why. Companion reading for this episode * Flightradar24 data and other information regarding the crash * Aviation Week article with a good...

As we close out the year we look back on our a few of our favorite AvTalk conversations from 2023. There were many great ones to choose from, so visit our archive to hear them all. We’ve picked out a pair that were crowd favorites. First up we have our conversation with former National Transportation Safety Board Chair Robert Sumwalt. We spoke with Sumwalt on episode 216 as he prepared to participate in the FAA’s Independent Safety Review Team over the summer. The review team’s report came...

On this episode of AvTalk, we scratch our heads trying to figure out the story of a stowaway who managed to make it from Copenhagen to Los Angeles aboard an SAS flight. Stopped by a US customs officer, the man had Russian and Israeli identity documents, but no passport. And he could not tell the officers how he ended up on the airplane from Copenhagen. You can read the full indictment here. Also this week, Southwest Airlines is fined more than any other airline in history—but the actual...

On this episode of AvTalk, Jason is still alive, Ian makes his way home from Sweden, passengers on a Delta flight are waylaid in Goose Bay, and Boeing picks a Pope. Ian and Jason are back in action this week with all the week’s aviation news and some insights into 2023 and a brief look ahead to the coming year. Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Gabriel Leigh joins Ian in Stockholm to discuss his travels for the Flightradar24 YouTube channel, including a very exciting trip coming up in January. And we speak with Ned Russell, airlines editor at Skift about Alaska Airlines’ proposed $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. We dig in to the structure of the deal, why it makes sense, and what the US government might have to say about the merger. Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for...

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Jason checks in from Taipei and Ian sits down with Olov Lindström, Norse Atlantic Airways Fleet Chief pilot and the first person to captain a 787 to Antarctica. We learn all about the special preparations necessary to make the flight as ordinary as possible. Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us...

We bring you an abbreviated Thanksgiving week episode, partly because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but mostly because Jason is wandering around Japan on high speed trains. We have some updates on stories we discussed last week as well as some much welcome news for Boeing and its 737-10 MAX. And on next week’s episode we’ll be chatting with Olov Lindström, the captain at Norse Atlantic Airways who landed the first 787 in Antarctica. You won’t want to miss that conversation.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a horse escapes its stall onboard a 747 flying from New York to Liege. A panel of experts says decades of congressional meddling and underfunding of the FAA introduces undue risk to flying in the US. And the Dubai Airshow is Boeing’s show with orders for nearly 300 aircraft, most of which are for wide body aircraft. Quit horsing around back there A horse being transported aboard a 747 operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic escaped its stall as the aircraft began...

On this episode of AvTalk, we learn that the arraignment of the pilot who threatened his captain with a gun has been delayed—because he is on active duty military service outside the country. A Titan Airways A321neo was damaged by high-intensity film lighting, more PW1100G issues, and you could be in charge of the world’s most secretive airline. Links we said we would put in the show notes: * History of EG&G * PSA recruitment landing page for FedEx | UPS Thank you for...