What comes to mind when you think about air traffic control towers? Probably not how they can create opportunities for small businesses that make a positive impact in their communities. This episode of The Air Up There podcast examines how investments from The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) keep flights moving safely, people employed, and small businesses thriving. In this episode, we chat with Jeff Babbitt, a disabled veteran and owner of TJ&B Air Conditioning and...

On this special Girls in Aviation Day episode, we meet two young aviators who share their love for the flying community and give advice about how others can get involved. Sahara is an instrument-rated pilot attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She's seen dramatic growth on campus since her first class a few years ago, when she was one of only two women in the lecture. And Mia is a high school glider pilot, who was raised in an aviation family. Both reflect on their...

Imagine you're a passenger on a small plane and your pilot becomes unconscious. What would you do? That was the reality for Darren Harrison when the pilot on his plane went unconscious mid-flight on May 10. Darren had to quickly transition from a passenger to a pilot with absolutely no flying experience. Take a deep breath as we walk you through that exact experience we005ve dubbed "Miracle in the Air" in the latest episode of our podcast. It was a team effort to land the plane...

Mental Health Awareness Month is almost over, but our care and concern for the emotional, psychological and social well-being of pilots continues. We receive so many comments on our social media platforms regarding pilots' concerns about mental health. We see you, and in the latest episode of our podcast, we clear the air about misconceptions around mental health and flying. The FAA continues to make improvements around policies, testing, treatments and approved medication for pilots....

The FAA is accountable for how aerospace impacts our planet. We join businesses, other governments, and citizens on a mission to "Invest In Our Planet," the theme for Earth Day 2022. We will continue to take bold actions, be innovative in our approaches, and implement solutions equitably. Just last year, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released the U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. aviation by 2050....

It's Women's History Month and we're celebrating women in aviation! Before we glide into this episode, can we take a moment to celebrate the amazing women on the FAA podcast team who did all the groundwork to make this episode take flight? *round of applause* Speaking of gliding and taking flight, the women featured in this episode know all about that and were excited to share their experiences with us. We talked with Lorry Faber, FAA lead test pilot; Marissa and Aerial (how fitting)...

We've got the inside scoop for one of Alaska's most iconic events — the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race! The Iditarod race is celebrating 50 years, and FAA's podcast team jumped on the opportunity to join the celebration. The FAA is well connected with Iditarod officials who are passionate about all things aviation, and FAA is full of dog lovers, thus making the 50th Iditarod race the perfect topic for an epic episode of The Air Up There podcast. Are you wondering what the connection...

Our holiday wish — give flight attendants chocolate, not problems. In this episode, we provide tips on how to get to your destination safely and on time for the holidays. Maximize your travel experience and enjoy the magic of flight. Get the inside story on why it's so important to follow cabin crew instructions, how to deal with disruptive passengers, and how to prepare for flying with children, and more. Also, learn about what FAA is doing to prepare for major traffic changes during the...

The holiday season is upon us! Are your travel plans underway? Make sure safety is at the top of your itinerary. In this episode, we explore safety precautions you should take when you fly, as well as the dos and don'ts for packing your bags. If you're thinking about chartering an airplane, we'll help you learn the rules, regulations, and requirements so you can easily identify a safe air charter service. You'll hear from: Jay Sorah, an FAA Hazardous Materials Aviation Safety Specialist; Don...

The use of drones for fighting wildfires is a "hot" topic, with more than 6 million acres of forest burned this year. When they are used by emergency responders they have proven to help suppress and contain massive blazes, and save lives on the ground and in the air. Drones have revolutionized wildland firefighting, and can come equipped with infrared cameras and ignition payloads for wildfire control. The FAA works with federal and state agencies to find ways to support firefighting...

If you're interested in a career in aviation but not quite sure where you want to land, your future as an Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) (PDF) might take flight after this episode! Today, we're learning all about ASIs and their critical role in maintaining safe skies. ASIs administer, investigate and enforce safety regulations and standards for the production, operation, maintenance and modification of all aircraft. You'll hear from: Patricia Mathes, the new national FAA...

Climate change impacts the world we live in today as well as future generations. As with other transportation sectors, aviation plays a role in sustainability. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is rolling out Phase III of its Continuous Lower Energy Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program, working with stakeholders to decrease aviation's effects on climate change. Among other things, Phase III of the CLEEN Program introduces new environmental goals, including reducing noise and carbon...

Welcome to our third installment of the summer career series! In this episode, we're learning about pilots, and the work they do to maintain safety while flying. Pilots can be found in a variety of different locations and roles: flight decks, at controls, transporting passengers and cargo, or even flying drones. Interested? Aviation might be the career for you! You'll hear from: Jacqueline Camacho Ruiz, the author of Latinas in Aviation; Dawne Barrett, the leader of the operations supervisor...

Have you ever wanted to start a career in aviation? Well, becoming an aviation technician might be the right path for you! In this week's episode, we're exploring what it means to be a technician for the FAA and in the aviation industry. Technicians have the skills and hands-on training to maintain and repair a wide array of equipment and technology that pilots and controllers rely on for navigation and communication, flight-tracking technology, runway lights and much more. The...

Welcome to the first installment of our summer career series! We're answering your questions and doing a deep dive into careers in aerospace and the steps you can take to get started in the field. Today's episode is one of our most requested topics — how to become an air traffic controller as an entry-level applicant. FAA experts will walk you through everything from the application process to training at the FAA Academy and certification. For more information about air traffic control...

Aviation is for everyone, and the Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) is working to ensure that everyone feels included. During the DAC's last meeting, FAA requested that they explore a potential language change. For example, the technical term for drones is unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS. Unmanned. Now the committee is looking at ways to make that terminology gender-inclusive, because really, so long as a person is flying safely and following the rules, it doesn't matter what their gender...

On a flight back to his home airport in a single-engine Piper Saratoga, pilot Truman O'Brien ran into engine trouble. FAA air traffic controllers at the Portland, Oregon TRACON were in close communication with the pilot, offering him multiple landing options and working hard to help guide him to safety. But, flying at 8,000 feet, the aircraft lost altitude quickly. Even with top-notch air traffic control services, O'Brien had no choice but to make an emergency landing in the trees, deep in...

In Season 2, Episode 11, we spoke with FAA drone expert Danielle Corbett to gain a better understanding of how drone pilots can fly safely and in line with FAA rules. That episode is packed with lots of information that will help you to be a great drone pilot! In today's episode, we're talking about drone entrepreneurship. Drones can be used for a variety of business purposes, like photography, to survey agriculture, to conduct building inspections and a variety of other important...

Last year, there were nearly 7,000 reported laser strikes against pilots — and those are just the ones that were reported. In fact, laser strikes increased during 2020 despite a lower number of air traffic operations. Laser lights can pose a serious safety risk to pilots flying aircraft, and pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. Learn what a laser strike is, what impact they have on pilots, and how FAA partners with law enforcement to stop them on this episode of The Air Up...

Although our host, Dominique Gebru, doesn't know much about drones, she really wants to get one! Lucky for her, FAA has everything she needs to become a certified drone pilot. In this episode, she speaks with an FAA drone expert, Danielle Corbett, and learns the dos and don'ts of drone flying. Don't have access to your own personal FAA Drone Expert? Feel free to contact the UAS Support Center, where they'll answer all of your burning drone questions. The FAA has countless resources that you...

The FAA estimates that there are 664,565 pilots that hold active FAA certificates as of December 31, 2019. Of that number, an estimated 52,740 are women. That's just shy of 8%. Eight! Pretty shocking, and it's clear there's a lot of work to be done to bring greater gender equity to the field. But among that 8%, there are a number of bright spots, like “Plane Girl” Stevie Triesenberg, a young aviator and content creator. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson talks pilot-to-pilot with Stevie in...

Flight attendants serve a critical safety function in the cabin (no, they aren't just there to hand out snacks). But after years of decline, incidents of unruly passengers spiked in 2018 and from 2020–2021, they've hit record numbers — largely because passengers fail to listen to flight attendant directions about the new mask policy. In this episode we spoke with Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants, about what travel has been like during the COVID-19 pandemic...

Inclement weather conditions are, by far, the largest cause of flight delays in the United States. In an average year, inclement weather — including convection — is the reason for nearly 70 percent of all delays. In this episode, we'll hear from two professionals on convective weather, flight delays, and the work that FAA does to get ahead of severe weather and minimize delays.

Simulators — they're sort of like video games for training, research and skill enhancement. Flight and other types of aviation simulators help pilots, air traffic controllers, drone operators and more to gain proficiency and get certified faster, all in a virtual environment. In this episode, we'll hear from multiple aviation professionals about the work that they're doing to ensure aviation safety with the use of simulators and virtual reality. Disclaimer: Reference in this podcast...

In February, the Biden-Harris Administration appointed Bradley Mims to serve as FAA's new Deputy Administrator. In this special mini-episode, Administrator Steve Dickson sits down with his new colleague for a brief conversation about goals for the next few years, including furthering aviation safety, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and ways our agency can address racial and climate justice. Mr. Mims is no stranger to transportation — he's served in leadership roles at the Department of...