Episodes
-
Korean Air 747s will become the new doomsday planes, the new ATC rest rules have been delayed by the FAA, Breeze flight attendants voted to join the union, a United jumpseat pilot has upset some Southwest pilots, the GA flyover in DC was a success, Boeing employees were found to have falsified 787 Dreamliner inspection records, Airbus hasn’t leveraged an advantage in light of Boeing’s woes, and airlines sue the DOT over a new rule requiring the disclosure of fees.
Aviation News
Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes
Korean Air has confirmed the sale of five of its 747-8s to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which is building the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft, also referred to as “doomsday planes.” The USAF states:
The E-4B "Nightwatch" serves as the National Airborne Operations Center and is a component of the National Military Command System for the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command and control centers, the aircraft provides a highly survivable command, control, and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities.
SNC acquired five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air. The current E-4B aircraft are based on the 747-200. SNC specializes in aircraft modification and integration as well as space technologies.
FAA Delaying the Start of ATC Rest Rules
The new FAA ATC rest requirements require controllers to have at least 10 hours off between shifts and 12 hours off before a midnight shift. The rule was to have taken effect by mid-July. However, the FAA has delayed those requirements while it talks to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) union. FAA Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer Timothy Arel hopes to reach a joint rest period agreement for the 2025 schedule "or sooner where feasible."
Flight attendants at this Utah airline just voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to unionize
More than 76% of the roughly 600 Breeze Airways flight attendants voted to join the Association of Flight Attendants. AFA international president Sara Nelson said “We are inspired by their solidarity and thrilled to welcome them to our AFA family. Our labor movement is growing. Everywhere.” See: Breeze Flight Attendants Vote Overwhelmingly to Join the Flight Attendant Union.
“Breeze Flight Attendants organized for a union and a contract due to ongoing issues with constantly-changing work rules, substandard pay for time on the job, inadequate hotel accommodations, insufficient work hours, and inconsistent and disrespectful treatment from management.”
American Airlines is Issuing ‘Poverty Verification Letters’ For New-Hire Flight Attendants Because Their Wages Are So Low
Nearly One in Ten Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Have Experienced Homelessness in the Past Year and Over a Third Have Been Forced to Use a Food Bank
Poverty verification letters are being sent to some new-hire flight attendants based in expensive areas.
Airline Feud Escalates: United Pilots Barred From Southwest Airlines Jump Seats After Controversial Incident
This stems from an incident where a “relatively new” United pilot reported some “inadequacies” to the FAA after jumpseating on a Southwest flight.
AOPA’s General Aviation Flyover in DC
Video: LIVE DC Flyover - AOPA's National Celebration of General Aviation
https://www.youtube.com/live/vpSaYYcljIk?si=7eb13EFMVeUZUx4o
FAA is investigating Boeing for apparent missed inspections on 787 Dreamliner
Boeing voluntarily disclosed to the FAA that some B787 Dreamliner inspections may not have been performed, but were signed off as completed. The inspections are intended to verify adequate bonding and grounding at the wing-fuselage joint.
In a statement to NPR, the FAA said it's also investigating "whether Boeing completed the inspections and whe... -
Satellite communications for aviation with the Executive Director of Aviation at Iridium Communications Inc. In the news, Dick Rutan passes, a DOT Office of Inspector General report looks at NextGen, an unruly passenger pays the price, a second Boeing whistleblower dies, the delclining value of frequent flyer programs, and squawking the 7700 emergency distress code.
-
Missing episodes?
-
Pilot training with guest Jason Miller from The Finer Points. In the news, more pilot downsizing, new DOT rules for canceled and significantly delayed flights, the FAA reauthorization bill, a general aviation flyover of the nation’s capital, and airport vs. tornado.
-
FAA addresses controller fatigue, runway incursion, American safety issues, Boom SFA to exceed Mach 1, states can enforce airline consumer laws, bill to ban CLEAR.
-
Airline industry insights, Korean and JAL orders, Frontier pilot training, frequent flyer rewards, airport name change, Boeing 797.
-
SouthWings volunteer pilot organization, best-selling piston aircraft, student pilot stats, LearJet world flight, Las Vegas airport, skipping TSA, flight deck features, Spirit order deferral.
-
Stratolaunch Talon A2 hypersonic vehicle, COMAC C929, pilfering on Air Force One, Gulfstream G700, Spirit Airlines' credit boost, pilot therapy sessions, United pilot capacity, Frontier Airlines' prank.
-
Boom XB-1 demonstrator, Boeing leadership changes, FBI and Alaska Flight 1282, Boeing quality, FAA United oversight, PW1100G engine issue, A-10 demonstration team.
-
U.S. Space Force, business aviation tax proposals, probable cause for the LATAM 787 dive, FAA production audit at Boeing, NTSB hearing on 737, JetBlue gets unfavorable response after a flight.
-
Airline ticket price components, Machinist’s Union and Boeing contract, NTSB is unhappy with cooperation from Boeing, a large American Airlines order, Indonesian pilots fall asleep, Alaskan law enforcement use of aircraft, LATAM flight experiences a “technical event” with injuries.
-
Scaled Composites president and the VP of flight operations, FAA tells Boeing to make a plan, Boeing looks at SpiritAerosystems, Skyryse fly-by-wire helicopter, V-22 Osprey returning to flight, airlines scale back pilot hiring, JetBlue - Spirit merger off.
-
Corporate flight attendant egress training, Bombardier Challenger crash, Boeing executive shuffling, Spirit AeroSystems whistleblowers, 737 Max Service Difficulty Reports, air traffic training, Boeing safety recommendations.
-
Space Shuttle Endeavour at California Science Center, T-7A Red Hawk program delay, El Al communication takeover, infrastructure grants for US airports, Delta trading cards, Boeing immunity deal.
-
The Flying Tigers 69th DRS Association, GPS jamming and spoofing, 737 MAX 9 lawsuits, Boeing quality, SAF options, pilot retirement age, AV-8B Harrier.
-
Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, lap babies, proposed JetBlue and Spirit Airlines merger, airline route growth, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, B-21 Raider, more favorite aviation movies.
-
Inflight connectivity, B737 MAX 9 inspections, unleaded avgas, an Air Force officer crowned Miss America, more favorite aviation movies.
-
Listener’s favorite aviation movies, MAX 9 cabin door plug, British Airways pilot kidnapped and robbed, Spirit sale/leaseback, Netjets mandatory retirement age, Cirrus new generation SR-22.
-
Two X-59 test pilots discuss the NASA Quesst mission, the design and technology of the X-59 aircraft, the role of test pilots, and the challenges of flying supersonic.
-
The experiences of a NASA astronaut, 737 Max 9 grounded, A350 collides with Dash-8, air rage, Smart Gating, 300 hybrid-electric aircraft buy.
-
Flying Breeze Airways, getting into aviation, family holiday story, becoming an air marshal, Collings Foundation, getting to know Launchpad Marzari, 2023 year in review.