Airplane Geeks - Episode 177 - Kurt Barnhart, Unmanned [ 1:34:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6516)

Kurt Barnhart is Professor and head of the Department of Aviation at Kansas State University. He’s also Executive Director of the Applied Aviation Research Center which focuses on integrating unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace system. Kurt been a National Association of Flight Instructors’ Master Flight Instructor since 2003.

The week’s aviation news:

• Faster than Concorde: New HyperMach plane could reach four times the speed of sound
• FAA’s Randy Babbitt resigns after drunk driving arrest
• Alec Baldwin should be put on American Airline’s no-fly list and fined for his ‘abusive’ behavior: Flight Attendants Union
• Lost UAV likely malfunctioned, analysts say
• Meigs Field Redevelopment on Hold Years After Airport Closure

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Virgin Australia re-branding completed, Polynesian Blue re-branded as Virgin Samoa, Sydney International Airport to upgrade & reconfigure its terminals, China Southern to increase its presence in Australia & is looking for a more Aussie feel to its services, Scoot looks to fly to Sydney from Singapore while it’s CEO has a possible Freudian slip when talking about the value of low cost carriers. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter brings back Gareth Stringer and Tim Robinson for our monthly update on aviation news in Europe. Tim has visisted Dubai for the Airshow and brings back stories on Qatar Aiways and the fights with Airbus over the A350-1000 modifications. Gareth tells us about the next edition of Global Aviation Resource monthly digital aviation magazine and we discuss our favourite photo of 2011 on The Hangar. Find Gareth at www.globalaviationresource.com and Tim at www.aerosociety.com.

Mentioned in the episode:

• HyperMach Aerospace Ltd
• Favourite Photo of 2011
• Heritage Aviation
• Global Aviation Magazine
• America’s First Jet Fighter video

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Post photo: ‘Miss Demeanour’ a Hawker Hunter that features in UK Airshows owned by Jonathon Whaley. Picture is Courtesy of Gareth Stringer and Global Aviation Resource.com.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 172 - Girls With Wings [ 1:34:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6077)

Guest Lynda Meeks is Executive Director of Girls With Wings, Inc. a non-profit organization which introduces young girls to aviation. Lynda began her flying career in the military where she learned to fly helicopters. She’s flown twins and the Citation X as a professional pilot. Lynda also offers flight and ground instruction from Medina Municipal Airport in Medina, Ohio. Learn more at LyndaMeeks.com.

The week’s aviation news:

• Aero 2075: An Engineer’s Crystal Ball
• Pratt Sees Future For Larger GTF Engines
• FAA to ban Plane Crashes
• EU sticks to airline carbon rules despite UN opposition
• India to open bids for $11 bln fighter jets deal

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Qantas wins return to work order, Qantas A380 makes precautionary landing in Abu Dhabi, Virgin Australia boss John Borghetti offers his thoughts on the opportunities the Qantas grounding created them, Grant talks about his L39 ride.

Find the boys down under at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter welcomes back Gareth Stringer and Tim Robinson to talk about UK and European aviation, including the Global Aviation Resources recent journalism award success, Tim’s visit to Kazakhstan and the run down of services following the campaign in Libya. Find Gareth at www.globalaviationresource.com and Tim at www.aerosociety.com.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 166 - Delta Knows Social Media [ 1:20:58 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5758)

Guest Susan Elliott is a senior member of the Delta Air Lines cross-divisional social media team. She has primary responsibility for leading strategy and implementation efforts surrounding issue management within emerging media. Susan also acts as company spokesperson and maintains day-to-day relationships with top-tier media and digital influencers. Like us!

Delta maintains a strong Twitter presence at @Delta, (for promotions and availability) @DeltaAssist (for customer service issues), and @DeltaNewsroom (issues management primarily for the news media). You can also find Delta on Facebook and YouTube, and at the Delta Blog. Susan’s own Twitter handle is @SusanCElliott.

The week’s aviation news:

• Lightspeed Aviation Foundation Announces 2011 Pilots Choice $10,000 Award Recipients at AOPA Summit
• FAA Hits Cessna with $2.5 Million Fine
• Boeing Loses Part of Atlas Air 747-8 Order in Jumbo-Jet Freighter Setback
• Airline groups oppose fees in Obama’s deficit plan

In this week’s Australia Desk Report, Steve and Grant talk about the RAAF order for the 6th C-17, Tiger Airways, Delta and Virgin Codeshare, Boeing pilot forecast for that region, and even a supprise cameo appearance by another Visscher. Find them on the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

In our first Grill the Geeks segment, Dan get’s stumped by listener Jeremy, who asked, “Who has the Boeing customer number G1? H5? JH?” We also had no idea how to answer, “What is the Albuquerque box effect on hot air balloons?” Better luck next time.

Max played his interview from the AOPA Aviation Summit with Alan Klapmeier, CEO of Kestrel Aircraft Company.

Mentions:

• The Airline Codes Web Site
• NTSB Training Center
• FAA Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook Aircraft Handbooks & Manuals

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 165 - Sennheiser Knows Noise [ 1:32:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6579)

David Dunlap, Director of Sennheiser Aviation is our guest this week. We talk about analog and digital noise reduction technology as it applies in the cockpit. Find Sennheiser Aviation on Facebook, and check out the Sennheiser S1 Digital aviation headset.

The week’s aviation news:

• I was … preparing to die,’ witness at Nevada air race crash says
• Aircraft Crashes At “Thunder Over The Blue Ridge” Air Show In West Virginia
• FAA Sets Date for Small Unmanned Planes in U.S. Airspace
• Frontier trims Milwaukee flights
• Cargolux will not take 747-8F delivery over contract wrangle

In this week’s Australia Desk Report, Steve and Grant talk about Tiger Airways new CEO, the Qantas search to find an appropriate name for its new Japanese airline brand, Grant’s conspiracy theory, Virgin Australia at the recent APEX Awards, and the RAAF getting 5th C-17A Globemaster III. Find them on the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

Matt Falcus is the author of Airport Spotting Guide:Europe, he’s a journalist, and private pilot. He joins Pieter Johnson this week on Across the Pond to talk about the best places at major airports in Europe to watch aeroplanes, take photo’s, and stay within the law. The Guides can be purchased from Matt’s website http://www.airportspotting.com/ and he can be found on Twitter at @airportspotting. You can find Pieter on Twitter at @Nascothornet.

Mentions:

• Where Do We Go From Here – Analytical Tools to Help Leaders Navigate Uncertainty and Risk
• White House Asked Military Official To Change GPS Interference Testimony
• Is It A Bird? No, It’s an American UAV
• TSA Creator Says Dismantle, Privatize the Agency

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 160 - Max Trescott's Trends Aloft [ 1:30:58 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5784)

Guest Max Trescott is an author, he was the 2008 CFI of the Year, and blogs at Trends Aloft. We talk about how you can be an advocate for the aviation industry and the general Aviation Cacus in Washington. Also, California legislation affecting costs to flight schools, student pilots dropping out, and “outsourced” airline pilots. Max tells us how you explain GA to those who are only exposed to commercial aviation, and why we need it. Follow Max on Twitter at @MaxTrescott, and visit his business site at G1000book.com for his books, CD’s, and iPhone GPS guides.

The week’s aviation news:

• AMR to Spin Off Regional Carrier
• Paying for empty planes: Some rural flights heavily subsidized, but defenders call it lifeline
• Falcon hypersonic vehicle test flight fails

This week in Across the Pond, Pieter Johnson talks to Steve, an A320 pilot for a major European airline about his six monthly simulator proficiency checks. You can find Steve on Twitter @Thermalhound and Pieter @Nascothornet.

On this week’s Australia Desk report Steve notes that Tiger Airways is back in the air, Strategic Airlines to commence HNL flights from MEL and BNE, Virgin Aus pilots get pay rise, and a cameo from Southwest flight attendant Bruce Campbell, recorded at LAX. Find Steve and Grant on the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

Mentions:

• The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE)
• Paul Filmer
• Ryan Hothersall

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 159 - Aviation Chatter [ 1:49:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (9961)

Pat Flannigan from Aviation Chatter joins us to talk about some aviation news, his website and his new Hold Here iPhone app, and even some weight and balance. Pat is a professional airline pilot, an aviation blogger, and a licensed flight instructor. On Twitter, Pat is @PatFlannigan.

The week’s aviation news:

• Cirrus loses access to Vision jet prototype
• Congress finds compromise to end FAA partial shutdown
• The F-35 joins the Great F-22 Grounded Fleet!
• A short history of the subsystem that grounded the F-35
• US Airways, Pilots Clash on Slowdown

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter Johnson updates us on the challenges airports are having in South East England and on some news items.

Find Steve and Grant on the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

Mentions:

• GE Aviation: A Little Brand Fun
• GE Future Flight – Terminal Command
• Paul Filmer’s Ag plane photos
• Volantor cocumentary film
• American’s weight and balance process
• Owen Zupp
• Save The Trident
• IAGblog Podcasts

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 158 - Dust Up [ 1:51:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6254)

Guest Terry Mialkowsky is Executive Producer/Director of the television documentary series Dust Up, which chronicles Canadian crop dusters. Terry is an award-winning director, producer and writer, whose films have screened all over North America and Europe. Learn more about Dust Up on their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter at @dustuptv. The Dust Up YouTube page has videos and extra content. Dust Up can currently be found on History Channel in Canada, with plans for wider distribution around the world.

We also get AirVenture 2011 observations from Rob, David, and Dan, and also Grant McHerron who was camped out at Rob’s house. Even Steve Visscher calls in for a bit of an AusDesk report.

The week’s aviation news:

• Air France Crash Points to Pilot Error as Skills Get Review
• Air Traffic Control Modernization Held Hostage by FAA Shutdown

You can get more of Steve and Grant on the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter Johnson talks with Etienne Maillard again about aviation in Switzerland. Etienne can be found on Twitter as @flightlevel150.

Mentions:

• Flight AF 447 on 1st June 2009, A330-203, registered F-GZCP – The BEA page containing the Air France 447 accident reports.
• National Agricultural Aviation Association
• Aviation Medical Examiner reference
• Sebastian Spencer: Royal International Air Tattoo 2011
• Capt Doug Morris

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 157 - Geeks at AirVenture 2011 [ 1:28:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5895)

While Max stays home at Airplane Geeks World Headquarters, David, Dan, Rob, Grant, and Steve call in from AirVenture 2011 in Oshkosh, Wisconson. Peter Moll, the director of Wittman Regional Airport (@wittmanairport on Twitter), joins the guys as the guest for this episode. If you put those six airplane geeks in one room, you can be pretty sure to generate some level of chaos, which is exactly what we have for you this week.

The week’s aviation news:

• AMR Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2011 Net Loss Of $286 Million
• Wittman Airport Ready for Community Engagement
• Wittman Regional Prepares Stage for EAA AirVenture
• Don’t fund bureaucracy on the backs of GA, groups urge
• Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Urges Swift Action by Congress on FAA Bill

We have an extra special Australia Desk report, not from Steve and Grant, but instead from Anthony Simmons! You can catch Steve and Grant on the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter Johnson talks with Etienne Maillard who is in training to become an Air Traffic Controller. He explains how ATC operates in Switzerland and what its like to be a Sector Controller. Etienne can be found on Twitter as @flightlevel150.

Sponsors for the Plane Crazy Down Under crew:

• JetRide Australia and Pracy Racing
• GippsAero, makers of the GA8 AirVan
• Aviation Advertiser
• Thromby Airlines, lowest of the low
• Plus, of course, “Donations from our wonderful listeners”

Mentions:

• User (as in you pay) Fees (as in you pay more)
• Max Trescott from Trends Aloft with San Francisco area suggestions:
  • Hiller Museum
  • Castle Air Force Base Museum
  • Oakland Aviation Museum
  • Santa Rosa Airport museum
  • NASA Ames Research Center
  • Airship Ventures Zepplin rides
• Listener Enrique Alvarez
• AeroPodcast Spanish language aviation podcast
• Listener Ryan Hothersall photos

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 147 - Todd McClamroch's Flight Blog [ 1:50:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6627)

Todd McClamroch from My Flight Blog.com is our guest this episode. Todd’s site is one of the longest running General Aviation blogs around, and has been featured in the press including Wall Street Journal, AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training Magazine. We talk about reasons for the high dropout rate among student pilots, including the lack of inclusion in pilot communities, the role of the CFI and mentors in helping students complete their flight training, and the the value of events for students. You can follow Todd on Twitter at @MyFlightBlog.

Be sure to see Max, Rob, Dan, and David at the Become a Pilot Family Day and Fly-In June 18, 2011, 10 a.m. – 3p.m., at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center next to Dulles International Airport. The Geeks will be joining Milford and Charlie from FlightTime Radio, along with some other aviation podcasters as they broadcast their show live.

Normally, FlightTime Radio runs for an hour, but we’re going to buy a second hour of air time for this event. You can help by making a small donation to buy another hour of time for aviation greatness on the radio station. See http://www.airplanegeeks.com/send-the-airplane-geeks-to-washington/ for more information.

The week’s aviation news:

• Number of ILFC tardy customers doubled in 1st qtr
• Delayed by bigotry?
• No explanation for ‘outbreak of insanity’ on planes
• FAA updates proposed air carrier crew training rules
• GA Avgas Coalition Vows To Fight Avgas Lawsuit
• General Aviation Shipments Continue to Decline
• Firebird intelligence gathering aircraft makes pilots an optional extra

Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast provide an interesting Australia Desk Report with Stephen Force from the Airspeed podcast. Be sure to check out the Acrocamp site to follow the progress of that documentary film. The Plane Crazy Down Under podcast is on Twitter at @pcdu, Steve at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

In this week’s Across the Pond segment, Pieter Johnson talks with Diego López-Salazar from the Spanish aviation podcast AeroPodcast about the strength of Spanish airlines and if the threat of striking airport workers has finally subisided in Spain. Find Pieter on Twitter at @Nascothornet and Diego at
@dlopezsalazar.

Mentions:

• The American Helicopter Society Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition
• AeroVironment

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 145 - Anne has 15,000 Acronyms [ 1:51:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6483)

Aviation historian Anne Millbrooke is our guest. Anne is the author of the award winning book Aviation History, as well as Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Alphabets of Aviation: A Guide to Contemporary and Historical Terms Found in Aviation Literature. She is an Adjunct Professor of History at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and also at the American Public University System. Anne is a writer, researcher, coach, speaker, and you can follow her on Twitter at @AMWriter.

The week’s aviation news:

• Industry, FAA seek fix for knowledge tests
• Republic Airways Amends Delta Agreement to Add Six New E170 Aircraft
• American to park 10% of MD-80s to cut U.S. capacity
• American Airlines celebrates history
• Flight crash mystery: Robots find Air France flight recorder but key memory part missing
• Aircraft — eagle collison
• Investors Waiting On Cirrus Counter-Offer [PDF]

Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast provide their Australia Desk Report. Follow their show on Twitter at @pcdu, Steve at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

In this weeks Across the Pond segment Pieter Johnson talks to Gareth Stringer, Deputy Editor of Global Aviation Resource about UK airshows and some interesting visits. Follow Gareth on Twitter @gaviationr and Pieter at @Nascothornet.

Thanks to Scott Spangler for his contribution.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Post photo by Stephen Tornblom.