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The passenger experience: social media, in-flight connectivity, wearable technology, seat pitch.

Guest

Aviation journalist Mary Kirby is founder and editor of the Runway Girl Network, a B2B2C source for intelligence about the passenger experience. The Network covers the industry from nose to tail, in the air, and on the ground. Be sure to follow the #PaxEx hashtag.

Topics

Tweeting While Flying, Part II: Another Passenger Booted From Flight After Tweeting

A JetBlue passenger tweeted that the pilot was or might have been intoxicated. Another passenger in turn Tweeted about this but was denied re-boarding after the pilot was cleared.

Airline passengers are increasingly using social media to make comments about the airline or the flight. Just what does it take for a passenger to be considered “disruptive”? Airlines need a protocol for how a they respond to the new level of social media activity and scrutiny.

“I Have Ebola”: Passenger Causes Scare on Flight That Departed From Philly

On a flight from PHL to the Dominican Republic, a 54-year-old man had reportedly said “I have Ebola, you are all screwed.” The plane was met by a team in full hazmat suits at the destination.

Screenings have been stepped up at JFK for passengers arriving from high risk countries.

Passengers can make bad jokes or inappropriate comments that can affect flight safety. What should the consequences be?

Airline Passengers Ready for Wearable Tech

A recent SITA survey shows technology improves the passenger experience. Almost 77% of surveyed passengers said they would be comfortable with the use of wearable tech to help them on their journey.

Airlines who seek to differentiate themselves on service are looking at wearables like Google Glass.

We also examine in-flight connectivity, who the providers are, and opportunities in an environment where penetration outside the US is only estimated to be 6%

The Gogo Text & Talk product lets you use your mobile phone in flight, and is rolling out to business aviation.

Could major US airline create an “economy minus” cabin?

A US legacy airline is shopping around the idea that it’s planning to create a dedicated “economy minus” cabin. This could be a trial balloon, but maybe not.

Low Cost Carriers (LCC) and Ultra Low Cost Carriers (ULCC) are putting a lot of pressure on the US majors. Who will go below the 28” seat pitch?

Aircraft of the Week

Jamie Dodson tells us about the Sikorsky S-43 Amphibian.

The Australia News Desk

Grant has been flying a balloon again, and he’s taken Evan Schoo and Albert up with him. They take a moment from the flight to record an intro, then Grant slots in these news items:

• Changes have started at CASA but the official response to the Aviation Safety Regulatory Review (aka, The Forsyth Report) haven’t come out yet. That response is due by the end of 2014.

• The Qantas Founders Museum have purchased a Lockheed Super Constellation to join the aircraft on display at Longreach in outback Queensland.

The Aviation Minute

Rob looks at how personal electronic devices impair the pre-flight safety briefing.

Across the Pond

Pieter visits Tim Robinson at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s London HQ, 4 Hamilton Place. Hallowed ground for any aviation and aerospace geek.

Mentioned

617 Squadron and the Dams Raid

Seaplane in Tasmania 3 Sir John Falls

Wright Brothers National Memorial

National Historical Park, Ohio

Carillon Historical Park

Hawthorn Hill

Henry Ford Museum’s Greenfield Village

Credit

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at brotherloverocks.com.

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Guest Steve McNeilly is president and founder of Aviation Tutorials, providing interactive training software for pilots and flight simmers. He’s been in aviation for thirty years, he’s an airline pilot, A&P mechanic, instructor, examiner, book author, and FAA WINGS training provider.

We talk about how Steve came to develop these professional grade simulation tutorials which are light on theory and heavy on “this is what you need to do.” Also, pilots using iPads, drones in the airspace, electric drive systems for airliners, thrust reverser depoyment at altitude (Steve’s done that in a DC-8).

The week’s aviation news:

• Australia Transport Safety Board (ATSB) final report on Qantas A380 engine failure in Nov, 2010
• Australian Transport Safety Bureau Releases Final Qantas Flight 32 Report
• JetBlue is latest airline to let pilots use iPads in the cockpit
• Is a Commercial Aviation Biofuel Industry Around the Corner?
• N.J. Senate passes drone regulations

David Vanderhoof’s Aircraft of the Week is the D.H. 86 Express Airliner.

Ryan Cambell

In this week’s Australia Desk:

After an “interesting” week in Australian federal politics, Minister for Transport & Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, is now also the Deputy Prime Minister, leaving Steve & Grant to ponder whether this will be good for aviation or not. In more positive aviation news, 19 year old Ryan Campbell has set out on his attempt to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world; a record which has only recently been set by American, Jack Wiegant. Ryan is flying in a Cirrus SR-22, VH-OLS, named “Spirit of the Sapphire Coast”, tracking east from Wollongong, just south of Sydney, across the Pacific to the USA (including a stop at Airventure 2013), then on to Europe, Asia and back to Australia. We spoke to Ryan a couple of days prior to launch and we present part of that interview in the week’s report.

Follow Ryan’s progress at www.teenworldflight.com and @teenworldflight on Twitter.

In other news, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has handed down it’s findings into the cause of the Qantas A380 engine failure on board VH-OQA, in 2010. Although this has been covered earlier in the show, we popped our two cents in as well, including the fact that Rolls Royce ended up paying some hefty compensation.

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. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net.

Mentioned:

• AirVenture 2013 Oshbash voting page.
• Honeywell/Safran Joint Venture Tests Electric Taxiing
• WheelTug, airberlin Sign Letter Of Intent For Electric Drive System
• Tooele pilot lets girls fly to encourage love of flying, science.
• Patrick Wiggins Facebook page.
• Airscape e-mag.
• Esther Emma Rose Noffke passed away June 28, 2013. A WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilot) assigned to the 318th AAF Flying Detachment in Sweetwater, Texas, she received her pilot certificate in June 1944 and was assigned B-26 flying duty at McGowen Field, Boise, Idaho. She received the Congressional Medal in April 2010 for service to her country.

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

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F-22 at Australian International Airshow 2013 (Avalon) by Mick

Harriet Baskas writes the monthly At the Airport column for USA Today, as well as occasional features at NBCnrews.com and MSN Travel. She also manages the collection of online Airport Guides at USA Today.

We talk about the recent Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas and some of the products of interest to air travelers. Also, things airports have been doing to increase the experience like better restraurants and bars with broader appeal, a liquor store in baggage claim, and even free land lines that are advertiser supported. Rob even learns something interesting he didn’t know about Chicago’s O’Hare Airport! Rob even learns something interesting he didn’t know about Chicago’s O’Hare Airport!

Find Harriet’s blog at Stuck at the Airport and follow her on Twitter at @hbaskas and @stuckatairport.

The week’s aviation news:

• JetBlue unveils first A320 with sharklets
• JetBlue Airways and Airbus Reach Agreement to Retrofit the Airline’s Airbus A320 Fleet with Sharklets
• JetBlue entry to Google Glass contest suggests airport usage
• Pentagon says to resume F-35 flights

In this week’s Australia Desk report:

Recorded at the end of the final day of Avalon 2013 – The Australian International Air Show. We talk to Eamon Hamilton, Public Affairs Officer for Air Lift Group, Royal Australian Air Force, about the Air Show from the RAAF perspective. We also include a brief discussion about the F-22 Raptor display over Avalon, the first time this aircraft has been displayed in Australia skies, and include a clip from our interview with the display pilot, Major Henry Schantz.

Find full Avalon 2013 daily video and audio coverage at www.planecrazydownunder.com.

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. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net.

Southampton Airport Fire & Rescue

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

On the Southampton Airport miniseries this week we talk to the airport Fire Service. What are their capabilities, strength and how do they stay alert for the 1.7 million passengers that travel safely through the airport every year.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Westland WS51 Dragonfly at the Helicopter Museum by Bob

Mentions:

• Flashback Fridays: Farewell to a Friend, the post on Nuts About Southwest about the loss of Brian Lusk.
• Excerpt from the interview with Brian Lusk on the Airplane Geeks Episode 156, originally published July 19, 2011.
• Lauda Air Flight 004
• Glory Hole: When You Lose Everything You Love, Your Final Flight May Be Your Best, by Captain Terry Reece
• Sopwith Triplane at the Aero Space Museum of Calgary
• Air France Flight 296 | Airbus A320 Crash
• Piaggio Reveals Unmanned Avanti
• Singapore’s leap into the space industry

LOT 787 parked at ORD by Scott

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

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Mike Kincaid is a CFI/Designated Examiner at Mountain Lakes Seaplanes, based at Pappy Boyington Airport (COE) in Hayden, Idaho. He learned to fly in Alaska, where seaplanes are a must, and he had a career with the Alaska Department of Public Safety. In Alaska, Mike hiked, fished, hunted, skied, snowshoed, mushed dogs, flew bush planes, chased bad guys, protected the wildlife of Alaska, and built log cabins deep in the woods. He now shares his passion for seaplane flying with students from around the globe in his restored Piper J3 and writes when the weather grounds him.

We talk about how Mike ended up in Alaska and learned to fly, and what it’s like to fly with floats. He offers a few stories about his adventures in Alaska, some good and some very much the opposite. Mike’s books include Seaplane Rating Basics and several others based on his Alaska adventures. Mike was also involved in the movie The Frozen Ground based on a real case about a serial killer in Alaska. The movie is scheduled for release December 2012 and stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, and Vanessa Hudgens. Mike did the flying (some if it spectacular glacier flying) which director Scott Walker referred to as “organic flying.” He was the stunt double and pilot for John Cusak.

The week’s aviation news:

• Benet Wilson joins us with her impressions from Sun ‘n Fun
• Man Tries to Board Plane at PHL With Fireworks
• Man Arrested At PHL Checkpoint With Loaded Firearm
• JetBlue co-pilot calmly and quickly got jet down

David’s aircraft of the Week: the Thwipplenut Parakeet.

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Qantas announces Jetstar Hong Kong in partnership with China Eastern….but will Hong Kong’s lawmakers allow it? Fiji’s military government causing problems for Qantas’ 46% stake in Air Pacific, RAAF ramps up plans for EA18G “Growler” conversions, Melbourne Airport announces a $A1billion upgrade.

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, we get our own student pilot back: Neil Bradon. When we last talked to Neil back in Episode 168 he had just solo’d in Ireland and was planning to spend the next few years in the USA. Well, he arrived, found his school and is flying again. Find out how he’s doing.

Neil is an avid Airplane Geeks listener and supporter and has his own blog at www.getmyppl.blogspot.co.uk and lives his life on Twitter as @Pilot_ngb.

Find Pieter Johnson on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, and also on Facebook at XTPMedia.

Links from Listener Email:

• Queenstown. The Remarkable Challenge of RNP. (Part One). An Aviation Blog by Owen Zupp
• As drones rise, a manned fighter falls

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/.

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Greg Morris is Chief Pilot at Gauntlet Warbirds, a warbird, aerobatic, and tailwheel training center with headquarters at Aurora Airport, just west of downtown Chicago. They are on the web at http://www.gauntletwarbirds.com/.

He has been flying for fifteen years, and instructing in warbirds and aerobatic aircraft for the past ten. He holds a current low level aerobatic waiver in the L-39 and T-6 and is a FAST rated formation pilot.

Greg has flown the FM-2 Wildcat, Extra 300, Su-29, Pitts S-2B and S-2C, Lazer Z-200, Cap-10B, Great Lakes, T-34, T-6, T-28, Ju-52, and is rated in the L-29 Delfin and L-39 Albatros.

A graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in aerospace engineering, Greg was designated a Master CFI-Aerobatic by the National Association of Flight Instructors and the IAC in September 2005. Greg has been published in the International Aerobatic Club’s Sport Aerobatics magazine and Warbirds of America’s Warbirds magazine writing about maneuver technique, how to get started flying warbirds and safety and risk management. He is a regular presenter at Oshkosh.

The week’s aviation news:

• American Airlines Parent Files for Bankruptcy
• USAF Air Combat Command reduces Demo Teams to F-22 and T-Birds
• Union members scrutinize wording of historic Boeing contract
• JetBlue joins WestJet in seizing LaGuardia slots, gains more at National

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Steve gets his instructor rating…for trains, doubts raised over new Qantas Asian airline, PCDU code share activated!….David gets serious with the light saber, RAAF KC-30A aerial refuelling trials begin, a little air to air refuelling history lesson, Army MRH90 helicopter contract comes under scrutiny. 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 his Across the Pond segment, Pieter Johnson highlights the change in European Air Law which will make pilots work longer hours and he gives thanks for their so far excellent flying safety record. He also says thanks for a few other things too! Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet.

The Grill the Geeks questions this week are both great and goofy, and both Dan and David have Grill the Listeners questions.

Mentioned in the episode:

• American Airlines Court Documents and Claims Register
• Commemorative Air Force
• Me 262 photos from Ryan Hothersal: myaviation.net/?pid=02041781 and myaviation.net/?pid=02041782
• Aviation photographer Manny Gonzalez
• TF39 engine photo showing the “stage and a half” fan.
• Motherboard TV: Flying Around The World In A Solar Powered Plane
• Airbus sees 2012 A380 deliveries on par with 2011

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/.

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Guest Lori Ranson is the America’s Air Transport Editor at Flightglobal. She knows commercial aviation and lately has been researching distribution. Follow Lori on Twitter as @RansonNote.

The week’s aviation news:

• NASA Awards the Largest Prize in Aviation History to an All-Electric, Super-Efficient Aircraft
• Delta’s Free Wi-Fi Content Could Boost Revenue
• Middle-Seat Syndrome at American Airlines
• Computer Virus Hits U.S. Drone Fleet
• JetBlue adds fourth route from Hartford

This week’s Australia Desk Report is all QF with Steve and Grant talking about the Qantas CEO receiving death threats, Qantas confirming a large Airbus order, and the damaged Qantas A380 returning to the skies.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.

Recording the start of Desk 168 – Steve attempting to get Grant to stop talking about balloons.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter talks to Neil Bradon, a Student Pilot, who is doing his initial flying training in Ireland. Neil has taken some time to get the first major stage in his flying training under his belt but we are going to track his progress with regular updates. Neil can be found on Twitter at @pilot_ngb and at www.getmyppl.blogspot.com. You can find Pieter on Twitter at @Nascothornet.

On this week’s Grill the Geeks segment, we seem to have come up with correct answers all around.

Mentions:

• Stuck Mic AvCast
• A380 evacuation test 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/.

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Airship Ventures photo by Randy Hobbs

Both John and Martha King from King Schools join us as guests this episode. These two have flown almost everything that flys. They also provide video and computer-based training to countless pilots.

The week’s aviation news:

• Wife takes over plane when pilot-husband can’t fly
• Millville air show to skip acts such as Blue Angels in the future
• British and French Attack Helicopters Conduct First Attacks in Libya
• Pilots Union Seeks Vote at JetBlue
• Braathens Leasing orders 10 CSeries twinjets for Sweden’s Malmo

In the Australia Desk from Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron, they propose to produce a themed report for AusDesk episode 100. Listeners can submit theme ideas to thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com. Be sure to listen to the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

In this week’s Across the Pond segment, Pieter speaks with Steve and Max. Find Pieter on Twitter at @Nascothornet.

Mentions:

• Airship Ventures
• Redbird Flight Simulations, Inc.
• The NTSB’s Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements
• NTSB Faults Pilot, But Unclear About Final Moments Of Stevens Crash
• Richard Heene’s Flying Saucer up for Auction for
  Charity.

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.

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/.

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Molly McMillin, the Senior Aerospace/Aviation reporter for the Wichita Eagle, joins as guest. Molly blogs at Air Capital Insider and tweets as @mmcmillin. We talk about the week’s aviation news, and discuss the recent NBAA Convention, which Molly attended.

The week’s aviation news:

• JetBlue posts ‘remarkable’ $59 million third-quarter profit
• U.S. airlines to tamp capacity growth in 2011
• Aviation Leadership: Change the World
• Imagining a Day When Airliners Are Flown Solo
• NBAA Convention And Industry Trend$
• Supersonic business jet technology from Aerion tested at speeds of Mach 2.0
• HondaJet prepares for test flights
• NBAA – Eclipse gets boost from Sikorsky investment
• Hawker Beechcraft gives out 350 layoff notices in Wichita, gives timeline for Machinists layoffs

Mentions:

• Uncut: Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary
• 25 Of The World’s Scariest Airport Runways
• NBAA10 Aviation Social Media Panel
• David’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to Military Aviation

Also see Steve and Grant’s Australia Desk archive and their Flight Time Radio segments.

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/.

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Guest Steven Frischling, who goes by “Fish,” writes the Flying with Fish blog and is the founder of The Travel Strategist which helps businesses use travel effectively and efficiently. David has a few more field interviews from the Oceana Airshow and Steve and Grant from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast have their Australia Desk report.

The week’s aviation news:

• Bombardier to launch new large business jet
• EADS To Rule On Airbus A320 Neo Decision
• Iraq offered new F-16s with older missiles
• Eurocopter X3 begins testing; company calls it a turboprop-helicopter hybrid

On airline consolidations:

• United is merged: CEO Smisek is ready to take on the world
• Southwest to buy AirTran for $1.42 billion
• Rival mergers put new pressure on American Airlines
• Avoiding the Reset Button

Mentions:

• Spirit of Wenatchee, Home of Miss Veedol
• Airspeed Podcast

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/.

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Guest Jesse Ziglar works for a large airline in revenue management. He was previously with DHL Express, and he interned with Delta Air Lines in schedule planning. Jesse got his private pilot license at Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa, but went on to earn an under graduate degree in Aviation Management (With Flight) and his flight training ending with commercial, multi-engine, and instrument licenses. Jesse blogs at Airtransparency and has a few things to say about the need for more creativity in the airlines.

The week’s aviation news:

• F-15 Scramble after the Cessna 180
• American Airlines rolls out $19-to-$39 fee for front seats in coach
• JetBlue’s All-You-Can-Jet passes sell out again
• US Airways Grows LaGuardia at Delta’s Expense
• Dreamliner’s engine fails test in England
• BA Launches Engineering Apprenticeship

Mentions:

• The 1940 Air Terminal Museum
• Swelblog

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/.

F-15 photo by Paul Filmer. Find his aviation photography at http://skippyscage.com/.