Guest Mary Kirby is is Editor-in-Chief of the Airline Passenger Experience magazine and the APEX media platform. We talk about the current state of inflight internet connectivity, what passengers expect aboard the flight, the GoGo IPO, and why we’re going to see more announcements. Also, pressure on interior suppliers as a result of the huge numbers of narrow body orders going on the books, and how that’s delaying aircraft deliveries. We touch on airline alliance interior commonality, and the outlook for embedded IFE.

Find Mary at the APEX Editor’s Blog and on Twitter as @APEXmary. The Airline Passenger Experience Association is at apex.aero.

The week’s aviation news:

• Boeing to Shut Plant With 2,160 Workers as U.S. Cuts Defense
• Delta, Lufthansa among first airlines raising fares to cover new European emissions rules
• New Rules Mean Full Disclosure For Airfares
• Delta Adding LaGuardia Flights in Bid to Dominate NYC Travel
• US Airways unveils Washington Reagan expansion

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, also known as the Super Tweet.

In this week’s Australia Desk report: 12th A380 arrives for Qantas, more A380s coming to Melbourne as Emirates signals their intentions, cracks appearing in some A380s including one QF aircraft, 150 Qantas pilots now working for Gulf based airlines during their down time, tragic balloon crash in New Zealand kills 11 people.

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 talks to new aerobatic pilot and author of The Aerobatic Project, Lauren Richardson. Lauren explains what’s its like to transition from a 152 to a Pitts Special and what it was like in her first aerobatic competition. Lauren can be found on Twitter @Groovy_Nut, while Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.oba

Mentioned in the episode:

• Flight of the Bumblie
• Kevin Garrison’s CEO of the Cockpit
• Owen Zupp’s Blog
• UAV delivers cargo in first warzone run

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/.

This is another Bits and Pieces episode. Occasionally, we take holiday weekends off and instead of recording a new episode together, we each contribute a pre-recorded segment and put them all together into a complete episode.

Here’s what we have this time:

Benet Wilson, the new Director of Media Relations for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Benet talks about her new job and provides some information about the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Find her personal site at AviationQueen.com.

David Vanderhoof brings us three interviews from Northrop Grumman about UAVs from the PAX River show:

Walter Kreiter, Director BAMS UAS Business Development.

Tighe Parmenter, Business Development, Navy UCAS Program.

Dion Kolliopoulas on the Firescout.

The Across The Pond segment this week has Pieter looking at his aviation travels. What was his favourite aircraft to fly on, what was the best looking aeroplane that he had flown on, and where in the world is his favourite airport. He also describes the most unusual aircraft he has ever piloted. The full list of aircraft he has travelled on can be found on his blog Alpha Tango Papa.

In the Australia Desk report, Steve likes the current exchange rates, RAAF C-17 acquisition programme progresses, 4 ex-RAAF C130H aircraft gifted to Indonesia, 23 ex RAAF F111 airframes dumped in landfill in Queensland, Qantas CEO death threats investigation dropped by New South Wales police, Qantas social media blunder, Tiger Airways has best on time performance for 2011, Virgin Australia announces $68M loss, CASA announces review of UAV procedures.

Dan Webb brings us some airline news, including the slot swap between Delta and US Airways at Laguarda and Washington National airports, and some results (and speculation) on the recent FAA slot auction.

We received one listener v-mail on the recent tarmac delays at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. We’ve got that as well as a response from Rob.

Finally, for those who like the outtakes, we have quite a few: a little from this episode, a few from the AusDesk, and past outtakes from Pieter Johnson. We finish up with part of the episode 174 pre-show that gives you a little insight about what actually happens before the show starts.

Mentions:

• Lynda Meeks, Girls With Wings.

Next week we’ll return to our usual format with the full complement of co-hosts and a great guest.

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 www.brotherloverocks.com.

All post photos by David Vanderhoof.

Max, Rob, Dan, and David discuss the week’s aviation news and spend time with listener mail. Steve and Grant from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast have a great Australia Desk Report, and Pieter Johnson brings the European perspective with his Across the Pond segment.

The week’s aviation news:

• IndiGo Plans Overseas Flights From India in August After Record Jet Order
• Airbus and Boeing struggle with credibility again
• Delta Air Plans to Order 200 Narrow-Body Jets, Seeks Options for 200 More
• Report: Boeing will launch 737 replacement in 2011 or 2012
• The Big Guys Finish Last in 2010 Airline Rankings
• Qantas Airways DFW flights are real. Really.
• NTSB Study Finds AmSafe Seatbelt Airbags Reduce Injuries in General Aviation Aircraft Accidents

Listener mail:

Seventeen year old Nick looks forward to being a commercial pilot. Keith introduces us to the HowItFlies.com aircraft directory. Jim asks about downloadable Airplane Geeks segments. Jordan has some questions about 787 delays and Boeing’s strategy. John points out the flight of the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter. Dawson explains PAPI lights. Alex comments on American security paranoia. Another Alex says the U.S. Government needs to chill out. Micah reports on the improving health of Harriet and her desire to fly away.

Mentions:

• HowItFlies.com
• Aero Society Channel, the Royal Aeronautical Society’s online media channel.
• NTSB Update On Jackson Hole B-757 Runway Overrun Incident

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/.

Guest Jon Norris is a board member of the Airline Passenger Experience Association and chairman of the APEX Technology Committee. APEX is a non-profit association of businesses and professionals that create, deliver, and manage the airline passenger experience. He’s also the Vice President of the Cabin Design Office at Airbus. Find APEX on Twitter as @theAPEXassoc and Jon as @nonnyjorris.

We cover aviation news from the past week, and we also have David’s This Week in Aviation history segment, the Australia Desk report by Steve and Grant from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and Pieter Johnson’s latest Across the Pond segment.

The week’s aviation news:

• ‘Airbus and Qantas Are Victims’ of A380 Engine Problem
• Election 2010: Airlines Lose Key Merger Opponent in the House with Oberstar Defeat
• Own the Sky
• American Airlines may stop offering tickets through Orbitz
• Boeing Tells Carriers About More 787 Delays
• Delta flight attendants reject union representation

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/.

Ben from the One Mile at a Time blog joins Dan, Max and Rob to talk aviation news and how to fly a lot of miles on the cheap.

• Boeing delays 787 first flight again, cites excessive stress in ‘upperwing join area’
• In Blow to Boeing, Qantas Drops Order
• Boeing Delay Upends Plans of Leasing Firms
• Clear service for fliers abruptly shuts down
• FAA panel to develop rules on pilot fatigue by September
• Terrified tourists boycott Thomas Cook flight home after being told to sit at back ‘to help balance the jet’
• Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary wants passengers to carry all their bags to the plane
• Second Domestic Airfare Hike of the Year Initiated
• Airlines Reaffirm Environmental Commitment
• ATA Voices Concerns to Speaker Pelosi Regarding Cap and Trade Legislation
• Airlines jacking up summer airfares
• Computer Failures Are Probed in Jet Crash

We also have our report from the Airplane Geeks Australia Desk, an additional airline news report from Stephen, and a This Week in Aviation segment.

Dan’s aviation website pick of the week is Widgetheads.net, a Delta Air Lines fan site.

Don’t forget to send us your ideas for Airplane Geeks T-Shirts!

Follow the Airplane Geeks on Twitter as @AirplaneGeeks, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave us voice mail at (81….

This episode’s opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love. You can visit his site at brotherloverocks.com.

This is Court’s last episode as he leaves the podcast to head North in search of employment.  Rob Mark from JetWhine.com and Dan Webb from ThingsintheSky.com replace Courtney as Max’s co-hosts and, as usual with these two, things get funny quickly.

• Crash Prompts Call For Black Box Reforms

• United May Purchase 150 Planes From Boeing or Airbus

• US shells out $10M for unmanned aircraft that can perch like a bird

• AOPA and EAA work to protect, grow GA

• House passes Chaffetz bill banning ‘invasive’ airport screenings

• Budget Airline to Charge for Toilet Use (…again)

• Southwest Airlines pilots turn down new deal

Max’s pick of the week is AerHub.

Don’t forget to send us your ideas for Airplane Geeks T-Shirts!

The Airplane Geeks are now on Twitter! You can follow us @AirplaneGeeks.

Make sure to sign up for our new newsletter, “Airplane Geeks Week in Aviation.”
We’ll be bringing you these show notes, as well as some of the week’s news we didn’t have time to cover.
You can sign up at AirplaneGeeks.com.

Brother Love is responsible for this episode’s opening and closing
music, and you can visit his site at brotherloverocks.com.

If you have a question or a comment for the Airplane Geeks, you
can send it to thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com.

You can also leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252. If you have
a question or comment you’d like mentioned on the podcast, this is the best
way to go about it.

We had a great time talking with Mary Kirby, or perhaps better known as RunwayGirl from the Runway Girl Blog.  She takes the time to talk earnings (or lack of), bad PR, and snakes.  Yes, snakes.

• EADS Willing to Consider Splitting Air Force Tanker Contract With Boeing

• Four snakes ground Qantas plane

• Analysts weigh in on Southwest Airlines’ loss and prospects

• Two years of the biggest business travel stories

• White House: Easing Cuba travel restrictions likely to lead to more flights

• United Airlines to charge overweight passengers for two seats

Max’s pick of the week is aircraft.factualtv.com

Don’t forget to send us your ideas for Airplane Geeks T-Shirts!

The Airplane Geeks are now on Twitter! You can follow us @AirplaneGeeks.

Make sure to sign up for our new newsletter, “Airplane Geeks Week in Aviation.”
We’ll be bringing you these show notes, as well as some of the week’s news we didn’t have time to cover.
You can sign up at AirplaneGeeks.com.

Brother Love is responsible for this episode’s opening and closing
music, and you can visit his site at brotherloverocks.com.

If you have a question or a comment for the Airplane Geeks, you
can send it to thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com.

You can also leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252. If you have
a question or comment you’d like mentioned on the podcast, this is the best
way to go about it.

Evan Sparks joins The Geeks this week as we talk aviation policy.  There’ s quite a bit of emails and we finally get our listener voicemail up.  Of course, as usual there’s the news:

• ASA grounds 60 jets over bad inspections

• Jetstar Asia revamp with Choo Tek Wong partnership

• The Battle for the Armrest: Could a New Design End Elbow Wars?

• Experts say biofuel-powered commercial flights possible within five years

• 1 Billion Passengers Expected In 2021

• Airline passengers revolt against hours spent on the tarmac

• Oberstar Questions Virgin America

Max’s pick of the week is e-Go Aeroplanes.

The Airplane Geeks are now on Twitter! You can follow us @AirplaneGeeks.

Make sure to sign up for our new newsletter, “Airplane Geeks Week in Aviation.”
We’ll be bringing you these show notes, as well as some of the week’s news we didn’t have time to cover.
You can sign up at AirplaneGeeks.com.

Brother Love is responsible for this episode’s opening and closing
music, and you can visit his site at brotherloverocks.com.

If you have a question or a comment for the Airplane Geeks, you
can send it to thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com.

You can also leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252. If you have
a question or comment you’d like mentioned on the podcast, this is the best
way to go about it.

Max and Court welcome Will Hawkins, Rico Sharqawi, and David Allen from APilotsStory.com and Pilots Flight Pod Log Podcast.  We wrap up 2008, and discuss the breaking news out of Denver:

Data recorders found after Denver plane accident

ExcelAire Pilots Face Criminal Trial

British Airways, Qantas Talks Fail on Ownership Split

AOPA: TSA Plans To Step Up GA Scrutiny At Commercial Airports

TSA to listen to pilot concerns on proposed security program

Ten Worst Air Travel Stories of ’08

Max’s pick of the week is the Plane Spotter Radius Search.  Drag the little plane spotter guy to some location on the map (typically someplace near you) and it shows the planes within a 10 mile radius.

The Airplane Geeks are now on Twitter!  You can follow us @AirplaneGeeks.

Make sure to sign up for our new newsletter, “Airplane Geeks Week in Aviation.”
We’ll be bringing you these show notes, as well as some of the week’s news we didn’t have time to cover.
You can sign up at AirplaneGeeks.com.

Brother Love is responsible for this episode’s opening and closing
music, and you can visit his site at brotherloverocks.com.

If you have a question or a comment for the Airplane Geeks, you
can send it to thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com.

You can also leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252. If you have
a question you’d like mentioned on the podcast, this is the best
way to go about it.

First up, an obituary for EAA Director Emeritus Bob Gyllenswan
News for this week:

• Passengers suing to block Delta-Northwest deal get trial date
• UPDATE:Boeing Takes Controlling Stake In Parts JV With AVIC I
• US lawmaker: Bring back air – safety survey
• Boeing Joins Lockheed Martin On Blackswift
• Plane makes emergency landing at Manila

We also go through listener emails and voice mails as we hear from former guests Dan Webb and Ryan Keough.

he intro music is once again produced by Bruno Misonne.  Check out Bruno’s aviation music at http://www.brunomisonne.com.

If you have a question or a comment for the Airplane Geeks, you can send it to thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com.

You can also leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252. If you have a question you’d like mentioned on the podcast, this is the best way to go about it.