Airplane Geeks - Episode 214 - Mary Kirby on the Passenger Experience [ 1:47:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7742)

Beechcraft B17R Staggerwing by Stephen Tornblom

Guest Mary Kirby is from the Airline Passenger Experience Association where she is Editor-in-Chief of the Airline Passenger Experience magazine and the APEX Media Platform.

Mary considers the passenger experience to start when the decision is made to take a flight and continue through to boarding, where the airline then has the passenger captive in terms of the experience.

We talk Inflight Entertainment (IFE) tech and how wireless is taking off with video streaming to personal devices. Also, how Southwest Airlines with their Row 44 satellite system is absorbing the AirTran fleet with their GoGo air-to-ground system. Mary maintains that the US carriers are ahead of others with inflight connectivity and long term revenue sharing agreements with vendors. Now that the pipe to the aircraft is in place, we’re seeing all manner of inflight connectivity business models: some free, some pay per use, and some supported by advertising and promotions.

Visit the APEX blog and follow Mary on Twitter as @APEXmary. Coming up 17 – 20 September 2012 is the APEX EXPO in Long Beach California. (Twitter hash tag #APEX12.)

We also talk about airport security, should it be privatized, the cost/benefit analysis, and the impact of airport security on the travel experience. American Airlines is in the news with the pilot contract, a Downs Syndrome flyer, and a 9/11 negligance law suit. Also, more bizarre behaviour in Philadelphia.

The week’s aviation news:

• GOP platform seeks privatization of airport security
• Costs, Benefits, and Efficiency of Aviation Security Measures
• American to end pilots’ labor contract
• American Airlines throws kid with Downs Syndrome off flight
• Airlines face trial over 9-11 terror attacks
• Philly love triangle leads to plane scare, arrests

In this week’s Australia Desk report:

Qantas announces an alliance with Emirates, along with major route structure and schedule changes, Tiger Airways resuming Melbourne – Adelaide operations from November, and outcry in New Zealand over massive aviation user fee hikes by their government.

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.

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

On Across The Pond this week we talk to our adopted student pilot Neil Bradon to monitor his progress flying in the USA. He gives us the great news that he has passed his check ride and is amassing flying hours at a rapid pace but not simply in the circuit, Neil is taking on some challenging cross country flights as well. We are absolutely delighted Neil is now a qualified pilot. Well done Neil.

Neil can be found on Twitter @Pilot_NGB and at his blog pilot_ngb’s aviation blog.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Mentions:

• Steve Frischling, Flying With Fish
• Seat 1P !! on Flyertalk
• Skyvector.
• AOPA Flight Planning
• Heathrow pods: ULTra PRT | Fully Charged.
• Rand Corporation reportCosts, Benefits, and Efficiency of Aviation Security Measures.
• What Did Neil Armstrong Really Think Of Business Jets?.
• Help fund the Neil Armstrong Memorial on Indiegogo.

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

Airplane Geeks - Episode 212 - UPS Airlines [ 1:45:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8658)

Guest Mike Mangeot is the Public Relations Manager with United Parcel Service (UPS) Airlines. UPS celebrated it’s 105th anniversary on August 28, 2012. We talk about the composition of the UPS fleet, cargo conversions, the UPS committment to green aviation (noise, emissions, carbon trading, etc.), and employment opportunities. Also, the speed and efficiency of the air network, and the fast service we might come to expect in the future. UPS offers a number of customized services through it’s supply chain group.

Learn more about the company at the UPS Pressroom and follow them on Twitter as @UPS.

The week’s aviation news:

• Strike talk from American pilots hits the bottom line
• CPA Australia Presents: An Audience with Neil Armstrong
• Southwest, American Airlines Under Fire For Dress Code Enforcement

In David’s This Week in Aviation segment:

The Aircraft of the week is the Mitsubishi T-2.

In this week’s Australia Desk report:

Qantas announces a $A256million loss on the back of its loss making international division, Allan Joyce is not taking his $A2.7million salary bonus as a result, 12 RAAF F18F Super Hornets to be converted to EA18G spec at a cost of $A1.5billion, Griffith University in Queensland announces a partnership with Cathay Pacific to provide candidates for their cadet programme, Etihad buys more shares in Virgin Australia.

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.

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

This week on Across The Pond we talk to our expert on aviation in India Rohit Rao from AeroBlogger. Following up our last discussion, Rohit tells us how bad Kingfisher’s financial performance is and what effect the pilots strike has had on international yields . We look at yet another start up and wonder if it will survive and we end up talking about Air India’s new 787 fleet and where it is expected to operate.

Find Rohit at his AeroBlogger website, on Twitter as @TheAeroBlogger, and on Facebook.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Mentions:

• Ben’s Heathrow T5 Transportation Pod links: Personal transport pods unveiled at Heathrow Airport, Futuristic ‘pods’ launched at Heathrow, Press releases – Heathrow pods transport passengers to the future.
• C17 Lands At Wrong Airport
• Ryan Hothersall On The Net
• From Trevor Smith, Desert Pilot and @trevsmith on Twitter: 1AZ0 Phoenix Mobile Airport and Google Maps look at Mobile Airport 1AZ0.

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

Airplane Geeks - Episode 182 - Alan Epstein and the Geared Turbofan Engine [ 1:35:57 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7576)

Guest Alan Epstein is Pratt & Whitney’s Vice President of Technology & Environment. We talk about the PurePower family of geared turbofan (GTF) jet engines: how long the technology has been around, what the GTF is trying to achieve, propulsive and thermal efficiency, biofuel, technology push versus pull, and more. Alan even has his own “grill the geeks” question!

The week’s aviation news:

• WestJet departs from past with regional plan
• WestJet Sees C$2 Billion Regional-Flight Market for Canada, U.S.
• Southwest Airlines’ new cabin design adds six extra seats

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Sikorsky S-61L.

In this week’s Australia Desk report: More A380 cracking issues for Qantas to keep an eye on, Australian Army grounds Blackhawk fleet as a precautionary measure, China Southern establishes the “Canton Route” – Sydney to London, Air Asia X announces extra services to Sydney, Virgin Australia add A330s to the Melbourne – Sydney route.

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 Paul Fowler from Enstone Flying Club, about the Club and the airfield. Set in Oxfordshire, a stunningly beautiful part of the UK, Paul tells us about the history of the airfield and its residents and what its like to fly in this part of the world. Enstone Airfield has some great residents and has a fabulous community relationship, many others could learn from.

You can find Enstone on Facebook and YouTube and you can find Paul Fowler on Twitter and LinkedIn. Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.

Mentioned in the episode:

• Chris Manno’s new JetHead Live Podcast, which you can find on iTunes.
• Screenprints of airport runway patterns from NOMO Design

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 178 - Bill English from the NTSB [ 1:51:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (12594)

Bill English is a commercial pilot, multi and instrument CFI, and he’s flown corporate, charter, and was an air traffic controller in Boston and NY. Bill has written for IFR Magazine and worked on procedures design and internal investigations for the FAA. Currently, Bill is a National Transportation Safety Board Investigator in Charge, in the Major Aviation Investigations Division.

The week’s aviation news:

• With Stratolaunch project, Paul Allen makes a big bet on commercial spaceflight
• Boeing 737 MAX Logs First Firm Order from Launch Customer Southwest Airlines
• TSA chief in favor of advocates at all airports
• Gun from passenger’s bag in Atlanta airport accidentally fired

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Snow at Christmas?? Surely not! We’re having a beach BBQ for this report! Air New Zealand’s financial losses spell bad news for staff numbers and routes to Europe, Air Pacific doing better financially than last year, Virgin Australia catching up to Qantas in customer satisfaction ratings – Tiger Airways came last….again. The final Australia Desk for 2011 finishes with some messages of thanks and best wishes for 2012.

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 Johnson talks to Mark Maiden, the presenter of The Maiden Flight Podcast. Mark is a student pilot in Dublin, Ireland and explains what is required to gain a private license in Ireland. We hear aboiut some lessons learned in finding a flying school, airsickness and having the throttle on the left hand side of the pilot. Its a worthy listen if you are learning to fly.

Mentioned in the episode:

• Stratolaunch Systems
• CH-Aviation
• Qantas: The Unliking of an Iconic Australian Brand (video)
• Max Trescott Trends Aloft
• Twas The Night Before Christmas — Aviation Style

Bonus:

• Santa & F-104 Midair!

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 164 - Henry Harteveldt [ 1:25:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6009)

Our guest this episode is industry researcher and analyst Henry Harteveldt. He’s a Co-founder of Atmosphere Research Group where he will head up the airlline and travel practice of this research and advisory firm that will look at ecommerce, distribution, marketing and operations planning for airlines, hotel companies, travel agencies, GDS companies, and marketing agencies. Henry is also Chairman of the Association of Travel Marketing Executives and can be found on Twitter at @hharteveldt.

The week’s aviation news:

• How 9/11 really changed flying for consumers
• 737 MAX Was No Surprise, Airbus Says
• Southwest not one of the carriers that have Boeing 737 MAX on order
• Low-Cost Carriers Jockey For Position On National, LaGuardia Slot Auction
• US Airways takes preliminary look at A321neo
• Fliers’ saggy pants, skimpy garb test airlines

Steve and Grant recorded the Australia Desk Report on location at Coldstream Aerodrome (YCEM) where they had their mobile studio set up for the Australia Centre for Mission Aviation Discovery Day. 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.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter Johnson talks to Brian Burrage, co-founder of the Vickers Viscount Network and an ex Rolls Royce Dart Engineer. Brian tells us about the success of the Viscount as Britain’s best post war selling turboprop airliner, being sold world-wide with over 400 being produced. None are left flying but the Viscount Network aims to keep the aircraft awareness high through a fabulous website, talks and visits to the remaining airframes. You can find Pieter Johnson on Twitter at @Nascothornet.

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.

Post photo: N7406 c/n 104 built for Capita Airlines and seen here in June 1962 operating for United. Credit Brian Burridge.

Post photo: The Plane Crazy crew live on location. Can you name them?

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 143 - Little but Mighty [ 1:44:07 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (19430)

Our guest this episode is Stephanie Gehman, the Manager of Marketing and Customer Service at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). We talk about current airport issues and how this one competes with larger airports in the region. Follow them on Twitter at @HIAairport.

Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast have another great Australia Desk Report.

In his Across the Pond segment Pieter Johnson talks with Tim Robinson, Editor of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s magazine Aerospace International about the effects of the UK Strategic Defence Review, where draconian cuts have been made to the Defence budget. Follow Tim on Twitter at @RAeSTimR, and Pieter at @Nascothornet.

The week’s aviation news:

• Boeing admission partly absolves Southwest
• Again, Air Controller Sleeps On Job
• Seven-year-old boy buys fighter jet on eBay
• The ultimate garden ‘hit’ – a restored Harrier jet
• Amsterdam launches high-tech baggage handling system
• Gulfstream Jet Crashed Testing Engine Failure, Agency Says

Mentions:

• The The Crew Lounge Podcast
• Child Aviation Restraint System
• Flightlevel390
• Decision Height
• Ryan’s Travels & 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 142 - Chad from Aviation International News [ 1:46:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5148)

Guest Chad Trautvetter is the online news editor for Aviation International News (AIN) and also the editor of AINalerts, AIN’s twice a week electronic publication. Chad really knows General and Business Aviation, and just returned from the Sun n’ Fun International Fly-In & Expo at Lakeland, Florida. Follow AIN on Twitter at @AINonline and Chad at @AIN_SkyWriter.

David brings teaches us some aviation history, and Steve and Grant from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast present their Australia Desk Report.

The week’s aviation news:

• Sun ‘n Fun picks up, carries on
• Cirrus Dismisses ‘Counter Offer’ Speculation
• Southwest In-Flight Fuselage Rupture
• Gulfstream G650 crashes in New Mexico, leaving four people dead
• Business-jet owners win U.S. House vote to keep flight secrecy
• New study: Tarmac rule fuels flight cancellations

Mention:

• The Crew Lounge Podcast

Follow our Twitter lists for some seriously great content by some of the best folks in aviation:

• http://twitter.com/airplanegeeks/hosts for podcast hosts and contributors.

• http://twitter.com/airplanegeeks/guests for guests on the Airplane Geeks podcast who tweet.

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 137 - Airline Loyalty and Social Media [ 1:52:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10279)

Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon by Stephen Tornblom klgb.blogspot.com

Shashank Nigam, CEO of Simpliflying, is just back from the Loyalty 2011 conference and we talk about how airline loyalty programs measure success and how they work within the airline and with other groups like Communications. We also cover airline use of social media and how they are starting to segment and target customers, and link loyalty programs to social media. Shashank explains how airlines need to step up from social media being about a conversation to being about specific people.

We also have aviation news from the past week, The Australia Desk Report by Steve and Grant from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and Pieter Johnson his Across the Pond segment.

The week’s aviation news:

• First production F-35A Takes Off
• Oil shock threatens airline recovery
• Vibrating cockpit seat proposed for pilot alerts
• The Martin Jetpack
• Southwest pilots OK ‘AirTran transition agreement’
• Boeing Defeats EADS for $35 Billion Air Force Tanker Program

Mentions:

• Flip.to Hotels, restaurants, and airlines leveraging social networks.
• New Zealand Red Cross

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 128 - Planesafe with Jillian [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7226)

Jillian Gustafson, Board member of the National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation joins the geeks as this episode’s guest. Members of the organization include air crash survivors, family members, aviation professionals and those who support the founding goals – Safety, Security, Survivability, and Support for Victims’ Families. Jillian tweets as @planesafeorg, and also blogs for the group.

We also have the aviation news from the past week, Steve and Grant’s Australia Desk Report, and Pieter Johnson with his Across the Pond segment.

The week’s aviation news:

• Southwest orders bigger jets; Are Hawaii, Caribbean next?
• Delta Boosts First-Class Seats 13% for Business Fliers
• Aviation committee looks into navigation, babies on laps
• DOT Applauds Future of Aviation Advisory Committee (FAAC) Recommendations
• FAA routinely misses airline inspection deadlines
• Best Careers 2011: Commercial Pilot
• Dreamliner’s woes pile up

Mentions:

• Kids Fly Safe
• DOT’s Aviation Child Safety Points are not adequate to NTSB
• NORAD Tracks Santa

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.

Happy holidays to all our listeners!

Post photo courtesy Kids Fly Safe.

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 127 - Required Navigation Performance [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7338)

Our guest this episode is Captain Steve Fulton. As a pilot at Alaska Airlines, Steve helped develop the world’s first Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedure, and he was a principal author of the RNP RNAV criteria in the FAA Advisory Circular on this topic. Steve is now a Technical Fellow with GE Aviation, and a co-founder of what was formerly Naverus now GE PBN Services.

Graphic courtesy GE Aviation. To learn more about RNP and what it means for the airline industry and for the environment, see these videos:

• GE’s RNP path implementation at Bradley Airport in Connecticut
• Animation of RNP path vs. ground-based navigation path

We also have the aviation news from the past week, Steve and Grant’s Australia Desk Report, and Pieter Johnson with his Across the Pond segment.

The week’s aviation news:

• Verdict in Concorde crash called ‘chilling’
• Southwest’s Performance Problem: How to Fix Those Late Arrivals
• Plane makers eye Persian Gulf buyers for luxury jets

Mentions:

• TarmacLimits.com The impact of tree-hour tarmac delay rules and fines on passenger travel time and welfare.

• AirlinesAngel has a passion for aviation, with specific interest in the areas of customer focus and social media.

• Safety Is Mandatory video by jetBlue employees, and featuring listener Stephen.

• Desert Pilot Podcast Stories from a Commercial Land & Sea Pilot/ATC student.

• JSF engine too big for regular transport at sea from the Navy Times.

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/.