Airplane Geeks - Episode 173 - Jamie Dodson Knows Nick Grant [ 1:35:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5931)

Guest Jamie Dodson, is author of the Nick Grant adventure novel series, including Flying Boats & Spies, and China Clipper. Jamie is a Technology Protection Officer for the Security and Intelligence Division, US Army, Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), Intelligence Division. He has over 30 years of experience in Intelligence Operations for the US Military. He’s served with Special Operations, Army Aviation, Airborne Infantry, and Military Police and has worked operations all over the world.

The week’s aviation news:

• Proposed Rules For Exports Protect Stealth
• Embraer Plans Engine Upgrades Over Building Bigger Jet to Take On Boeing
• United marks nation’s first biofuel-powered commercial flight
• Tarmac Delays An Image Problem For Conn. Airport
• Audio and Transcript: JetBlue Pilot Pleads for Help from Bradley Airport Control Tower

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Grant assumes high office, Virgin Australia introduces business class, Qantas announces A380s on the Sydney – Hong Kong route, Strategic Airlines re-brands as Air Australia, 3rd KC30A tanker enters RAAF service, they hijack Grill The Geeks!

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 as they continue their conversation from last week and talk about the new proposed Register in the Channel Islands and the good friends at Ryanair. Find Gareth at www.globalaviationresource.com and Tim at www.aerosociety.com.

Mentioned in the episode:

• The Middle Seat podcast with Scott McCartney
• DARPA Testing Global Hawk Drones As Aerial Tankers
• Refueling Gear Makes Navy’s Next Drone Even Deadlier
• FAR Sec. 121.317
• FAR Sec. 25.791

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 118 - The Return of Runway Girl [ 1:34:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5636)

Mary Kirby, the “Runway Girl” returns as our guest to talk about airlines using social media to generate revenue, the future for inflight connectivity, Aircell’s business aviation strategy, and more. Mary blogs on FlightGlobal as RunwayGirl, follow her on Twitter, and be sure to visit RunwayGirlMaryKirby’s Channel on YouTube.

The week’s aviation news:

• Air Canada forges deal with United
• U.S., Japanese Airlines Win Approval for Alliance
• Southwest Wants Into Washington National
• Commercial rocketplane takes first gliding flight test
• Israel to pay $2.7B for F-35I jets

Mentions:

• SimpliFlying
• MySkyStatus by Lufthansa
• The official Frontier Airlines customer service assist Twitter account, FrontierCare
• Aircell for BizAv on Twitter
• Dragons of Thin Air: The Less Concise Fear of Flying Course

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 117 - Something Fishy Here [ 1:29:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5843)

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/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 115 - More Manno [ 1:32:39 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6392)

Airline Captain Chris Manno makes a return visit to tell us how many pilots it takes to fly an airliner. He also gives us his insight into things going on in the industry. Chris blogs at JetHead and you can find his collection of aviation themed cartoons at FlightcrewZoo.com.

Gavin Werbeloff, travel_buddha on Twitter, helps out as a guest co-host. Jon Ostrower, the FlightBlogger, steps in for a bit to contribute to the conversation and give us a Boeing 787 update.

The week’s aviation news:

• UAL and Continental Shareholders Approve Merger
• Pilots call for changes to proposed fatigue rules
• Boeing assails European characterization of WTO ruling
• Do We Dare Raise Hope for a Meigs Revival?

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 112 - Airline Security [ 1:39:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6710)

Our guest this episode is Fred Gevalt, founder of The Air Charter Guide and a bit of a political activist, having successfully sued the FAA in 1998 on behalf of his air charter constituency. Fred’s a pilot, he’s built airplanes himself, and he flies aircraft for business and recreation. Fred is also the executive producer of a new documentary film titled “Please Remove Your Shoes” which takes a critical look at airport and airline security, both pre and post September 11.

The week’s aviation news:

• 787 first delivery delayed to mid-Q1 2011
• Boeing May Risk More Penalties After Sixth Delay on Dreamliner
• U.S. Approves Merger of United and Continental
• Mexicana to Suspend All Flights by Tomorrow After Last Week’s Acquisition
• Aeromexico offers discounts for Mexicana customers
• Future of Aviation Advisory Committee

Mentions:

• Bruce Schneier – Schneier on Security, a blog covering security and security technology.
• Desert Pilot Podcast

Thanks to special guest Steve Frischling from http://www.flyingwithfish.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 103 - Live ATC [ 1:37:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6796)

Guest Dave Pascoe from LiveATC.net explains how he provides real-time Air Traffic Control feeds directly to your browser, mp3 player, and mobile device. LiveATC will be streaming ATC communications live from EAA Airventure at Oshkosh (in a joint partnership with EAA) – including both Tower frequencies and some other goodies. Look for Dave during the first few days of the show.

The week’s aviation news:

• United, Continental pilots say early talks falter
• Sexy Spirit Airlines ad that mocks BP oil disaster sparks outrage
• Spirit Airlines Loves That You Hate Their Ads (and They Should)
• ATC’s crisis night: Back-up does not work as radar fails
• US Air Force, industry prepare for T-38 replacement
• FAA To Change Age Retirement Rules For Air Traffic Controllers
• Comment extension grants time to act on avgas
• Boeing to bring 787 to Farnborough, happy with flight testing progress

David returns with his This Week in Aviation history segment. Steve and Grant from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast have another great Australia Desk report.

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 99 - Bits and Pieces [ 1:32:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4935)

In this episode, Rob, Max, and David discuss aviation news, with a focus on odd stories. Then Dan brings in Tom from The Airline Blog to talk about some additional stories. David has six interviews from the 2010 Joint Service Open House, as well as his usual This Week in Aviation segment. Finally, Steve and Grant have this week’s Australia Desk report.

The news:

• The Future of Airliners?
• Boeing apologizes for curt rejection letter sent to young boy
• SkyWest Airlines Flight Diverted after Alien Claim
• A viewing deck built right into your private jet
• New Lufthansa Bathrooms Made for Banging?
• Get Angry and TSA May Tag You
• More pilots needed, AOPA president tells Aero Club
• “Continited” Announces First 787 Route
• The end of Virgin Atlantic’s ‘splendid isolation’?
• Report: Air France-KLM to restart talks for big plane order
• Ryanair Announces 42nd Base at Barcelona El Prat

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.

Australia Desk Report music is Journey of the Sorcerer by The Eagles, used in the British TV version of the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Post photo courtesy listener Seb Spencer.

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 97 - Darryl Jenkins on Airlines [ 1:41:35 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4630)

This week airline analyst Darryl Jenkins joins the guys to add his considerable industry knowledge to the conversation. Darryl is Managing Director at Aviation Consulting Group and author of the Handbook of Airline Economics. He’s worked for many of the world’s airlines, he’s consulted for the FAA, DOT, NTSB and other government agencies as well as many foreign countries. Among other places, you can find Darryl at The Airline Zone (http://www.theairlinezone.com/) which contains a series on the future of the airline industry.

David’s got a short interview with Sean D. Tucker, the Australia Desk sent an interview with Owen Zupp during his arould Australia flight, this time in person at the RAAF Museum at the RAAF Point Cook airbase, and we have This Week in Aviation.

• International Learn to Fly Day
• DOT Secretary LaHood names aviation future panel
• Ben Baldanza, Spirit Airlines
• Flight cancellations come in light of new tarmac rules
• New Union-Friendly Rules Could Affect Delta
• Boeing Unveils Unmanned Phantom Ray Demonstrator

See also the 1940 Air Terminal Museum Airplane site at http://www.1940airterminal.org/ for their fundraising raffle of a vintage 1958 Cessna 172.

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 96 - Karlene's Flight to Success [ 1:52:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5829)

Our guest this week is Karlene Petitt, a long time airline pilot, currently flying with Delta. She blogs at Flight to Success and she’s also an emerging author. Karlene describes her training to fly the A330, what it’s like to pilot for a major U.S. airline, and how pilots like to be in control but sometimes are not. Karlene also brings a lot of good insight into current airline news. We had such an interesting conversation with Karlene that we had to skip a lot of the news.

Benet Wilson from AviationWeek helps out with the co-hosting. By the way, she’s got a new blog going called The TRAVEL World According to Benet. Also, Steve Visscher and Grant McHerron from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast joined us live for the news:

• 2010 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition
• Airline merger’s route leads to federal regulators
• United/Continental Unions Could Battle
• Safety recommendations made on engines, life vests in plane that ditched into Hudson River
• US Airways CEO: NextGen benefits don’t justify equipage investment

David returns to provide his This Week in Aviation history segment.

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.

Thanks to Mark Hsiung for permission to use his Delta A330 photograph above.

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 95 - Alaskan Bush Pilots [ 1:31:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4957)

Jim Oltersdorf joins us to talk about bush flying in Alaska. Jim is a pilot and an accomplished aviation and outdoor photographer and writer. He thrives in extreme and high-risk areas, and he’s produced a high def documentary film called Alaska’s Bush Pilots, The Real Deal , A true story about the pilots, their aircraft, nature and the wilderness of Alaska. You can find Jim’s personal page at http://www.joltersdorf.com/ and his site for the film at http://www.alaskasbushpilots.com/.

We also have with us this episode Bob Poole, the founder of the Reason Foundation, a free market think tank. Bob has some interesting things to say about the NextGen ATC system that’s been in the works for over a decade. Bob was among the first to propose the commercialization of the U.S. air traffic control system, and his work has helped shape proposals for a U.S. air traffic control corporation.

We favored our guests over the news this time, but we did mention:

• United, Continental deal approaches reality
• General Aviation Industry Prepares For An Unleaded Fuel

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. Find more BroLo at his site: http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.