Tag Archives: UPS

520 UPS Airlines

We look at UPS Airlines, including the fleet, the pilots, the technology, and the processes employed. Also, the Perlan 2 altitude record flight, GA accident rates, an F-35C incident, and pizza for 159 American Airlines passengers. We celebrate the 97th birthday of a WASP, look at the Immortal Red Baron air show act and a new Old Guys and Their Airplanes video. We also have a promo code for tickets to the 2018 Audi Stuart Air Show.

UPS Airlines 747-8F

UPS Airlines 747-8F. Courtesy UPS.

Guest

Jim Mayer is public relations manager for UPS Airlines. He’s based at the airline’s headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.

Jim Mayer, UPS Airlines Public Relations Manager.

Jim Mayer, UPS Airlines Public Relations Manager.

We talk about the UPS Airlines fleet makeup: the “brown tails” (including the new 747-8F freighters) and the small feeder aircraft vendors. Jim explains the daily cycle at the Worldport® global air hub in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the world’s largest automated package sorting hub, where they experience airplane landings every 70 seconds over about a three hour period each night.

Jim tells us about cockpit technology projects, the hot spare aircraft that stand ready, and the UPS Flight Path program with Ameriflight to help keep new pilots in the pipeline.

UPS is the official logistics provider for Expo 2020 Dubai and we talk about the daily nonstop flight from the Worldport hub to Dubai, UAE. Made possible with the Boeing 747-8F freighter, this route improves time-in-transit from North and South America to Middle East destinations by one business day.

Of course, over the years UPS Airlines has encountered some unique shipments, and Jim tells us about a few of them, as well as recent humanitarian flights to Puerto Rico.

Jim joined UPS in 2003 following a career as an Emmy-award-winning broadcast reporter. As PR manager at UPS Airlines, Jim manages media relations and external communications for one of the world’s largest airlines. He has traveled extensively around the world, helping to tell the UPS story, including coverage of major facility expansions in China and Europe; and unique charter moves such as whale sharks and humanitarian aid flights.

Jim is a Chicago-area native and has a B.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University in Bloomington.

Follow UPS Airlines on Twitter at @UPSAirlines, and find them on Facebook and Instagram. Also, see the latest news at the UPS Pressroom, where you’ll also find UPS Air Operations Facts

UPS Airlines Worldport global hub.

UPS Airlines Worldport global hub. Courtesy UPS.

Pushing the tank onto UPS Airlines. Courtesy UPS.

Pushing the tank onto UPS Airlines. Courtesy UPS.

Aviation News

Experimental Perlan 2 aircraft breaks high-altitude human flight record

The Airbus Perlan Mission II pressurized glider has been out riding atmospheric pressure waves, and it’s reached more than 76,000 feet. That’s believed to be the record for subsonic human flight in a winged aircraft. This meant the flight crossed the Armstrong Line, the altitude above which a human’s blood will boil without some kind of protection.

AOPA Nall Report: Accident Rates Drop Again

The AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Joseph T. Nall Report [PDF] says that the general aviation overall and fatal accident rates are at a 10-year low. Fatal crashes decreased to 0.84 per 100,000 hours. Accidents with pilot-related causes make up 74 percent of non-commercial, fixed-wing accidents. Accidents related to mechanical and maintenance issues made up about 16 percent of the overall total.

F-35C, Super Hornet Damaged During At-Sea Aerial Refueling

An F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter flying from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) was damaged during an aerial refueling exercise. The engine ingested debris from an aerial refueling basket.

American Airlines pilot buys Papa John’s Pizza for 159 passengers after flight is diverted

American Airlines Flight 2354 from Los Angeles to Dallas/Fort-Worth experienced extreme thunderstorms and was diverted to Wichita Falls, Texas. The next flight to DFW was the following day. Captain Jeff Raines responded by ordering 40 pizzas from the local Papa John’s store, and even hand carried the pizzas from the delivery car to the waiting passengers.

Audi Stuart Air Show

November 2-4, 2018 in Stuart, Florida you can experience the Treasure Coast’s largest annual event with breathtaking performances including by the United States Marine Corp Harrier, the Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, the Phillips 66 Aerostars, and others. Of course, there will be many static displays like The Movie Memphis Belle, the C-17 Globemaster III, and the OV1 Mohawk. 

At the Stuart Air Show, you can also take advantage of rides offered with special guests, including a Cobra Attack Helicopter and a T-6 Texan. Plan your Audi Stuart Air Show experience now at stuartairshow.com.

Also, starting September 17th, Airplane Geeks has teamed up with the Stuart Air Show for a week of aviation trivia.  Each day September 17 – 23rd at 6 pm on their Facebook page, they will be posting an aviation-related trivia question.  The person with the most correct answers (and who answers the fastest) will win 4 tickets to their VIP event on November 2nd! That is a $600 value!  Learn more about the Stuart Air Show at stuartairshow.com and on Facebook.

We are thrilled to be able to bring our listeners a special ticket offer to the Stuart Air Show. Use promo code “geekspodcast” at checkout to enjoy a special $10 ticket offer through October 31, 2018.

Immortal Red Baron

At the Blue Bonnet Air Show at the Burnet, Texas Municipal Airport, Airplane Geeks reporter-at-large Launchpad Marzari interviewed Stefan Trischuk of the “Immortal Red Baron” air show. This was a different act as it was a staged dogfight with another airshow performer.

Immortal Red Baron

Jane Doyle

Also at the Blue Bonnet show, Launchpad met Mrs. Jane Doyle, celebrating her 97th birthday. Jane is one of the last WASP.

Mentioned

Artist John Mollison has released another “Old Guys and Their Airplanes” video featuring 2nd Lt. James Kunkle who flew P-38s with the 9th Air Force over Europe during WWII. Jim was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his combat action on Sept. 16, 1944.  In this video, Jim describes a terrific dogfight that he experienced in 1944 where he took on 20 or so German fighter planes. OGTA #12 – Split Second – The Jim Kunkle Story.

Listener Hendrik sent in a picture from his wedding to his lovely wife Marielle.  If you remember a few weeks back, on their way to Hawaii for their honeymoon, they got a tour of Los Angeles from Brian during their LAX layover.  Featured in the picture is a Beluga, Marielle’s favorite plane, carrying some precious cargo: their wedding rings.

Whirly-Girls opens their 2019 scholarship season.

This photographer captured total solar eclipse from a commercial airplane at 39,000 feet

Above and Beyond

Credit

Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.

And special thanks to co-host Max Trescott for constructing Knoxville Studio B, just for this episode:

Now that’s how you do it in a hotel room!

 

450 A Worldwide LGBT Aviation Community

Airline pilot Kathy Dulson tells us about the National Gay Pilots Association, and we discuss the recent flurry of airline public relations disasters. Also, an all-female UPS crew, the Blue Angels touch in the air, some airlines are dropping the “two persons in the cockpit” rule, and runway safety problems at Santa Monica.

Guest

Kathy Dulson

Kathy Dulson

Kathy Dulson is a Boeing 757/767 pilot for a major legacy airline based in Los Angeles. She has been involved in aviation for 29 years with four different airlines, starting in customer service and airline operations before pursuing her dream of flight. Kathy has been an airline pilot since 2002 flying the Saab 340, Canadair Regional Jet, Airbus 320, and now Boeing 757/767.

Kathy is also on the Board of Directors of the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA), a non-profit organization that promotes advocacy and outreach, pilot careers, aviation safety, and social and professional networking. She is also a member of Women in Aviation International, the Ninety-Nines, and ISA+21.

Our conversation includes a discussion of the advocacy the NGPA provides on behalf of LGBT members of the airline community. We look at the sponsorship provided by airlines and the scholarships offered, as well as the local chapters with flight schools and universities, membership in NGPA, and the role of allies.

Find the NGPA on Twitter and Facebook.

Aviation News

Are Airline CEOs Finally Getting The Message A Big Change Is Needed?

The writer attributes incidents like the violent removal of a United passenger to a procedure-based industry that prevents a culture where frontline employees are empowered to make situational decisions.

That airline customer relations issues are prevalent in the news is evidenced by this list of stories that came up on the first page of a Google News search for the word “airline.”

Delta Airlines Pilot Hits Passenger At Atlanta Airport, Returns To Work

A pilot for Delta Airlines was caught on video hitting a passenger at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The passenger was brawling with another woman at the time.

Is It Time for Airlines to Stop Overselling Flights?

George Hobica says overselling makes air travel look bad, and “It’s time for the airlines to stop this or for the DOT or Congress to do it for them.”

First all-female crew to fly UPS plane at Thunder

Thunder Over Louisville is an annual airshow and fireworks display that kicks off the Kentucky Derby Festival. UPS was an event sponsor and a UPS 757 was part of the airshow. What makes this unique is that this was the first UPS crew flying in Thunder Over Louisville comprised of all women – flight and ground crew.

Blue Angels jets swap paint in close call over Pensacola

Two United States Navy Blue Angels airplanes touched during a flyover with the Air Force Thunderbirds near Pensacola Beach, Florida.

German airlines drop safety rule prompted by Germanwings crash

After the 2015 Germanwings crash where the pilot flew the plane into the ground, a “two person in the cockpit” rule was widely discussed. A rule change was advocated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, but last year EASA changed the requirement and allowed individual airlines make their own determination. The German aviation association BDL has announced that effective June 1, 2017, airlines will return to their original cockpit safety procedures.

Safety Problems Identified in Shortened Runway Plan at Santa Monica

Plans to shorten Santa Monica’s Runway 03/21 per the city’s January agreement with the FAA may create a number of potential safety issues.

Mentioned

A First Look Inside The New Private VIP Terminal At Los Angeles International Airport

The International Society of Women Airline Pilots

Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show, May 13-14, 2017. Bags/Prohibited Items List.

Airline Pilot Guy Episode 269

Innovations in Flight Family Day and Outdoor Aviation Display

Larry Page-backed Kitty Hawk shows off its flying electric ‘car,’ available later this year

Video: Introducing the Kitty Hawk Flyer

Lilium shows maiden flight of world’s first working prototype of an electric VTOL jet

Video: The Lilium Jet – The world’s first all-electric VTOL jet

Credit

Intro music courtesy Brother Love from his Album Of The Year CD. Outtro by Bruno Misonne from The Sound of Flaps.

AirplaneGeeks 313 – Cathy With a C, Babies No E

Vulcan at Farnborough by Ian Allen

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, general aviation flying, business aviation recovery, the new Eastern Air Lines, UPS 1354, hacker threats, two Lancasters and a Vulcan.

Guest

Most of Cathy Babis professional experience has been in the aviation industry.  She is a pilot, flight instructor, ground instructor, air traffic controller, weather observer, and aviation chart cartographer. She’s also a standup comedian.

Cathy works for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency making instrument flying charts for military pilots to use when flying outside the U.S. The NGA is both an intelligence agency and a combat support agency, and currently has some job opportunities. She tells us a few good flying stories, including one where she met Steve McQueen.

Visit Cathy’s comedy website, and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

The News

Business Aviation’s Second Quarter Comeback

According to a report published by Jet Support Services Incorporated (JSSI), second quarter 2014 global business aviation activity grew by 8 percent quarter-over-quarter and by 3 percent year-over-year. JSSI tracks the number of hours that business aircraft have flown according to region, industry and aircraft type.

Aviation analyst sees slow growth in business jet market

Rolland Vincent, president of Rolland Vincent Associates, spoke at the recent Wichita Aero Club luncheon: He forecasts demand for 9,391 business jets in the next 10 years valued at $257 billion.

NTSB bans airline, pilots union from participating in UPS 1354 crash investigation

The Airbus A300 crashed short of the runway on approach to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport on Aug. 14, 2013, killing the two pilots on board.

Hackers Target Gaming Networks, Plane Carrying Sony Exec

Angry hackers tweet threats directed at the commercial flight of the Sony Online Entertainment President.

America’s Newest Airline Is a Very Old One

Created in 2011, Eastern Air Lines Group has moved their head offices to the old Eastern operations center at Miami International Airport. Boeing 737-800 jets are on order.

Across the Pond

Lancaster Bomber 2014 UK Tour

© Steve Comber – www.globalaviationresource.com

Pieter talks about the Lancaster Bomber 2014 UK Tour and Vulcan To The Sky, which dovetails into the even greater sight of the #Avro3Sisters flight.

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

Listener Recording

From Micah, “Pueblo – A Geeks Dream.”

Mentioned

Girls With Wings

Credit

Vulcan photo at Farnborough by Ian Allen.

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

APG 266 – The Aviation Queen

United

Benet Wilson returns to talk aviation: what to expect at this year’s AOPA Summit and what will be replacing the Summit in 2014, her flight training and the support from other aviators, even  flying with children where Benet offers some suggestions based on her experience with her child (the “Princess of Planes”). Also, irritating things that passengers do on planes and Strange But True Aviation News.

Benet is the Social Media/eNewsletters Editor for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). She blogs at Aviation Queen and is AvQueenBenet on Twitter.

The Week’s Aviation News:

David Venderhoof’s Airplane of the Week: Voyager 1, the world’s first Interstellar ship. Launched in 1977 with a “Golden Record,”  Voyager 1 has finally left the solar system and entered deep space. @NASAVoyager is the official account for NASA’s twin Voyager 1 & 2 spacecraft.

In this week’s Australia Desk:

At the recent AusFly event, Grant and Ben Jones caught up with Dick Smith (an Australian entrepreneur, pilot and adventurer) and Ryan Campbell (the youngest person to fly around the world) to record a quick chat about their trips around the world & how Dick advised Ryan.

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 we talk to AeroBlogger Rohit Rao about the latest airline news and developments in India. This includes Air India’s first flights with the B787 to Australia, Spice Jet’s international expansion and novel seat booking system and the launch of yet another new airline in the region, Air Costa.

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

Mentioned:

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

Episode 212 – UPS Airlines

United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, Sydney - Kingsford Smith International (Mascot) (SYD / YSSY), February 29, 2012  by Ryan Hothersall
United Parcel Service McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, Sydney – Kingsford Smith International (Mascot) (SYD / YSSY), February 29, 2012 by Ryan Hothersall

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.

Flying as Boeing 288, passing infront of the KPAE factory, about   to touchdown on 16R by Malcolm Muir.
Flying as Boeing 288, passing infront of the KPAE factory, about to touchdown on 16R by Malcolm Muir.

The week’s aviation news:

747-400 Nose Loading
747-400 Nose Loading courtesy UPS

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:

747 Over Green Caps
747 Over Green Caps courtesy UPS.

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