Podcast: Play in new window | Download (47.6MB)

Our guest this episode is Joe Bellino, a retired Air Traffic Controller. He was with the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) and after the 1981 Controllers strike he became the local union rep for the new National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). Joe was a regional union VP from 1986 to 1990, and also the Executive VP of NATCA from 1991 to 1994.

We talk about NextGen ATC, controller fatigue, types of people who make good controllers and how to test them (or not) for native ability, aircraft separation, and other air traffic control topics.

The week’s aviation news:

• Obama signs FAA bill that aims to modernize aviation system
• Collapse Of The U.S. Regional Airline Industry Is A Real Concern

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Air Australia goes bankrupt only three months after re-branding from Strategic, leaving 4,000 passengers stranded and 96,000 ticket holders wondering if they’ll get any refund. We’re joined by senior aviation journalist Ben Sandilands as we discuss the events and what led up to them. The news provided a perfect diversion for Qantas CEO Allan Joyce, as he delivered very poor profit figures and announced 500 job cuts during the week.

Find Ben Sandilands online at Plane Talking and follow him on Twitter as @planetalking. 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.

On Across The Pond this week, Pieter talks to James Cliff, PR Executive and Commentator for the Blades Display Team, one of Europes best aerobatic display teams.

You can find The Blades team on Twitter at @thebladesteam on the Web at www.theblades.biz, and on Facebook as The Blades Aerobatic Team. Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.

Mentioned in the episode:

• Bell 525 Relentless
• Aviation Museums
• Link to One Six Right on Hulu

White 767s at Dulles maps.google.com 38.942792,-77.449264

Links from listeners:

• NTSB: Planes at Chicago’s Midway came within 300 feet of each other
• The Hidden Cost of Africa’s Air Traffic Boom
• Sikorsky Opens Business Office in Mexico
• Chile LAN Airlines Sees TAM Merger Consolidated In Second Quarter
• Yokosuka D4Y-1 Suisei “Judy” Restoration at Planes of Fame

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/.