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Max talks with Rob Mark about a classic "simple mistake with big consequences" scenario: a pilot who possibly raised the landing gear handle instead of selecting flaps up during the landing roll in a Cirrus Vision Jet. The event looks minor on the surface—no injuries and the airplane stayed on the runway—but it exposes a human-factors trap that can bite any retractable-gear pilot, especially when you're trying to be quick and efficient right after touchdown. The discussion centers on the NTSB's final report for a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet that landed at Watsonville Municipal Airport (Watsonville, California) on August 9, 2024. The pilot reported a normal approach and landing. Before touchdown, he had the flaps set to 100% and saw three green landing gear indications. Touchdown itself was uneventful. But during the landing roll—right about when braking began—the nose landing gear collapsed. Max and Rob walk through what the data showed. On short final, the airplane was properly configured: flaps at 100% and the landing gear down and locked. During rollout, both weight-on-wheels switches were briefly "unloaded," and the landing gear handle was raised and then lowered. That sequence unlocked the nose gear and allowed it to collapse. The main gear also unlocked, but it re-locked before collapsing. The probable cause boiled down to an inadvertent control selection: the pilot likely moved the gear handle instead of selecting the flap switch to 0%. From there, they unpack why this kind of error is so believable. The flap selector switch sits below the landing gear handle, and many pilots develop a post-touchdown habit of "cleaning up" quickly. Some of that comes from short-field technique: retracting flaps can put more weight on the wheels, increase braking effectiveness, and reduce stopping distance. But the exact moment you're tempted to do it is also the moment you have the least spare attention. You're still fast, directional control still matters, braking is being modulated, and you're managing the transition from flight to rollout. Add fatigue, distraction, or a slightly different cockpit flow than usual, and a wrong-control grab becomes completely plausible. A big takeaway is that landing isn't over at touchdown. Many pilots subconsciously relax as soon as the mains touch, as if the hard part is done. In reality, the landing roll is when you still have a lot of kinetic energy and limited margin for distraction. Looking down, changing configuration, or reaching for cockpit controls before you're stabilized is how small errors turn into big repair bills. Max and Rob emphasize that "post-landing tasks" are optional until the airplane is clearly under control and slowing. So what should pilots do differently? Their answer is intentionally boring: slow the flow down. On most runways there is no operational need to rush flap retraction during rollout. Keep your eyes outside, keep the airplane tracking straight, and let speed decay. If you choose to retract flaps on rollout, treat it like a checklist item, not a reflex. Touch the correct control deliberately, verify what you're touching, and use a short verbal callout ("flaps zero") before you move it. Better yet, tie configuration changes to safer triggers—below taxi speed, after exiting the runway, or after stopping and running the after-landing checklist—so you're not doing "extra tasks" while still managing high speed and directional control. They also discuss building habits that are resistant to error. If your technique is "as soon as I touch down, I do X," you're training your hands to move before your brain has finished verifying the right target. Replace that with a pause that forces confirmation, or a flow that keeps critical controls physically and mentally separated in time. The goal isn't to be fast; it's to be consistent and correct. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1299NEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. News Stories ForeFlight and Jeppesen announce Layoffs AOPA asks pilots to contact Congress to Support PAPA FAA makes permanent restrictions for helicopters near DCA House passes bill that would block ATC privatization Report Shows Rise in DPE Supply Super Bowl LX: What General Aviation Pilots Need to Know New glider distance record - Instagram video Stolen Plane Crashes Into Hangar FBI investigates stolen planes, one found at Auburn airport Authorities looking for couple in connection with thefts Pilot in crash near Boise charged with operating under the influence Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Video of the Week: Max's video showing ADS-B data for NASCAR driver crash Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
On this week's episode of AvTalk, the US issues a set of NOTAMs warning of military activity in a large swath of the North Pacific. The NTSB issues an update on the UPS MD-11 crash, focusing on additional materials analysis performed on a bearing from the engine pylon mount. An ATR 42 operating for the […] The post AvTalk Episode 354: Want to buy a 747SP? appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.
Join the team for a look at the latest aviation news from around the world and across the UK. In this week's show we have an NTSB update on the MD-11 crash, a Ryanair whoopsie, a hard landing in Orlando, plus the dos and don'ts of powerbanks onboard aircraft. In the military news we've got a story about a flying Dorito (hopefully Chilli Heatwave flavour), and 3D printing technology being used on fighter jets. We'll have an update on our 600th show, which is coming up in May, and as always, the ever popular Retro Airline Ad of the week. You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email podcast@planetalkinguk.com or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.
The Americas Aviation Lead for PA Consulting discusses key priorities for the U.S. aviation industry, including investing in airport infrastructure and addressing the industry’s labor shortage. In the news, a bill to pay controllers during a shutdown, why ATC modernization has failed, the FAA’s unleaded avgas transition plan, similarities between the UPS crash and a previous problem with bearings, and the FAA’s decision to deregister hundreds of aircraft. Also, a new studio album from an airline pilot, visiting the USS Midway Museum in Southern California, and listener feedback on attractive airplanes. Guest Carlos Ozores is the Americas Aviation Lead for PA Consulting, a global firm that focuses on technology and innovation. Carlos addresses the key priorities for the U.S. aviation industry in 2026, including investing in airport infrastructure and addressing the industry labor shortage. He explains that U.S. airports have an estimated $170B capital requirement over the next five years to address airport infrastructure needs. Carlos tells us about the traditional sources to fund such projects, and what other sources could make up the shortfall. We look at public-private partnerships, the Passenger Facility Charge, and monetization of airport assets such as terminal concessions, car parking, and real estate development. Also, utilizing data collected about passengers and the importance of airport stakeholder engagement. Carlos tells us how the aging workforce is contributing to an industry labor shortage and leading to the loss of institutional knowledge. We talk about promoting the industry to the young generations, and issues such as pay, training, documented and repeatable work, quality of life, and labor relations. Before joining PA Consulting, Carlos served as Vice President and Managing Director, Head of Aviation, Americas, for ICF, a global solutions and technology provider. Before that, he spent time at American Airlines and Air France. He just returned from the American Association of Airport Executives Aviation Issues Conference in Hawaii, and we hear his observations from that event. PA aviation clients include SkyTeam and its member airlines on sustainability issues, Heathrow Airport on on-time performance and passenger experience projects, Etihad Airways on decision-support for engine fleet management, and DFW on airport operations. Other clients have included Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Aer Lingus, and multiple SkyTeam member airlines through SkyTeam's sustainability program. See: Airport Improvement Program Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) program Airports Council International American Association of Airport Executives Jacobs to Acquire Remaining Stake in PA Consulting Aviation News Update: Air Traffic Controller Pay During Shutdowns Meets Resistance The House Transportation Committee advanced a bipartisan bill (H.R.6086 – Aviation Funding Solvency Act) which “provides continuing appropriations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if (1) an appropriations bill for the FAA has not been enacted before a fiscal year begins, or (2) a law making continuing appropriations for the FAA is not in effect.” The “bill provides appropriations from the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year. The FAA may use the balance of the fund, minus $1 billion. If the FAA determines that the amounts from the fund are insufficient to continue all programs, projects, or activities, then the FAA must prioritize compensation payments for employees of the Air Traffic Organization (e.g., air traffic controllers).” However, Steve Womack (R-Ark.), chair of the House Appropriations Committee's transportation panel, is critical of the legislation. The Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund exists to cover war‑risk insurance claims for airlines participating in government programs such as the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), when commercial insurance is unavailable or withdrawn. The balance was originally built up from premiums paid by airlines, but that premium program authority expired in 2014. Because the fund has been largely unused for claims, investment earnings have grown it to roughly more than 2.6 billion dollars, significantly above what has historically been needed for CRAF-related claims. The Abundance Problem: Why the FAA Has Spent 40 Years Modernizing Air Traffic Control—and Still Isn't Done Vincent E. Bianco III, an FAA Veteran and Senior Aviation Safety Consultant, describes why presidential administrations and Congresses have failed to adequately fund the FAA and modernize the ATC system. He draws on a concept from the March 2025 book Abundance: What America Gets Wrong About Capitalism and What We Can Do to Fix It, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. Those authors describe how an institution, like the FAA, can become paralyzed by process, where well-intentioned rules accumulate. Each rule is logical by itself, but taken together, they end up stifling progress. FAA Publishes Unleaded Avgas Transition Plan Daft Section 827 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act directs the FAA to facilitate a safe, timely, and orderly transition to unleaded alternatives while maintaining operational efficiency. The FAA released a Draft Transition Plan to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline – For Public Comment (January 2026, Version 1.0, 77 pages), which phases out 100LL fuel by 2030 in the contiguous United States, and by 2032 in Alaska. The FAA is seeking feedback from aviation professionals, specifically aircraft owners, pilots, and aviation stakeholders. Boeing warned 15 years ago about a part problem at the center of UPS crash The Air Current reports that in an investigation update, the NTSB noted “that cracking discovered in a spherical bearing assembly from the accident aircraft ‘appears consistent' with an issue identified by Boeing almost 15 years ago.” The bearing assembly is part of the pylon aft mount bulkhead. That mount, and the forward mount bulkhead and thrust link assembly, attach the engine pylon to the wing. “The NTSB's preliminary report on the accident, released Nov. 20, revealed that on the left pylon aft mount bulkhead, the forward and aft lugs that house the spherical bearing assembly had fractured and separated. The spherical bearing's outer race, which contains the ball bearing and allows it to move independently of the surrounding parts, had also fractured around its circumference.” The 2011 Boeing service letter informed operators of bearing race failures on three different airplanes. A visual inspection of the part was added to the regular 60-month maintenance cycle. Also, Boeing recommended (but did not require) installing a new part design. Boeing determined that failure of the bearing race would “not result in a safety of flight condition.” The NTSB is not saying this is the conclusive cause of the accident. Hundreds of Aircraft Deregistered in FAA Move Against Trust Company About 800 aircraft registered through U.K.-based Southern Aircraft Consultancy have been grounded after the FAA informed the company it did not meet U.S. citizenship requirements. Those requirements allow a trustee firm to register aircraft in the US. Southern Aircraft Consultancy's registration service allows non-American owners to maintain N-registrations on their planes. Southern Aircraft Consultancy says it intends to transfer its business to a U.S.-based company. See: Aircraft Trusts/Voting Trusts NBAA: FAA Aircraft Groundings Over Trustee Violations Show Need for Operator Diligence 737 Diversion Music artist, airline pilot, author, and piano technician Peter Buffington has released his second new studio album, 737 – Diversion by Speed Brake Armed. “Recorded between late-night flights, hotel rooms, and restless studio time, 737 – Diversion captures the raw energy of sleepless nights, long-haul journeys, and the electric haze of life lived at 37,000 feet experienced by pilots. The 15-track project blends classic pop, worldly electronic, country, classic rock, and piano solo with introspective lyricism that pushes aviation-themed music into new territory. The music is family-friendly, yet captures the intensity of airline flying.” 737 Diversion on Apple Music Mentioned California dreamin’! New nonstop service coming to Maine airport Photographs by Listener Steve: Pratt & Whitney 747SP test aircraft at EAA Airventure Oshkosh. A340 on takeoff. A340 in flight. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Rob Mark.
A just-issued NTSB advisory warns operators of several Hawker jet models of a dangerous stall tendency not adequately explained in the aircraft's documentation. Todd Curtis and John Goglia share important background and details.The advisory was issued based on findings from two fatal Hawker jet crashes, one in 2024 and the other in 2025. Both occurred during post-maintenance flights to test the stall warning system. Interesting - the NTSB also noted that it could not find any experience, training, or qualification criteria for pilots tasked to perform a stall test flight or any additional plan or procedures for performing a stall test flight.The advisory applies to 664 recent Hawker jet models and says about 450 older models may have a similar issue. The advisory includes seven recommendations to address the issue. It also states that the manufacturer's instructions for required post-maintenance test flights were deficient. John shares his experience with issues that arise when aircraft return to flight after major maintenance, including pilots who don't take the time to do extensive preflight preparation. In fact, some operators restrict who can fly post-maintenance missions.The NTSB advisory states that in three accidents investigated the effects the crew experienced when the aircraft entered a stall were much more severe than the aircraft's documentation indicated. Don't miss what's to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ryan and Taylor discuss upcoming student transportation awards, the NTSB investigation of a fatal school bus dragging, and a Florida bus aide arrested for child abuse. "Education, engineering and enforcement." Student safety is a passion of Derek Graham, an industry consultant and former state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as well as past president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). He joins us to discuss NASDPTS' annual illegal passing survey and additional safety efforts which he will present about at STN EXPO East this March in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina. Read more about safety. Episode sponsor: Transfinder.
On today's FreightWaves Morning Minute, J.B. Hunt exceeded fourth-quarter earnings expectations by implementing aggressive cost cuts even as revenue dipped slightly. Management noted that cost management drove the Q4 beat at J.B. Hunt amid signs that the truckload market began tightening late last year. In transaction news, Canada's Titanium is going private with a 40%+ bump in stock price, offering shareholders a significant premium and immediate liquidity. This all-cash deal allows the company's fleet to navigate current financial challenges away from the public markets. Meanwhile, investigators found that the part that broke in the UPS cargo jet crash had a history of failure regarding a specific bearing assembly. The NTSB reported that Boeing warned operators of this defect in 2011 but did not classify it as critical to flight safety. Finally, a new episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? airs today featuring a look at high-stakes logistics with G10 Fulfillment. The segment will cover the complexities of being an Amazon-approved hazmat shipper. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Max talks with Mark Waddell of the Cirrus Owner and Pilots Association (COPA) about how Cirrus pilots can reduce accidents by focusing on the places where the accident chain most often begins: unstable approaches, indecisive go-arounds, and delayed choices during power-loss events. They discuss what pilots are doing in the cockpit that turns routine flights into incidents, and what specific habits and training standards reduce that risk. Mark explains that 2025 included eight fatal Cirrus accidents and twelve CAPS saves. Mark argues that the big safety wins come from addressing repeatable patterns: how pilots manage energy on final, how quickly they reject a bad approach, and how early they commit to the safest outcome when the engine isn't reliable. A major theme is decisiveness in abnormal situations, especially anything involving power. Mark walks through how power-loss or engine-roughness events can seduce pilots into flying a normal pattern and hoping things stabilize. That often burns altitude and distance in exchange for false comfort. The operational hazard is simple: the moment a pilot realizes the runway is no longer assured, they're already low, already out of options, and now forced into rushed decisions. Mark emphasizes that when the engine is uncertain, "normal" is the enemy. The airplane doesn't care that the pattern looked tidy; it only cares whether you end up with a survivable outcome. This ties directly into CAPS decision-making. Mark's message is not "CAPS solves everything," but rather that pilots need an explicit decision framework that prevents them from negotiating with themselves while altitude evaporates. He discusses the idea of a CAPS hard deck—an altitude by which, if a pilot is not certain of a safe landing outcome, they commit to pulling the handle. The point of a hard deck isn't to remove judgment; it's to remove hesitation. If you wait until you're low, you've converted a controlled, survivable deployment into a desperate last-second attempt. In that sense, the hard deck is less about the parachute and more about training the pilot's brain to act early enough for any option to work. From emergency decisions, the discussion moves to the most universal risk zone: landing and go-around. Mark notes that a large share of reportable events occur during landing or during an attempted go-around. That makes this phase-of-flight a high-leverage target for training, standards, and self-discipline. The trap is that approaches feel "fixable" until they suddenly aren't. Pilots often rationalize small deviations—slightly fast, slightly high, slightly untrimmed—because they believe they can correct it in the last few hundred feet. But each late correction is an energy trade, and those trades frequently end with excessive speed over the threshold, a flat touchdown, a bounce, or a rushed go-around. They get specific about the "flat landing" pattern. Mark challenges a common cultural habit: equating "smooth" with "good." In many airplanes—and especially in a fast, slick airplane—chasing smoothness can encourage a flatter attitude and higher speed, which increases the chances of touching down on the nose gear or loading it too early. That can lead to nose-gear abuse, shimmy events, prop strikes, and expensive engine tear-downs. Max reinforces the technique side: trimming matters. If pilots are muscling the airplane through configuration changes and final approach, they're behind the airplane before the flare even begins. A well-trimmed airplane is easier to slow, easier to pitch correctly, and easier to land in the right attitude without forcing it onto the runway. Go-arounds get treated as a primary skill, not a backup plan. Mark describes why late go-arounds are especially dangerous: if a pilot waits until a bounce or a deep, unstable touchdown attempt, the airplane is close to the ground, slow, and in a configuration that can punish abrupt changes. The go-around itself is not complicated, but it requires coordinated execution: power comes in, right rudder counters yaw, pitch is managed to prevent an excessive nose-up attitude, and configuration changes are timed rather than rushed. A common failure mode is trying to do everything at once—adding power, retracting flaps too aggressively, and pitching up—creating a stall-prone situation at the worst possible altitude. Mark's guidance pushes pilots toward objective gates: if the approach isn't stable by a defined point, you go around—period. The pilots who get into trouble tend to have elastic standards. They keep moving the goalposts because they want the landing to work. Mark argues that consistency is the cure: standardized stabilized-approach criteria, practiced go-arounds that feel routine, and an acceptance that a go-around is not a failure, it's good judgment. They also address proficiency and recency, emphasizing that safe performance is less about total hours and more about how frequently a pilot is flying and practicing the right skills. Mark points out that annual hours correlate strongly with landing outcomes; low annual utilization can create a false sense of competence because the pilot has experience, but not recent repetition. The solution isn't heroic flying—it's structured practice: recurring instruction, intentional go-around reps, and consistent standards that prevent "drift" back into sloppy technique. To make those standards stick, Mark advocates data-driven debriefing. Instead of relying on subjective feel—"that was fine"—pilots can use post-flight tools, such as FlySto and ForeFlight's Cloud Ahoy, to evaluate approach stability, speed control, glidepath consistency, and touchdown energy. The goal isn't chasing a score; it's finding patterns that predict future mistakes. If your data repeatedly shows fast thresholds, unstable vertical paths, or late corrections, you now have something specific to train. Mark's point is blunt: most pilots don't need more aviation wisdom; they need feedback that's objective enough to change behavior. The episode's bottom line is that Cirrus safety is not about secret techniques. It's about earlier decisions, tighter standards, and repeated practice in the phases of flight where accidents are born. Nail stabilized approaches, normalize early go-arounds, commit sooner in power-loss scenarios, and use honest debriefing to identify risk trends before they turn into an NTSB report. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 HOLIDAY SPECIALNEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $849 HOLIDAY SPECIALLightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Mentioned on the ShowCirrus Owner Pilots Association (COPA) COPA YouTube Channel Video: Garmin Green Donut Explained Buy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 a Aviation News Talk Network podcasts NTSB News Talk podcast UAV News Talk podcast Rotary Wing Show podcast Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
This episode: The first real-world activation of the Garmin Autoland system, the E‑7 Wedgetail networked airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform, the flu season impact on crews, an airline captain stands up for exhausted flight attendants, and airlines with the largest fleets. Additionally, airport modernization and the Dulles people movers, the infrastructure needed to support the growth of personal air vehicles, and containment systems for lithium battery thermal runaway. Aviation News Autoland Saves King Air, Everyone Safe, FAA, NTSB Launch Probes On December 20, 2025, a Super King Air (N479BR) operated by Buffalo River Aviation experienced an in-flight emergency after departing from Aspen, Colorado (KASE) on a FAR Part 91 reposition flight. No passengers were on board. Climbing through 23,000ft MSL, the aircraft experienced a rapid, uncommanded loss of pressurization. The aircraft was equipped with Garmin Aviation’s latest Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) and Autoland systems, automatically engaged when the cabin altitude exceeded the prescribed safe levels. The system selected a suitable airport per Garmin criteria (KBJC, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport), navigated to it, and landed safely. See: NTSB News Talk Episode 20: Garmin Autoland Emergency Landing: First King Air Save Buffalo River Aviation Statement Regarding Colorado Emergency Landing Image courtesy Garmin. Boeing's $724 million radar plane lives on, despite Pentagon efforts to kill it The E‑7 Wedgetail program is designed to replace the legacy E‑3 Sentry/AWACS-type aircraft (Airborne Warning And Control System) with a modern, networked airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform. The E-7 is designed to provide long-range, 360° air and maritime surveillance using an electronically scanned array radar mounted on a Boeing 737 airframe. It's intended to serve as an airborne battle management node, coordinating fighters, surface units, and ground-based air defenses. The Pentagon wants to cancel the purchase of two prototype E-7 Wedgetail jets, but Congress refuses to do so. In fact, Congress provided $847 million in additional funding for the two prototypes. Major Radio Failure Paralyzes Greek Airspace A major failure of aviation radio communications across Greece led to a temporary shutdown of Greek airspace, grounding or diverting flights nationwide for several hours and causing knock-on disruption across Europe. The collapse of radio frequencies in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) forced authorities to halt departures and arrivals until communications were partially restored. Travelers stranded in Caribbean as US military operation sends airlines scrambling to add flights A US military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro led to a temporary FAA closure of Caribbean airspace, causing more than 425 flight cancellations and stranding thousands of travelers across islands including Puerto Rico, Anguilla, St. Maarten, and Aruba. Airlines are now restoring service and adding extra capacity, with most commercial restrictions lifted and operations gradually normalizing. Alaska Airlines Captain Sues Boeing Over 737Max Door Plug Incident Alaska Airlines captain Brandon Fisher has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Boeing and subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems, alleging they tried to make him a scapegoat for the January 5, 2024, mid‑air door plug blowout on Flight 1282. He claims Boeing falsely suggested the incident was due to maintenance or crew error, despite later NTSB findings that pointed to Boeing's inadequate training, guidance, and oversight in its manufacturing processes. Fisher says he has suffered “profound physical and mental repercussions” since the blowout, describing ongoing deterioration linked to emotional injury. Alaska Airlines Hits New All Time Record of 540+ Flight Attendants Going Sick With Carrier Struggling to Operate Full Schedule Flight attendants and pilots are calling out sick in great numbers as the flu season takes hold. Alaska Airlines reports that 540 flight attendants are out. Meanwhile, Frontier, JetBlue, and Spirit have activated contingency plans. In an internal memo, Spirit Airlines said, “Our reserve levels are virtually the same as they have been since 2023, but during this holiday, our sick calls have exceeded previous periods by nearly 250% on some days.” Weather delays and ATC shortages have compounded the problem. A memo reviewed by PYOK explained that nearly 20% of the airline's flight attendants called out sick just before the New Year. My Crew Is Done: United Airlines Captain Refuses to Push Tired Flight Attendants And One Passenger Thanks Him For The Delay FAA regulations generally limit a flight attendant's maximum scheduled duty day to 14 hours on domestic flights. With an augmented crew (adding additional flight attendants), duty can be scheduled beyond 14 hours but is capped at 20 hours. This PYOK article relates the observations of a passenger who saw a United Airlines Captain refuse the attempts of the ground crew to keep the timed-out flight attendants on the boarded plane while another cabin crew could be found. With the FAs exiting the plane, the passengers would have to deplane. Top 10 airlines with the biggest fleets in 2026 United Airlines has the largest fleet with 1,050 single-aisle and widebody aircraft. American Airlines follows with 1,023 aircraft, then Delta Airlines (989), Southwest Airlines (810), China Southern Airlines (708), China Eastern Airlines (679), Skywest Airlines (600), Air China (531), Turkish Airlines (399), and Ryanair (349). The data comes from Planespotters.net and individual airlines. It is current as of December 2025. Mentioned Micah was a guest on WBZ, AM Radio 1030 in Boston with Bradley Jay. He spent an hour talking about all sorts of different aviation and travel things: Ready for Take Off! Dulles Airport Modernization: Dulles mobile lounges could last another two decades, airport officials say 18 people sent to the hospital after mobile lounge crashes at Washington D.C.-area airport Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Launches New Initiative to Revitalize Dulles Airport into The International Gateway Our Nation's Capital Deserves Plane Mate mobile lounge. Newer model. Jetson ONE Jetson ONE. Lithium-ion battery containment: Lithium Fire Guard Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee FAA testing videos: Competitor 1, Competitor 2, Competitor 3, Competitor 4, and PG100. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.
Dangerous winter weather causes travel chaos; Trump meets with Netanyahu, speaks with Putin; NTSB investigates deadly midair collision; and more on tonight's broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Max talks with host Scott Hamilton of WBT, Charlotte's News Talk radio, about the Statesville, North Carolina Citation 550 crash that killed NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others, then expands the conversation with a fresh technical finding and a practical training takeaway for pilots. While preparing for the short radio interview, Max revisited the ADS-B track and noticed something he hadn't seen anyone else write about: the altitude anomaly isn't merely a "jump," it's an impossible spike. The key number is stark. The ADS-B data shows a reported climb of 1,374 feet in 1.64 seconds, which implies a climb rate of almost 50,000 feet per minute—a rate that doesn't make sense for a Citation. Max's point is that this isn't a real aircraft maneuver; it's a data or sensor-path artifact. What makes it more compelling is what happens immediately beforehand: for 34 seconds, there were 14 ADS-B transmissions in a row with the exact same reported altitude. That kind of perfectly flat series is abnormal even if an aircraft is "steady," because pressure altitude reporting typically wiggles at least a little from sample to sample. Max lays out a simple, pilot-intuitive interpretation: the aircraft was likely climbing normally, but the altitude value feeding ADS-B froze for about 34 seconds and then unfroze, "catching up" in one big correction. If you treat that 1,374-foot change as occurring across the 34-second freeze rather than across 1.64 seconds, you get a climb rate around 2,200 fpm—entirely plausible for a departing Citation. About 20 seconds after the correction, the aircraft turned back toward the airport. Max also notes there is audio where a pilot announces on CTAF they are returning because they were "having issues," and he believes those "issues" were likely altimeter/altitude-related rather than a direct cause of the crash. From there, he turns the discussion into something useful for any pilot: how altitude gets measured, encoded, and transmitted—and what kinds of failures can create misleading outputs. In the Citation 550, there are multiple static ports feeding pilot-side and copilot-side instruments, plus potentially additional static sources feeding backups. Depending on the configuration, ADS-B altitude can be sourced through a blind encoder tied to the static system, an air data computer, or an encoding ("coding") altimeter common in older round-gauge aircraft. The operational point: pilots might see one thing on their instruments while the transmitted pressure altitude shows something else—or the opposite—depending on where the fault lives. Max then shifts to the accident sequence on return. Regardless of what prompted the turnback, he argues the crash itself likely occurred on short final for a different reason: visual illusions in rain and degraded visibility. The aircraft struck the approach lighting system short of the runway threshold, which is exactly the kind of outcome that can happen when pilots subtly, unknowingly fly a shallow or low path while "going visual." He emphasizes that we don't yet know the cause with certainty, but absent evidence of an engine failure on short final, illusions are a credible explanatory bucket—and one pilots can learn from immediately. The primary illusion he highlights is water refraction. Rain on the windshield can make the horizon appear lower than it is, which creates the sensation of being higher than you really are—leading to an unconscious nose-down correction and a lower-than-intended glidepath. He also cites guidance that rain, mist, and limited slant visibility reduce and distort visual cues during the instrument-to-visual transition, exactly when pilots are most vulnerable to subtle errors. These effects are also documented in Flight Safety Foundation's ALAR "Visual Illusions" briefing note, which specifically calls out rain-on-windshield refraction and the way rain can change the apparent intensity/brilliance of approach lighting. Max closes with a concrete "do this next time" list. First, if you accept a visual in marginal conditions, load the ILS and use it to back up the visual—it would have shown a low path before contact with approach lights. Second, he discusses a tech-forward defense: using Garmin visual approaches (the NTSB recovered a Garmin GTN 750 from the wreckage) and tools like Pathways in synthetic vision to help maintain a stable vertical picture. But he adds a blunt warning that pilots routinely get wrong: Garmin visual approaches do not guarantee terrain clearance, and in hilly terrain or limited visibility they can route you into terrain unless you've validated them in good conditions. The takeaway is simple: when your eyes can lie, disciplined cross-checking—and knowing the limitations of your tools—is what keeps you off the lights and on a safe path to the runway. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 HOLIDAY SPECIALNEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $849 HOLIDAY SPECIALLightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Mentioned on the ShowFlight Safety Visual Illusions Briefing Note 5.3 Buy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Aviation News Talk Network podcasts NTSB News Talk podcast UAV News Talk podcast Rotary Wing Show podcast Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do.
Today on America in the MorningAnger Over The Epstein Files Members of Congress from both parties are again uniting over the Epstein files. This time, the missed deadline for the Justice Department to release every file in accordance with the law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump. Correspondent Rich Johnson reports there's bipartisan support to hold members of the Trump administration accountable. NTSB On North Carolina Plane Crash The National Transportation Safety Board has begun its investigation into last week's tragic plane crash that killed ex-NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and 6 others. Correspondent Julie Walker reports while a determination could take months, they do have some clues, and also some questions. Latest On US-Venezuela The United States took more action against suspected drug boats and oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela over the weekend. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports the interdiction seems to be having an impact on the amount of drugs entering America. Talks Yield No Results On Russia-Ukraine Despite White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff deeming weekend talks between his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts as being “productive,” there was no clear breakthrough to end the war launched by Russia against Ukraine. Retaliatory Attack In Syria The U.S. launched an attack in Syria, targeting ISIS following an ambush in which US service members were killed. Jennifer King reports. Presidential Palace's Tableware Thief You almost have to wonder why this thief only targeted plates and place settings. Correspondent Donna Warder reports on an employee at the French president's residence, accused of stealing thousands of dollars in tableware. What's Next For Helahtcare Lawmakers are home for the holidays after not voting to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies before the Christmas break. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports the fight over healthcare is far from over. Turning Point Recap The Turning Point USA conference went on without Charlie Kirk, but the summit had a number of well-known conservatives leading the way, including Vice President JD Vance, and Erika Kirk, who hosted the proceedings. Correspondent Jennifer King reports that amidst come controversy which included feuds among some of the speakers, young conservatives were concerned for the future, while women who attended the event seemed to find a home with Erika Kirk at the helm. San Francisco Power Outage Most of San Francisco was left in the dark over the weekend, following a massive power outage that started on Saturday. Katie Clark reports the blackout also left many driverless cars stalled and blocking city streets, with traffic lights and trains also not working. Lowering Drug Prices The White House released a plan to lower drug prices, but questions remain as to whether insurance companies will buy into it. Correspondent Ed Donahue reports. Prepping For Powerball Your dream of striking it rich could happen this week. Correspondent Donna Warder reports on the next Powerball drawing, one of the largest lottery prizes ever in the United States. Shooting At Atlanta Airport There was chaos at Atlanta's airport Sunday after a man shot himself inside the terminal. Finally The North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, is responsible for defending America and Canada from aerial and maritime threats, including missile launches and controlling airspace, among other duties. As correspondent Julie Walker reports, one of those other important duties includes a decades-long tradition of tracking Santa's trip around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On this week's episode of AvTalk, a pair of incidents involving civilian aircraft and military aircraft without active transponders operating in Curaçao's airspace sounds a bit too familiar. We discuss the events from the last week and the state of airspace in the southern Caribbean. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy had choice words for Congress after […] The post AvTalk Episode 350: “Outrageous:” close calls near Venezuela appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.
We look at the Air India Boeing 787 crash and the friction between investigators, Boom Supersonic's plan for stationary power generation, Spirit Airlines' new labor agreements, the canceled TSA labor contract, DHS purchase of Boeing 737s, ethics and the FAA Administrator, the V-22 Osprey accident rate, A-10 retirement postponement, return of PanAm, and fumes in the cabin. Aviation News Air India Boeing 787 Crash Probe Leads to Tussle Between Investigators India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and U.S. agencies, such as the NTSB and FAA, investigating the Air India crash have clashed over where and how to read out the flight recorders, access to evidence, and the overall pace and transparency of the investigation. U.S. officials reportedly feared a lack of openness, while Indian officials pushed back strongly against what they saw as outside interference and challenges to their competence. Boeing 787, courtesy Air India. Preliminary technical findings point toward the 787's fuel control switches being moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF,” starving both engines of fuel shortly after takeoff. Some U.S. sources suspect deliberate pilot action, while Indian authorities have downplayed pilot culpability in public. Source article in the Wall Street Journal: Officials Clash in Investigation of Deadly Air India Crash Air India Admits Compliance Culture Needs Overhaul After Flying Airbus Without Permit, Document Shows An Air India investigation found that one of its Airbus planes conducted eight commercial flights without an airworthiness permit. “Systemic failures” were cited, and the airline admitted it needed to make compliance improvements. Boom Supersonic Secures Breakthrough AI Engine Deal Boom Supersonic is developing the Symphony propulsion system to power its Overture supersonic airliner. At the same time, AI data centers require enormous compute power, and they need energy to do that. Boom says that it will develop the land-based Superpower 42-megawatt natural gas turbine, based on the Symphony engine. If successful, the Superpower would generate a revenue stream and provide operating data. Crusoe Energy has 29 Superpower units on order, with delivery expected in 2027. Major aero‑derivative OEMs offering ground power generation include: General Electric, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, Rolls‑Royce, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. AvWeek reports that Boom has closed a $300 million funding round, which the company says, together with the AI gas turbine deal, will be sufficient to complete development of the Symphony and initial Overture aircraft. Video: Introducing Superpower: The Supersonic Tech Powering AI Data Centers https://youtu.be/krweC0gvbhM?si=5F4EO-yBlbsjE196 JetBlue A320 narrowly avoids mid-air collision with USAF tanker over Caribbean On December 12, 2025, a JetBlue Airways A320-232 (Flight B61112) left Curaçao bound for JFK airport. Shortly after takeoff, the plane narrowly avoided a collision with a US Air Force refueling tanker. Spirit Airlines Reaches Another Milestone in its Restructuring as Pilots and Flight Attendants Ratify Agreements Spirit Airlines announced the ratification of labor agreements with pilots (represented by the Air Line Pilots Association) and flight attendants (represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA). The two agreements are subject to court approval. 82% of the pilots voted in favor of the contract, which allows temporary reductions in pay rates and retirement contributions effective January 1, 2026. Pay rates are restored through guaranteed increases on August 1, 2028, and January 1, 2029. Company-funded retirement contributions will be fully restored by July 1, 2029. See ALPA Press Release: Spirit Airlines Pilots Ratify Restructuring Agreement. US invalidates union contract covering 47,000 TSA officers, AFGE vows to challenge The American Federation of Government Employees represents airport screening officers and plans to file a lawsuit after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the collective bargaining agreement. DHS plans to implement a new labor framework on January 11, 2026, when the collection of union dues from TSA officers’ paychecks will cease. TSA said the new labor framework “will return the agency back into a security-focused framework that prioritizes workforce readiness, resource allocation and mission focus with an effective stewardship of taxpayer dollars.” US signs nearly $140m deal to purchase six Boeing 737s for use in deportations The Department of Homeland Security signed a contract with Arlington, Virginia-based Daedalus Aviation Corporation to purchase six Boeing 737 planes for deportation operations. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said: “This new initiative will save $279m in taxpayer dollars by allowing ICE to operate more effectively, including by using more efficient flight patterns.” Daedalus Aviation Corporation focuses on turnkey flight operations and specialized charter services for government and high‑stakes commercial clients. They emphasize contingency, evacuation, and other critical missions. Senator says FAA administrator failed to sell multimillion-dollar airline stake as promised Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) says FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford promised to sell his multimillion-dollar stake in Republic Airways under his ethics agreement, but he has failed to do so. Bedford agreed to sell all his shares within 90 days of his confirmation, but 150 days have now passed. In a letter to Bedford, Sen. Cantwell writes, “It appears you continue to retain significant equity in this conflicting asset months past the deadline set to fully divest from Republic, which constitutes a clear violation of your ethics agreement. This is unacceptable and demands a full accounting.” New V-22 Mishap Reviews Find Material Issues with Osprey, Poor Communication Between Services Two new reports point to faulty parts, poorly understood maintenance procedures, and a lack of communication across the services. The result was a lack of safety and reliability across the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. One report was from the Naval Air Systems Command, and the other was from the Government Accountability Office. Both had been in the works for two years. Twenty people were killed in V-22 Osprey accidents from 2022 to 2024. Congress Postpones A-10 Retirement The A-10 Thunderbolt II (the Warthog) close support aircraft has been on the verge of retirement for years. The National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA) directs the Air Force to keep at least 103 A-10 aircraft in its inventory until a phaseout in 2029. The NDAA limits retirement plans for other aircraft: KC-10 tankers, the F-15E Strike Eagle, and the E-3 Sentry surveillance plane. Delays in supplying replacements are cited as the reason. Pan Am plans future Airbus A320neo operations as part of Miami launch The “new Pan Am” is a startup effort to revive the Pan American World Airways brand as a U.S. Part 121 scheduled airline. Pan American Global Holdings acquired the rights to the Pan Am brand in 2023. Pan Am intends to deploy Airbus A320neo aircraft as part of its future operations in Miami. There are few details about the executive team, but Ed Wegel is described as a Pan Am co-founder. He is also the founder of AVi8 Air Capital, a niche aviation-focused investment and advisory firm with headquarters in the Miami, Florida area. The company is active in the relaunch of Pan Am, and this year (2025), they completed a comprehensive Pan Am business plan. Boeing Sued By Law Professor After Allegedly Inhaling Toxic Fumes On Cross-Country Flight A law professor who flew on a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Delta Air Lines last year is suing Boeing, alleging that he suffered serious health issues after being exposed to toxic fumes in the cabin. Mentioned The 10 Best Airports for AvGeeks: Rare Aircraft, Unique Routes, and Niche Airlines Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah, with Erin Applebaum.
In episode 273 of the Simple Flying podcast, your hosts Tom and Channing discuss:A Global Airlines updateNTSB slams new defense billBoeing 777X delivery timelinesDelta's passenger experience milestoneQantas' Airbus A380 drama
Like George Costanza pulling a golf ball from a whale's blowhole, Ben emerges from a harrowing 3.5-hour IMC flight through icing conditions with quite the tale to tell. Our intrepid Atlanta pilot finds himself wondering "did I get away with one? This sparks a deep dive into normalization of deviance, expanding personal minimums, and whether Ben just wrote "the first line of his NTSB report."Brian continues his quest to become qualified to "give bad information for small amounts of money" as an instrument ground instructor, while Ted battles the "Mississippi River pointed at the Northwest" and installs stripped hex screws.The crew tackles thoughtful listener feedback about pre-flight anxiety and the existential dread of pursuing aviation as what outsiders might call "the Midlife Crisis Podcast." Plus, planning continues for "The Thaden Invasion" fly-in at KVBT - a very GA-friendly airport that's excited to host the podast and community... for now.Mentioned on the show:* Wikipedia - List of social generations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation#List_of_social_generations* Beresford Research - Generations defined by name, birth year, and ages in 2025: https://www.beresfordresearch.com/age-range-by-generation/#:~:text=Generations%20defined%20by%20name%2C%20birth%20year%2C%20and%20ages%20in%202025* Side view of The Hollywodo Squares: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059995/mediaviewer/rm648494848/?ref_=tt_ov_i* The Finer Points on the Oscar pattern for IFR flying: https://www.learnthefinerpoints.com/articles/the-oscar-pattern* Checkmate Aviation IFR, Oscar pattern on back: https://www.checkmateaviation.com/products/checkmate-ifr* Oscar pattern graphic: https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/13hnvzo/oscar_pattern_graphic/* Flight Insight, the VOR Flower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm7XxyzZFh0* EP36 - CFI Jeff Ramsey, Frequency Change Aviation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgaNuf5gCCo* Seinfeld, "The Sea Was Angry That Day My Friends": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a3TZC69tSg* Psych Safety - The Challenger Disaster: Normalisation of Deviance: https://psychsafety.com/normalisation-of-deviance/* Blancolirio on the N2345R Montana fatal icing encounter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkSM531bYzs* Ben's video, "Pushing the Envelope" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9cvl1LJV1Y* Big Bird was nearly on the Challenger: https://www.history.com/articles/big-bird-challenger-disaster-nasa-sesame-street* Performance Pilot by Ross Bentley and Phil Wilkes : https://bookshop.org/p/books/performance-pilot-skills-techniques-and-strategies-to-maximize-your-flying-performance-phil-wilkes/1d2cd7f443b0d5ca* The Calm Cockpit podcast: https://calmcockpit.com/* Tammy Barlette's Crosscheck mental performance training course: https://www.crosscheckmentalperformance.com/* Crosscheck training course and group: https://www.skool.com/crosscheck/about?ref=f15fa026369c49dfaf275891f87f1f26Join us on Patreon, get event info, merch, and more:www.midlifepilotpodcast.com
This episode explains how small unnoticed decisions connect into major failures and how leaders can interrupt the chain early. It applies the NTSB chain of events model to real world leadership.Host: Paul FalavolitoConnect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, LinkTree, YouTubeView my website for free leadership resources and exclusive merchandise: www.paulfalavolito.comBooks by Paul FalavolitoThe 7 Minute Leadership Handbook: bit.ly/48J8zFGThe Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4lnT1PfThe 7 Minute Leadership Survival Guide: https://bit.ly/4ij0g8yThe Leader's Book of Secrets: http://bit.ly/4oeGzCI
In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern unpack one of the most persistent and underestimated threats in aviation: cockpit distraction. Drawing from both historical airline accidents and modern general aviation trends, they explore how small lapses in attention can escalate into major safety events. The hosts revisit the tragedies of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 and United Flight 173, where professional crews became so focused on minor gear-indicator issues that they stopped flying the airplane—proving that distraction, not mechanical failure, can be the true killer. With the NTSB attributing 15–20% of GA accidents to distraction, the need for proactive management has never been clearer.The conversation moves into the cockpit realities of today's pilots, where heavy reliance on iPads, automation, and touchscreen avionics often leads to excessive head-down time. Bobby and Wally share recent examples from training flights where pilots missed radio calls, misprogrammed GPS units, or became task-saturated simply because tech drew their attention away from flying. They emphasize the importance of preparing devices and routes before takeoff, and using automation deliberately rather than reactively. A key takeaway is that pilots must be willing to self-identify errors, speak up immediately, and assume the mistake is theirs until proven otherwise—a mindset that dramatically improves safety margins.The episode also highlights the critical role of the sterile cockpit, with Bobby advocating its use below 2,500 feet in GA. The hosts explain how nonessential chatter during taxi, takeoff, or climb dilutes situational awareness and can overwhelm newer pilots. They encourage instructors to reduce excessive talking as students advance, creating the “intentional silence” needed for real concentration and independent decision-making.Finally, Bobby and Wally address a commonly misunderstood distraction: open doors during takeoff or initial climb. They explain why an open door is typically benign, why rejecting a takeoff is often riskier, and why pilots must train for these scenarios before facing them unexpectedly.The episode closes with a call to action—pilots should openly discuss distractions, log them, review them, and build habits that keep them anchored to the core principle of aviation: aviate, navigate, communicate.
Kristi Noem walks out of a hearing after being confronted by Democrats over her hardline immigration tactics ... Republicans in Indiana put Hoosiers over the White House, refusing to bow down to the president's demands ... The NTSB sounds the alarm over a defense bill ... Ukraine has an idea for peace. But will President Trump sign off? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The US seizes an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Is a land invasion next? And is this about democracy or oil? ... Will a social media check soon be required for tourists visiting the United States? ... The head of the NTSB calls out Congress over a new bill she says puts safety in the skies at risk ... A divided Fed lowers interest rates for the third time. Could this signal trouble ahead for the economy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Take a deep dive into the NTSB preliminary report of what happened when a taxiing Delta A350 struck and substantially damaged an Endeavor CRJ in Atlanta. Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis examine the contributing factors, including crew distractions, limited visibility of the wingtip from the cockpit, and the layout of the taxiways.This event was one of three incidents involving Endeavor Airlines CRJs in a little over a year. Two Endeavor Airlines CRJ aircraft collided on the ground at LaGuardia Airport in New York in October. There was also a crash during landing of an Endeavor CRJ in Toronto in February.Greg calls attention to issues that could lead to operational incidents at Endeavor, including operation discipline and crew qualifications. However, there does not seem to be a common issue in the three events.Collision risk during taxiing is a concern for the maintenance community, some of whom taxi aircraft at airports. Taxiing aircraft is preferred over towing at some congested airports. John shares that during his career he did not receive any briefings or training in the hazardous areas of the airport for taxiing aircraft. Todd and Greg say that maintenance personnel would benefit from practicing taxi techniques in a simulator. Don't miss what's to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The captain of an A380 that experienced an uncontained engine failure, paying air traffic controllers during a shutdown, a $10,000 bonus for those who worked, NTSB preliminary report on UPS Flight 2976, a request for information on a new ATC system, dressing better when flying commercially, and going through airport security without a Real ID. Guest Richard De Crespigny was the captain of Qantas Flight QF32 on November 4, 2010, when one of the plane's Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines experienced an uncontained engine failure. The A380 had just taken off from Singapore. Richard and his crew managed to get everyone home safely, and the story has since become a bit of a legend in Australian flying circles. Richard is a former RAAF pilot, has written books, given keynotes around the world, and now hosts his own podcast on resilience and leadership called FLY! Richard explains that the uncontained engine failure on Qantas Flight QF32 involved the Number 2 engine. This resulted in extensive damage to the aircraft and many system failures. Five pilots were in the cockpit, and they formed a “hive mind,” making hundreds of decisions to stabilize the aircraft, which took two hours. A hundred checklists were actioned in the air, and more when the A380 was back on the ground. The incident was so complex that it has been characterized as “Apollo 13 with passengers.” We learn what was said in the cockpit during the first 30 seconds, and how the cabin crew performed because the flight deck could not communicate with them. In his mind, Richard set up to perform an “Armstrong Spiral” in case all four engines went out when landing the plane. On approach, speed and stall warnings were sounding constantly because the systems could not handle all the damage. Richard explains why he decided not to immediately evacuate the passengers due to the dangers outside. This uncontained engine failure crippled the A380, yet the crew was able to manage the situation and there were no injuries. Richard speaks frequently of “resilience” and how that characteristic worked to their advantage. QF32 uncontained engine failure. From the FAA Airbus A380-842 report, crediting the ATSB accident report. Since the incident, Richard has published several books: QF32 tells the story of what happened. It was published before the investigators made all the facts public, so Richard had to hold back. However, a new edition will fill in the missing pieces. The newer book Fly! tells the how and the why. Check out: The FLY! Podcast with Richard De Crespigny, available on Apple / Spotify / Omny, or wherever you listen to podcasts. The QF32 book and the FLY! book. Reach Richard at richardd@aeronaut.biz. Aviation News US airline group urges Congress to pay controllers during future shutdowns Trade group Airlines for America (A4A) wants to see air traffic controllers get paid during future government shutdowns. Chris Sununu, A4A President and CEO, said, “This shutdown has demonstrated the serious safety, human and economic consequences of subjecting the aviation sector to this kind of stress and chaos. It must never happen again.” Air Traffic Controllers Say $10,000 Shutdown Bonuses Are Tearing the Workforce Apart – And Jeopardize Safety The Administration wants to give air traffic controllers and TSA screeners $10,000 if they had perfect attendance during the shutdown. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said this would apply to 776 employees. Some controllers are expressing their displeasure with this move. UPS Flight 2976 Crash During Takeoff The NTSB has issued a Preliminary Report [PDF] on the UPS Flight 2967 MD-11F accident November 4, 2025. The airplane, N259UP, was destroyed after it impacted the ground shortly after takeoff from runway 17R at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), Louisville, Kentucky. The 3 crewmembers aboard the airplane and 11 people on the ground were fatally injured. There were 23 others on the ground who were injured. Still images from an airport surveillance video show the left engine and left pylon separation from the left wing. The left pylon aft mount's forward and aft lugs were both found fractured. The fractured and separated upper portions of the forward and aft lugs were found adjacent to runway 17R. The left wing clevis, aft mount spherical bearing, and aft mount attachment hardware were found with a portion of the left wing at the accident site. The spherical bearing outer race had fractured circumferentially. FAA Issues Request for Information on New ATC System The FAA aims to replace the current En Route Automation Modernization system (ERAM) and the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) with a single, unified system, known as the Common Automation Platform (CAP). The Agency's Request For Information [PDF] asks the public to answer a series of questions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Urges Passengers To Dress Better — But That Won't Fix Today's Inflight Behavior Problems DOT Secretary Sean Duffy tweeted that “Manners don't stop at the gate. Be courteous to your fellow passengers. Say please and thank you to your flight crews. Dress with respect. Lend a hand to those who could use it. It’s time to bring back civility and respect when we travel.” See also: Sean Duffy Wants You To Get Dressed Up When You Fly: “It's Time to Bring Back Civility And Respect When We Travel” No Real ID or passport? The TSA may charge you $18 to go through security May 7, 2025, was the date that Real ID was enforced at TSA checkpoints. Travelers must produce a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, a passport, a Global Entry card, or other approved document. The TSA is now proposing that travelers without one of those approved documents can still pass through airport security checkpoints. However, they can expect to pay an $18 fee for additional screening. The TSA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register: TSA Modernized Alternative Identity Verification User Fee. The fee grants access to secure airport areas for up to 10 days and covers multiple flights. Payment of the fee does not guarantee entry; travelers must successfully authenticate their identity each time, and they may still face additional screening or delays. The collected fee is intended to offset government costs for new biometric verification kiosks, customer service improvements, and system updates. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.
A look at the facts provided in the NTSB preliminary accident report on the November 4, 2025, crash of a UPS MD-11F in Louisville, Kentucky. John Goglia, Todd Curtis and Greg Feith share their insider perspectives as they examine the details of this fatal plane crash.Many online commentators have speculated on the cause of the crash and other details of the accident, only to be proven wrong by the facts provided by the NTSB. The accident has similar circumstances to the 1979 crash of an American Airlines DC-10 in Chicago. What is very different is the prevalence of recoding devices as well as the tools available to citizen journalists and professional media alike. Major accidents have always attracted media attention, but John's experiences lead him to conclude that the quality of the reporters from that era was better than reporters from today's large media outlets. Video evidence is now often immediately available after an event, which helps investigators in the early phases of an investigation. Greg shares the process he used to make requests for photos and videos during investigations while at the NTSB. Greg and Todd review the preliminary report in detail. They point out that video evidence shows the aircraft began to have catastrophic problems at takeoff, limiting options available to the crew. They detail how the accident unfolded based on information in the preliminary report and witness video evidence.The preliminary report includes a lot of information about the strut that attaches to the engine. Cracks in the engine mount are a focus of the continuing investigation.The FAA has issued two emergency Airworthiness Directives that grounded all DC-10s and MD-11s in the U.S. Greg ends the show discussing the various options the operators have for repairing, inspecting, replacing parts or, if the required changes are significant, replacing the aircraft. Don't miss what's to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Breaking news! The FAA has made significant changes to the policy on reporting Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). UAP reports generated by air traffic controllers will use the acronym UAP instead of UFO, and controllers are required to provide specific information about the UAP in their reports.Also in this episode, Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss two 2025 fatal accidents in which pilot medical conditions may have been an issue. Todd and John discuss how aging brings issues that are a challenge for older pilots. The NTSB preliminary reports of the accidents under scrutiny do not include information on the age of the pilots. However, news media stories about the two crashes revealed that both pilots were in their 80s. Both pilots had BasicMed certifications.A BasicMed certificate must be renewed every four years and can be approved by any licensed physician. Class III and other medical certificates must be approved by an FAA-certified Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).While neither of the two NTSB preliminary reports mention a medical condition playing a role in either accident, the BasicMed process may expose older pilots to risks. John suggests that BasicMed should have restrictions, including not allowing older pilots with a BasicMed certificate to carry passengers. Don't miss what's to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A proposed peace plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would require major concessions from Kyiv. The Wall Street Journal’s Alexander Ward joins to discuss how the plan will likely face opposition from Ukraine and other European countries. The Las Vegas economy is grappling with a decline in visitor numbers. The Athletic’s Luke Smith explains how the city hopes this weekend’s Formula 1 race will save an otherwise bleak year. Renowned cook Samin Nosrat says that to her, Thanksgiving food can be a little bland. On this week’s Apple News In Conversation, Nosrat gives her top tips for making your Thanksgiving feast a little more flavorful. Plus, the NTSB released its initial report on the UPS plane crash in Louisville, a Florida congresswoman could face more than 50 years in prison, and how the next men’s World Cup is shaping up to be a tournament of underdogs. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.
NTSB release new images and preliminary report on UPS cargo plane crash; Trump calls for arrest of Democratic lawmakers over video; New details in death of teenager on Carnival cruise; and more on tonight's broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Mola Lenghi has the latest on the NTSB's preliminary report on the deadly UPS plane crash in Louisville, revealing horrifying frame-by-frame images showing the left engine breaking off seconds after takeoff before exploding into a massive fireball; Rachel Scott has details on Pres. Trump calling six Democratic members of Congress “traitors,” and accusing them of “seditious behavior, punishable by death” in response to a video they made saying military members should refuse illegal orders; Jon Karl reports on the funeral of former Vice Pres. Dick Cheney and those who gathered to honor him; and more on tonight's broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
//The Wire//2300Z November 20, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: ARSON ATTACK OCCURS ON BLUE LINE TRAIN IN CHICAGO. MASS GANG SHOOTING WOUNDS 5X BYSTANDERS IN NEWARK. SUSPECT AT LARGE FOLLOWING SUBWAY STABBING IN NEW YORK. ICE OPERATIONS CONTINUE AMID LOCAL RESISTANCE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------HomeFront-Florida: Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has been indicted by a grand jury for embezzling $5 million of FEMA funding that was distributed due to the Hurricane Milton disaster response.Analyst Comment: As a reminder, Rep. Cherfilus was in office during the infamous Hurricane Milton scandal, which saw FEMA officials ordering their employees to not provide aid to residences that had Trump signs in their front yard. FEMA supervisor Marn'i Washington was fired by FEMA, but was not prosecuted for her crime of violating the Hatch Act.Illinois: Yesterday an arson attack was reported on a Blue Line train, which involved an assailant dousing a woman with a flammable liquid before setting her on fire. The attacker has been identified as Lawrence Reed and was arrested shortly after the attempted murder.Analyst Comment: Reed has a criminal record spanning nearly four decades, which have involved him being arrested and released 72 times, including around a dozen times for felony crimes. Several of these crimes involved arson, but each time he was arrested he was released. In at least one case the judge released him from a psych ward...because he was deemed too dangerous to remain in custody as he would repeatedly and violently assault staff members at the ward. He was released into the general public with an ankle monitor instead. After his arrest for setting this woman on fire, he was brought before Magistrate Judge Laura McNally, with court reporters documenting what happened. Judge McNally told Reed that "When you walked in here, I presumed you to be innocent of these charges". Reed then replied "I'm guilty" before continuing his belligerent behavior in the courtroom.New Jersey: Surveillance footage has come to light pertaining to a mass shooting that was reported in Newark two days ago. Rival gangs conducted a skirmish in the street, and due to the "spray and pray" manner of the engagement, 5x bystanders where shot as well. Two people were killed during the engagement, including a 10-year-old boy.New York: Another subway stabbing took place a few days ago, with the NYPD releasing the photo of the suspect this morning. An unidentified black male slashed a passenger with a sharp object while transiting on the E train. No other details were provided regarding the attack.Kentucky: This afternoon the NTSB released the highly-anticipated preliminary report regarding the fatal crash of UPS Flight 2976 that occurred one month ago. The photos provided in the accident report shed light on what happened; the port-side engine completely ripped away from the wing due to a failure of the pylons holding it to the aircraft. In short, the engine flew itself off the wing due to fatigue and degradation of the mechanisms attaching the engine to the wing.Analyst Comment: Now, we know why the FAA grounded all MD-11 and DC-10 aircraft in the United States immediately after the crash. In just six images, the NTSB told the whole story, strongly indicating that the crash of Flight 2976 bears striking resemblance to the deadliest aviation accident in US history...the crash of American Airlines Flight 191 which crashed in a nearly identical manner while departing Chicago back in 1979. That aircraft was a DC-10, and 273 people were killed during that incident.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Counter illegal immigration operations continue around the country, as resistance to deportations continues to escalate. In North Carolina, the city of Charlotte has experienced a halt of nearly all construction projects due to illegal wor
A preliminary investigative report has been released by the National Transportation Safety Board regarding the fatal UPS MD-11 freighter crash in Louisville. The report cited fatigue cracks in the left-wing engine mount, which separated shortly after liftoff, leading UPS to continue grounding its remaining MD-11s per FAA guidelines, a situation explored further in "NTSB links fatigue cracks to fatal crash of UPS cargo jet - FreightWaves". The broadcast also covers Walmart's impressive Q3 performance, which included a 27% jump in global e-commerce sales and a nearly 70% increase in sales for same-day delivery. Walmart continues to leverage its pickup and delivery options, asserting that it can now deliver to about 95% of U.S. households in under three hours, a popular expedited choice examined in "Walmart e-commerce sales rise 27% as shoppers opt for same-day delivery - FreightWaves". Finally, we review the delayed September employment report, which showed truck transportation jobs slid by one of the biggest drops seen in three years, contributing to a total transportation job decrease of 6,800. With job losses detailed in "Trucking employment down in Sept from August, mostly flat over 12 mos - FreightWaves," experts suggest we should expect continued drops in this sector as regulation continues to tighten up with drivers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What a preliminary report by the NTSB says about the deadly UPS plane crash at the Louisville airport, GE awards $40 million to suppliers in Kentucky, how state lawmakers plan to attract more tourists to historical sites in Eastern Kentucky, and why a Kentucky food bank says the need is even greater this year.
In our news wrap Thursday, a funeral service for former Vice President Dick Cheney was held at the Washington National Cathedral, the Trump administration announced ambitious plans to drill for oil off the nation's coasts, NTSB investigators say there was evidence of cracks in the engine mount of the UPS cargo plane that crashed in Kentucky, and the DOJ has 30 days to release the Epstein files. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The NTSB released its findings about the container ship Dali crash from last year, determining that an improperly placed wire label caused the cargo vessel to lose power and drift out of control into the pier of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the collapse and the deaths of six construction workers. A.P. Moller-Maersk announced that it has selected Charlotte, North Carolina, as the new location for its North American headquarters, a move that comes after decades of having offices in New Jersey. The relocation of the North American HQ to Charlotte is expected to add 500 jobs, bringing the total Charlotte workforce to 1,300, and may earn the Copenhagen-based carrier an $8 million state grant if job creation and investment targets are met. Meanwhile, UPS is turning to an alternate playbook to compensate for the significant capacity being lost due to the grounding of its MD-11 freighter fleet. UPS is utilizing partner airlines and its ground network during the busy shipping period to make up for the loss, wet leasing several aircraft from carriers like Canada-based Cargojet, Amerijet, ABX Air, and Air Transport International, while consolidating flight routes and reconfiguring truck routes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After a resounding vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, the bill is expected to head to President Trump's desk. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the U.S. for the first time in seven years. And the NTSB says a single loose wire caused a power outage on the cargo ship that ultimately crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
November 19, 2025Download the app HEREwww.TheDailyMojo.com"Ep 111925: One Little Wire | The Daily MoJo"A misinstalled wire caused a ship to collide with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in power loss and steering failure. The NTSB emphasizes the need for improved safety measures. The bridge's rebuilding is expected to cost $5.2 billion and take until 2030, influenced by inflation. The dialogue also explores government spending, AI inefficiencies, food availability, vehicle pricing, and immigration complexities, highlighting the importance of reliable services and skilled labor.Phil Bell's Morning Update - Funding the government a better way: HEREOur affiliate partners:Be prepared! Not scared. Need some Ivermection? Some Hydroxychloroquine? Don't have a doctor who fancies your crazy ideas? We have good news - Dr. Stella Immanuel has teamed up with The Daily MoJo to keep you healthy and happy all year long! Not only can she provide you with those necessary prophylactics, but StellasMoJo.com has plenty of other things to keep you and your body in tip-top shape. Use Promo Code: DailyMoJo to save $$Take care of your body - it's the only one you'll get and it's your temple! We've partnered with Sugar Creek Goods to help you care for yourself in an all-natural way. And in this case, "all natural" doesn't mean it doesn't work! Save 15% on your order with promo code "DailyMojo" at SmellMyMoJo.comCBD is almost everywhere you look these days, so the answer isn't so much where can you get it, it's more about - where can you get the CBD products that actually work!? Certainly, NOT at the gas station! Patriots Relief says it all in the name, and you can save an incredible 40% with the promo code "DailyMojo" at GetMoJoCBD.com!Romika Designs is an awesome American small business that specializes in creating laser-engraved gifts and awards for you, your family, and your employees. Want something special for someone special? Find exactly what you want at MoJoLaserPros.com There have been a lot of imitators, but there's only OG – American Pride Roasters Coffee. It was first and remains the best roaster of fine coffee beans from around the world. You like coffee? You'll love American Pride – from the heart of the heartland – Des Moines, Iowa. AmericanPrideRoasters.com Find great deals on American-made products at MoJoMyPillow.com. Mike Lindell – a true patriot in our eyes – puts his money where his mouth (and products) is/are. Find tremendous deals at MoJoMyPillow.com – Promo Code: MoJo50 Life gets messy – sometimes really messy. Be ready for the next mess with survival food and tools from My Patriot Supply. A 25 year shelf life and fantastic variety are just the beginning of the long list of reasons to get your emergency rations at PrepareWithMoJo50.comStay ConnectedWATCH The Daily Mojo LIVE 7-9a CT: www.TheDailyMojo.com Rumble: HEREOr just LISTEN:The Daily MoJo ChannelBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-daily-mojo-with-brad-staggs--3085897/support.
House and Senate pass bill to release Epstein files. Saudi Crown Prince meets with President Trump at White House, promising up to a 1-trillion-dollar investment in the U.S. NTSB determines loose wire caused power loss in cargo ship that crashed into bridge near Baltimore. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Join the conversation with C4 & Bryan Nehman. C4 & Bryan started off the show this morning with the latest on the Epstein files. Trump meeting with leaders at the white house. The NTSB hearing on the Key Bridge. Ivan Bates, City States Attorney joined the show to talk about the Stricker Street incident & all things crime in the city. Judge Nicole Pastore also joined the show to talk about the district court re-entry program. Listen to C4 & Bryan Nehman live weekdays from 5:30 to 10am on WBAL News Radio 1090, FM 101.5 & the WBAL Radio App!
The U.S. House votes overwhelmingly to force the release of the Epstein files, the NTSB wraps up its on-site investigation of the UPS plane crash in Louisville, thousands of people in Lexington are having their medical debt erased, and a look at some of the resources available for students after high school.
In our news wrap Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that Meta does not have an illegal monopoly over social networking, Cloudflare says it has resolved an outage that disrupted internet users, the NTSB says two electrical blackouts disabled the ship that crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge last year and the Trump administration is accelerating plans to dismantle the Education Department. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
In this episode of Aviation News Talk, we begin with the developing details Weather accidents in general aviation often happen to pilots who genuinely believe they're cautious about flying in marginal conditions. But when you look closely at the chain of decisions that lead up to VFR-into-IMC crashes, a consistent pattern emerges—fatigue, long flights, pressure to complete a trip, weakening visibility, and the belief that "I can stay just under this." In Episode 404 of Aviation News Talk, Max Trescott unpacks a tragic example of this pattern and shows how NTSB data helps explain why GA pilots continue to stumble into weather accidents. Max begins with a detailed look at a 2023 crash involving a Piper Archer, N21480, flown by a 66-year-old private pilot who was en route from Maine to Sun 'n Fun. The pilot had made this long trip multiple times before and was familiar with the route. He departed Maine, stopped twice for fuel, and ended the day by sleeping on a couch in a pilot lounge—after ordering Uber Eats at around 8 p.m. According to his wife, the pilot routinely camped at airports, carried sleeping gear and guitars, and prided himself on being cautious about weather. The next morning, however, the signs of fatigue were visible. An airport employee who spoke with the pilot noted he looked tired and "could see the fatigue in his eyes." Despite checking weather and considering waiting out an approaching system, the pilot ultimately chose to depart. He told ATC he wanted to remain low—around 1,600 feet—to stay VFR under the cloud layer. Unfortunately, this strategy is one of the most dangerous choices a VFR pilot can make. Staying low reduces options, shrinks reaction time, and increases the likelihood of inadvertently entering IMC. Eight minutes after informing ATC he wanted to stay low to maintain VFR, the pilot's track shows the airplane turning right and descending. When the controller asked if he was maneuvering to stay below the clouds, the pilot replied: "Mayday, mayday, in the clouds, I'm going down." Witnesses described the airplane descending nearly straight down. The NTSB report revealed worsening weather, nearby convective activity, cloud bases around 1,300 feet AGL, and an overcast layer with tops near 3,500 feet. The pilot had passed an airport less than two miles before the crash—an airport he may have been trying to return to during his final 360-degree turn. But like many non-instrument-rated pilots who enter IMC unintentionally, he lost control within about a minute, consistent with studies showing that VFR pilots often lose control within three minutes of entering clouds. Max then connects this accident to a broader NTSB study, Risk Factors Associated with Weather-Related General Aviation Accidents (SS-05/01). This landmark analysis compared 72 weather-related accidents with 135 non-accident flights occurring nearby at the same time. The goal was to uncover what differentiates pilots who get into trouble from those who do not. The results were eye-opening. The most significant predictor was the age at which a pilot earned their first certificate, not their age at the time of the accident. Pilots who learned to fly at age 25 or younger had the lowest risk. Those who trained between 25 and 35 had a 4.5-times higher risk, between 35 and 45 had a 4.8-times higher risk, and pilots who started at 45 or older had a 3.4-times higher risk. The South Carolina pilot earned his certificate at around age 49. Another major factor was lack of an instrument rating. Non-instrument-rated pilots had a 4.8-times greater likelihood of a weather accident. Long flights were also a major contributor: legs of 300 miles or more sharply increased risk. Pilots involved in accidents were less likely to have obtained thorough weather briefings and more likely to have had previous incidents or accidents. One of the most striking findings concerned written and checkride performance. Accident pilots had cumulative pass rates averaging 84–86%, while non-accident pilots averaged around 95%. Some accident pilots had multiple failed checkrides, including one commuter pilot who had failed nine practical tests. The study concluded that stronger written and checkride performance was statistically linked to lower accident involvement. From there, Max shifts to what pilots can do differently, starting with awareness. Humans are poor at detecting gradual reductions in visibility—the "frog in warm water" problem. Max describes an early flight to Massachusetts where visibility slowly degraded from 25 miles to around 10 miles, yet he didn't notice until the change became obvious. To counter this, he recommends periodically estimating visibility in flight using runway lengths, moving-map distances, landmarks, and horizon clarity. Max also teaches a simple method for estimating cloud clearance using a 45-degree reference point on the cloud base. By timing how long it takes to reach the point beneath the cloud and using your groundspeed, you can determine if you're maintaining the required 500-foot clearance. The same geometry works for estimating horizontal cloud distance. Finally, Max emphasizes fatigue and decision-making. After nearly 10 hours of flying the day before, poor sleep on a couch, and an early morning departure, the pilot in the accident was not at peak performance. Nutrition also matters—low glucose levels degrade decision-making. Max stresses the need to set clear weather trigger points before departure, brief passengers on them, and stick to the plan. For any pilot who flies VFR, especially on long cross-country trips, this episode highlights why VFR-into-IMC accidents still happen—and how to stay VFR by using better judgment, better tools, and objective visibility cues. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 HOLIDAY SPECIALNEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. News Stories Successful Parachute Pulls Hurricane Relief Flight Crashes in Florida General Aviation Adapts as FAA Adjusts Restrictions Fire Destroys Three Aircraft at Avon Park, Florida Hawker accident pilots chose not to wait for a test pilot Pilot presses wrong lever in unfamiliar plane N59BR, Challenger 1 experimental aircraft rudder pedals crash Joby Tests Military Hybrid VTOL Helicopter pilot pleads guilty in 2021 TN crash that killed passenger New Details on Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Tried To Kill Engines Mid-Flight Mentioned on the ShowBuy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Max's FLYING Column on use of the Autopilot APR key Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
This week on News Now, host Taylor Inman breaks down the biggest stories shaping northwest Montana — from the federal investigation into a fiery Kalispell plane crash, to the ongoing dispute over Flathead Lake's low summer water levels, to how Glacier Park International Airport is navigating nationwide shutdown-related flight reductions. We dive into the NTSB's final report on the Socata TBM 700 crash, local aviation experts sounding alarms over repeated reckless landing patterns, and a string of deadly small-plane crashes across the region. Plus, Flathead County commissioners, Rep. Ryan Zinke, Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy weigh in on the future of Flathead Lake management. And we look at how national travel restrictions are affecting flights into and out of the Flathead Valley. Stay informed with the latest reporting impacting Kalispell, the Flathead, and Montana.Read the full stories: Federal investigators blame pilot for fiery Kalispell plane crashFlathead County commissioners join flood of requests for Department of the Interior intervention on Flathead LakeGlacier Park International Airport seeing minimal effects from government shutdownA big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com. This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st! Visit DailyInterLake.com to stay up-to-date with the latest breaking news from the Flathead Valley and beyond. Support local journalism and please consider subscribing to us. Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us! Subscribe to all our other DIL pods! Keep up with northwest Montana sports on Keeping Score, dig into stories with Deep Dive, and jam out to local musicians with Press Play.
In this episode of the Fleet Success Show: Fleet Management 101 Series, Fleet Success Ambassador Facundo Tassara sits down with Bill Griffiths, Fleet Administrator for the District of Columbia, to unpack the essentials every fleet professional needs to succeed. With over 30 years in the game, managing fleets from the Smithsonian to Montgomery County to the nation's capital, Bill reveals how he transformed underperforming fleets with one radical principle: get the fundamentals right.From crafting a killer elevator pitch to navigating NTSB investigations, from PM compliance to creating scorecards that drive accountability—this episode is an unfiltered masterclass in fleet management done right. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned veteran, this conversation will challenge your thinking and upgrade your strategy. Key Takeaways:Fleet Fundamentals: Why missing the basics—like asset classifications, accounting codes, or PMs—can cripple your operation.The Power of Metrics: How to choose the right KPIs (and what 5 Bill thinks are non-negotiable).Elevator Pitch Mastery: Why every fleet leader should be ready to present fleet value in 30 seconds or less.Customer Service as a Fleet Strategy: How proactive service communication builds internal trust and budget support.Scorecards That Drive Culture: How Bill uses shop-level scorecards to increase ownership, technician efficiency, and fleet availability.Working On the Business: The difference between reacting to problems and planning for a future with EVs, telematics, and shifting tech. Speaker Bios:Facundo TassaraFleet Success Ambassador, RTAWith 25 years of experience across government and private fleets, Facundo is a champion of operational excellence. As RTA's Fleet Success Ambassador, he brings a unique blend of hands-on experience and tech innovation to help fleets run smarter, leaner, and more effectively.Bill GriffithsFleet Administrator, District of ColumbiaA fleet industry veteran with 34 years of experience, Bill has led transformative fleet initiatives at Montgomery County, the Smithsonian Institution, the MBTA, and now Washington D.C. He's known for his strategic mindset, obsession with data-driven decisions, and no-BS approach to leadership and fleet accountability.
Air travelers navigate through delays and cancellations on the day the FAA is reducing the number of flights at airports because of the government shutdown. Senate Democrats propose a compromise to end the shutdown...which was promptly dismissed by Republicans. NTSB reviews audio of the cockpit voice recorder from the UPS plane that crashed in a fireball in Louisville. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We begin with the tragic UPS cargo jet crash near Worldport in Louisville, UPS's critical global hub, which resulted in at least nine confirmed fatalities and exposed the fragility of single-point logistics assets. This immediate physical disruption led UPS to cancel initial express and deferred operations and suspend the money-back guarantee for all US packages, even as the NTSB worked quickly to recover the flight recorders. Following the accident, night sort operations at Worldport partially resumed to enable next-day air deliveries, though delivery commitments were relaxed for Thursday. Wall Street severely reacted to 3PL RXO's Q3 earnings report, sending the stock plummeting over 14% pre-market after the company reported adjusted net income of just $2 million compared to $7 million last year and missed analyst estimates on EPS. RXO's CEO cited a "deadly combination" of rising truckload capacity costs alongside persistently weak demand, forcing the company to launch aggressive new cost initiatives targeting over $30 million in savings. Broader market data confirms this complex landscape, revealing a persistent trucking paradox where Q3 national shipment volumes fell 2.9% but shipper spending paradoxically increased 2% quarter-over-quarter, suggesting that capacity is leaving the market faster than demand is declining. This divergence grants remaining carriers unexpected pricing power, while regional differences were severe, including a massive 15.7% volume drop in the Southwest amplified by stricter DOT English language proficiency rules. Further underscoring the market weakness, recent CarrierSource data shows shipper search activity for trucking capacity fell to its lowest point in over a month, driven by macroeconomic uncertainty and production slowdowns. In response to this volatility, global terminal operator DP World is focusing on resilient supply chains by leveraging its vast network across 78 countries and strategically investing in technology, particularly AI and predictive tools. DP World is offering adaptive solutions such as deploying "pop-up warehouses" for temporary surge capacity in locations like Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Miami, and strategically using alternative gateways like Prince Rupert and Vancouver for fast rail access into the US Midwest and Northeast. These strategies emphasize building options and flexibility into the network to navigate volatility, whether it stems from physical crashes or financial squeezes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Travelers can expect more delays beginning Friday as the FAA reduces air traffic by ten-percent across 40 "high-volume" markets during the government shutdown. NTSB says the engine of the UPS jet that crashed on takeoff from Louisville yesterday detached from the wing. Supreme Court hears arguments on legality of Trump administration's sweeping tariffs. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today on the Scott Jennings Show: A devastating plane crash in Louisville leads today’s Scott Jennings Show. NTSB member Todd Inman joins us live with the latest. Plus, shutdown negotiations, new reports from Canada, and an update on growing anti-Semitic violence. Guests include Ben Mulroney.Stream it now, live on X, YouTube & Facebook. Follow @ScottJenningsKYScottJenningsShow.com Common Sense for the AMERICAN PEOPLE.Keep up with the Trump Administration when you subscribe to The Trump Report. This email brings you daily highlights from the Oval Office, right to your inbox, 5 days a week. Subscribe today at http://salempodcastnetwork.com/trumpSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Discover the new STN Transportation Director of the Year featured on our November issue cover. Other headlines include a NHTSA investigation after a driverless Waymo car illegally passed a stopped school bus and NTSB recommendations on seatbelts following a Texas school bus crash. Frank Girardot, senior communications director for RIDE, discusses the electric school bus manufacturer's School Bus Safety Week efforts. Jennifer Gardella, director of transportation for Rockwall Independent School District in Texas and a 2025 STN Rising Star, discusses her childcare background, improving student relationships, training staff and receiving inspiration from fellow student transporters. Read more about operations. Episode sponsors: Transfinder, RIDE, School Radio.
In the early morning hours of September 22nd, 1993, a cross-country train departed from Mobile, Alabama, on its way to Miami. As it headed up along the train tracks out of the city, the train didn't know one important thing - that half of the bridge over the Big Bayou Canot wasn't there anymore. Videos: Seconds from Disaster: The Wreck of the Sunset Limited Forensic Files: Visibility Zero Rail Disasters: Wreck of the Sunset Limited Articles and books: Barge Pilot Blamed in Fatal Amtrak Wreck No Criminal Liability Is Found in Amtrak Bayou Derailment Mobile Press-Register 200th Anniversary: Sunset Limited train wreck memories not diminished by passing years NTSB report on the accident
Greg Feith, Todd Curtis, and John Goglia provide critical insights into an October 1, 2025, ground collision at LaGuardia Airport between two taxiing regional airliners. The collision caused serious damage to both planes operated by Delta Connection. The NTSB has not yet provided a preliminary report but the detectives gather details that offer initial insights. John has extensive experience as a mechanic at LaGuardia and shares his experience with congestion at this very busy airport. Hear why the pilots may have been distracted while taxiing.A Flight Safety Detectives channel member shares lessons learned from an incident where the aircraft he was flying had issues during taxi. He stopped the aircraft and consulted with one of his flight school's mechanics, who assured him that the aircraft was airworthy. He decided to take off but had to land the aircraft just after takeoff due to airworthiness issues.Todd, Greg, and John discuss details of the members story, emphasizing the importance of the pilot's decision-making and the role of the flight school's maintenance organization. Flight schools should use events like this as learning tools. Hear how regular safety standdowns enhance safety. Don't miss what's to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A pilot who was attempting to satisfy FAA requirements for flying at night was killed in another preventable plane crash. The NTSB report of this 2018 high-energy impact into the ocean leaves several key questions unanswered.The NTSB lists a probable cause that the Flight Safety Detectives just can't support. They add this to a list of insufficient NTSB reports published in the last few years.The pilot in command was flying at night with a passenger. He was required by the FAA to have performed three takeoffs and landings in the previous 90 days. According to the NTSB report, in the previous 90 days, the accident pilot had flown for three hours, including the two-hour accident flight. The NTSB did not determine if the night currency requirements were met before the accident flight because the pilot's logbooks were unavailable for review. Public Docket documents that shed light on how the company behind the pilot's rented aircraft could have let this happen. The rental form that the pilot signed did not mention anything about requirements for night flights.A special welcome to new sponsor – Prochock! Don't miss what's to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Want to go deeper with the Flight Safety Detectives? Join our YouTube Membership program for exclusive perks like members-only live streams and Q&As and early access to episodes. Your membership support directly helps John, Greg and Todd to deliver expert insights into aviation safety.Interested in partnering with us? Sponsorship opportunities are available—brand mentions, episode integrations, and dedicated segments are just a few of the options. Flight Safety Detectives offers a direct connection with an engaged audience passionate about aviation and safety. Reach out to fsdsponsors@gmail.com. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
President Trump signals he may use the government shutdown to permanently cut federal agencies, with OMB Director Russ Vought drafting plans for sweeping layoffs and canceled projects. Two Delta jets collide on a LaGuardia taxiway, injuring at least one person and prompting an NTSB investigation as controllers work unpaid through the shutdown. A terrorist attack on a UK synagogue leaves two Jews dead and four wounded on Yom Kippur, with police killing the attacker and arresting three suspects. Greta Thunberg and hundreds of activists are intercepted by the Israeli Navy while attempting to sail into Gaza...again. All Family Pharmacy: Order now at https://allfamilypharmacy.com/MEGYN and save 10% with code MEGYN10Pique: Get 20% off your order plus a FREE frother & glass beaker with this exclusive link: https://piquelife.com/MEGYN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.