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860 The Edge of Disaster
A guest panel discusses aircraft accidents, air turbulence injuries, airline and airframer culture, pilot training and experience, FAA shortfalls, and other topics that impact the flying public. In the news, the 90-second evacuation rule, the fatal Jeju Air crash at Muan Airport, and Zunum Air’s suit against Boeing for the misappropriation of trade secrets. Guests Chris Manno became an Air Force pilot after graduation from college and served seven years as a squadron pilot in the Pacific. He flew as a pilot with American Airlines for 35 years and was a captain for 29 of those years. Over his career, Chris logged over 25,000 hours of jet time. He’s a cartoonist and author of many books. Chris has just written a new book based on actual airline incidents titled Whiskey Air. It's a fictionalized deep-dive into actual airline incidents. James Albright co-wrote Whiskey Air. He’s a fellow USAF pilot (they flew together in a squadron in PACAF) who went on to command a USAF squadron, then retired and spent another twenty years as a corporate pilot. He also writes safety analysis for AvWeek. Erin Applebaum is a Partner in the aviation practice at Kreindler & Kreindler LLP. She represents the interests of passengers severely injured or killed in general aviation and commercial airline accidents. Erin is currently on the team representing numerous victims of the DCA midair collision. She's also handling cases on behalf of several passengers from the February 2025 Delta Air Lines crash in Toronto. Erin is a foremost authority on litigating claims governed by the Montreal Convention, the international treaty on commercial air travel. Erin’s other major cases at Kreindler include the Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 catastrophic engine failure and the Liberty Helicopters doors-off tour helicopter crash in the East River. For the past six years, Erin has played a key role in Kreindler’s fight against Boeing in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302/737 MAX litigation. She was appointed by the court as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 cases and was instrumental in the victims’ families’ effort to overturn the Deferred Prosecution Agreement between Boeing and the Department of Justice. Discussion In this episode’s roundtable, our guests bring their knowledge and experience to the discussion of important issues faced by the industry, including: The 90-second evacuation rule. The liability of the airlines, airports, and the regulators. Boeing’s corporate culture, reputation, and the DOJ’s criminal case. Profit motives over safety. Decision making in the cockpit and being the captain that sometimes has to say, “no.” Lack of FAA oversight resources and the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). Delegated oversight authority. Injuries sustained due to air turbulence. See: Whiskey Air on Amazon Chris Manno's author page Code 7700 page by James Albright Rough Skies Ahead: Legal Options for Turbulence Injuries [PDF] by Erin Applebaum and Taylor Sandella. Aviation News Senator Pushes FAA to Examine Aircraft Evacuation Rules Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) sent a letter to the FAA asking the agency to compare its 90-second evacuation standard against recent incidents. The rule originated in the late 1960s and requires aircraft manufacturers to demonstrate during certification that all passengers and crew can evacuate the aircraft within 90 seconds, even with only half of the emergency exits available. Duckworth’s letter: “While FAA has yet to disclose how long any of the referenced passenger evacuations took, these incidents once again raise serious questions about FAA’s 90-second evacuation standard as well as FAA’s assumptions about how evacuations occur in real world conditions (such as the assumption every passenger will comply with instructions to deplane without carry-on bags).”
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859 F-35, Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Future Combat Air System
Foreign nations consider F-35 alternatives such as the Typhoon and FCAS, Denver Airport studies the use of a small modular reactor, Astronaut Jim Lovell passed, Senate bill blocks ATC privatization, NTSB hearings highlighted, and the Regional Airline Association calls for accredited flight training programs to be recognized as professional degrees. Aviation News Spain rules out F-35 order, prioritizes Eurofighter and FCAS The Spanish Ministry of Defense has decided to “prioritize investment in European industry” and will consider the Eurofighter Typhoon or the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) over the Lockheed Martin F-35. The Spanish government wants to replace its aging fleet of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8B Harrier II aircraft. Previously, the F-35 was considered a leading candidate. Talks with Lockheed Martin are now suspended. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, courtesy F35.com. Other potential foreign F-35 customers, including Canada and Portugal, have signaled doubts about joining the American-led program amid geopolitical strain with the Trump administration. Swiss lawmakers are calling for the government to cancel a $9.1 billion order for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter. Denver to look at nuclear option for power at Denver International Airport The Denver airport (DIA) “issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to study the feasibility of building a small modular (nuclear) reactor (SMR) on the DEN campus. The study is part of DEN’s overall efforts to meet future clean energy demands.” A new Colorado law reclassifies nuclear energy as a clean energy resource. See the press release: DEN to Pursue More Alternative Energy Options for Future Needs and A nuclear reactor at the Denver airport? Here’s what you need to know. Professor Thomas Albrecht, director of the Nuclear Science and Engineering Center at the Colorado School of Mines, said, "The idea, with many of the small modular reactors, is you can drive them up on a semi. put them down on a concrete pad and plug them in, and they just go. The idea of many of these designs is you could keep adding them." The study will cost up to $1.25 million and is expected to take between 6-12 months to complete, at which time DEN, along with its partners, will evaluate the findings and determine next steps. NASA Administrator Reflects on Passing of Astronaut Jim Lovell Astronaut James A. Lovell was a pioneering NASA astronaut best known as the commander of Apollo 13 and as one of the first humans to orbit the Moon, having flown a total of four space missions—Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13—more than any astronaut in NASA's early years. Astronaut James A. Lovell, NASA. Gemini 7 (1965): Set an endurance record of nearly 14 days in orbit and accomplished the first rendezvous of two manned spacecraft, a vital maneuver for Moon missions. Gemini 12 (1966): Commanded the final Gemini mission, featured Buzz Aldrin as pilot, and executed complex extravehicular activities, closing the Gemini program successfully. Apollo 8 (1968): Served as Command Module Pilot for the first crewed mission to leave Earth's orbit and enter lunar orbit, making him and his crewmates the first humans to orbit the Moon and see its far side. Apollo 13 (1970): Commanded the ill-fated lunar mission that suffered a catastrophic explosion en route, forcing a dramatic turnaround and Moon flyby. His leadership in crisis turned it into an inspirational story of survival; Lovell and his crew made it back safely, an event celebrated worldwide and dramatized in the 1995 film "Apollo 13". See Former Astronaut James A. Lovell - NASA and EAA’s Jack Pelton on the Death of Astronaut Jim Lovell. Senate ATC modernization funding bill blocks privatization The Senate Appropriations Committee bill to fund the Department of Transportation, including the FAA, in 2026 seeks to block any attempts to privatize the U.S. air traffic control system.
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858 Lockheed U-2 Spy Plane
The Lockheed U-2 spy plane on its 70th anniversary, Boeing workers strike the St. Louis plant, the NTSB hearing on the DCA mid-air collision, and Injuries due to air turbulence. Also, Micah and Capt. Dana meet up and record the conversation, and news about this year’s Cranky Dorkfest. Aviation News U-2 Just Set New Records On The 70th Anniversary Of Its First Flight Lockheed proposed the U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane in 1953, it was approved in 1954, and its first test flight took place in 1955, seventy years ago. According to ATC radio traffic, the U-2 just set several records, including an “endurance record for category and class for aircraft.” During the Cold War era, the U-2 flew over the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, and Cuba. Gary Powers was shot down in a CIA U-2 by a surface-to-air missile over the Soviet Union in 1960. Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. was shot down in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. U-2 Dragon Lady, courtesy Lockheed Martin. ‘Double Trouble’ Boeing F-47 NGAD Problems the Air Force Never Saw Coming The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) recommended that members accept Boeing’s four-year contract offer for the St. Louis plant. Instead, union membership voted to authorize a strike, potentially disrupting the production of Boeing aircraft. IAM District 837 Members in St. Louis Reject Latest Boeing Offer, Strike for Fair Contract Approximately 3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing facilities in St. Louis voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing. This vote follows members’ rejection of Boeing’s earlier proposal on Sunday, July 27. See also: Boeing Strike Begins Monday After Negotiations Fail and More than 3,000 Boeing defense workers go on strike after rejecting contract. FAA planning more helicopter route changes after fatal collision At a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigative hearing, the FAA said additional changes will be made to a key helicopter route near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This follows restrictions imposed in March and June. At the hearing, NTSB officials expressed concerns about the FAA failing to turn over documents in a timely manner, inaction by the agency after earlier reports of close calls, and a "disconnect" between controllers and FAA leaders. Turbulent SLC flight passengers likely entitled to up to $250k for damages, aviation attorney says “An aviation attorney says passengers on the Delta flight could be entitled to $250K in compensation.” The turbulence was encountered on a Delta Airbus A330-900 flying from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam. The plane diverted to Minneapolis, and 25 passengers and crew members were hospitalized. Dinner With Dana Captain Dana, an A320 family pilot, visited with Micah and talked about flying, his background, and how he traveled to Maine. Captain Dana and our Main(e) Man Micah. Mentioned NTSB News Talk - Reagan National Midair NTSB Hearing Day 1: Army Black Hawk & Regional Jet Crash Testimony Reagan National Midair NTSB Hearing Day 2: Army Black Hawk & CRJ-700 Testimony It is Time to RSVP for Cranky Dorkfest (Yes, You Need to RSVP This Year) Sustainable Skies World Summit 2026: Save the Date! - 17–18 March 2026, Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, UK. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.
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857 MOSAIC – the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification final rule
The MOSAIC final rule, an interview with the founder and CEO of Flying Eyes Optics, FAA guidance on certification of powered lift vehicles, new galleries opening at the National Air and Space Museum, a Delta pilot lands and gets immediately arrested, deer strikes in Alaska, and the NTSB investigation of a fatal flight in that state. Also, thoughts on recent moves to relocate the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum to Space Center Houston. Guest Dean Siracusa Dean Siracusa is the founder and CEO of Flying Eyes Optics. Dean, a pilot, started the company when he realized that existing sunglasses did not perform well with the increased clamping force of modern aviation headsets. Flying Eyes temples are made of a patented material that allows the temples to conform to your head instead of curving around your ears. They're easy to put on and take off while wearing a headset or helmet. The flexibility of the temple material and shatterproof polycarbonate lenses makes these glasses hard to break. Hillel Glazer, our Aviation Innovation and Entrepreneurship Correspondent, interviewed Dean at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025. Aviation News U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Improvements to Recreational Aviation Safety, Expansion of Light-Sport Sector The Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) final rule was announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. The new rule makes changes to the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category and Sport Pilot privileges by expanding an alternative to experimental amateur-built aircraft. MOSAIC: Removes the weight limit Encompasses aircraft with higher speeds, more seats, and retractable landing gear. Allows for new types of propulsion and modern avionics. Allows aerial work with LSA, such as infrastructure and forest inspections, photography/filming, and agricultural surveillance. Allows pilots operating under Sport Pilot privileges to fly a broader range of aircraft. Reduces regulatory requirements by expanding the types of aircraft that qualify as LSA and the types of aircraft pilots can fly under Sport Pilot privileges. Changes for sport pilots and light-sport repairmen take effect 90 days after the final rule publishes. Changes for LSA certification take effect 365 days after the final rule publishes. Video: Secretary Sean P. Duffy Holds Press Conference for Important Announcement on General Aviation https://www.youtube.com/live/iRzzTspdjUM?si=gje-ftiRm94Y2eY4 EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2025 Facts and Figures Attendance for the week: approximately 704,000, the highest on record. More than 10,000 aircraft, 2,543 show planes, nearly 6,000 volunteers, and 962 commercial exhibitors. FAA Releases Powered-Lift Certification Guidance Originally, certification of the new advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft types, such as eVTOLs, had been worked under Part 23 regulations for light aircraft. In 2022, the FAA categorized them as powered-lift under FAR 21.17(b) regulations for special class aircraft. That category had no airworthiness standards and operating rules. The FAA has now released an advisory circular “streamlining the certification process for advanced air mobility aircraft by releasing guidance for how manufacturers can meet the agency’s aircraft design and performance safety standards. It establishes a consistent, performance-based framework for manufacturers to follow. The FAA will carefully evaluate each proposed design to ensure it meets the agency’s rigorous standards.” The AC defines powered-lift as heavier-than-air aircraft that use “engine-driven lift devices” or engine thrust for vertical takeoff and landing and low-speed flight. For lift during horizontal flight, they use rigid airfoils such as wings. National Air and Space Museum Opens Five New Galleries July 28 [2025] The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opened five ...
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856 Airport WiFi
We speak with a company that provides guest WiFi solutions and interactive maps, and an airport seeking to use the technology to enhance the customer experience. In the news, a study of drone risks to aircraft, evasive action to avoid a B-52, route changes at Avelo and Breeze, and the possibility of continued relaxation of TSA security checkpoint rules. Guests Purple Chief Revenue Officer Shawn Bossons. Shaun Bossons is the Chief Revenue Officer at Purple, a company that provides tools for businesses to turn their physical venues into intelligent spaces. Purple helps airports (and others) enhance visitor experiences, optimize staff efficiency, and drive additional revenue with indoor location services. MidAmerica/St. Louis Airport Director Darren James. Photo by Tim Vizer for MAA. Darren James is the Airport Director of the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV). MidAmerica is utilizing the airport WiFi offered by Purple to help engage its customers and bring value to the travel experience. Shawn and Darren talk about traveler engagement, what that means, and how it has changed over time in the context of the airport experience. They explain how airport WiFi can be used to provide targeted communication that helps the traveler navigate the airport safely and reduce anxiety. Because personal information is always an important topic in a system that collects data, we look at how it is protected in the context of airport WiFi. Consumers are generally willing to share information if they know it is secure and they receive some value in return. At the same time, collecting too much information adds friction, and with too much friction, customers will disconnect. Purple was founded because getting connected was sometimes difficult while traveling. MidAmerica is using Purple’s airport WiFi offering to engage travelers and improve their experience at the airport. Aviation News Embry-Riddle study warns of drone risks to aircraft The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University study was conducted for the FAA. Researchers looked at data from 6,037 documented flights with altitude information and found that at least 573 flew to an altitude of between 400 and 500 feet, while 781 flew to 500 feet or above. The ceiling established by the FAA for drone flights is 400 feet. The study utilized sensors placed across the country that collected data from Remote Identification signals, which the FAA has required registered drones to transmit since 2023. Pilot Of Delta Air Flight Performs ‘Aggressive Maneuver’ To Avoid Mid-Air Collision With B-52 Bomber Delta Air Lines flight DL-3788, an Embraer 175 operated by SkyWest, was flying between Minneapolis and Minot International Airport in North Dakota. Minot is also a US Air Force base for B-52 bombers. During the approach to the airport, the pilot executed an “aggressive maneuver” to avoid a B-52 on a convergent path. Minot Airport has no radar. Air traffic control visually ensures there is sufficient separation between aircraft on approach to landing. Avelo to ground West Coast flights, says decision won't affect Tweed or Bradley Avelo Airlines has announced that it is closing its West Coast flight network by the end of the year. That includes its base at Hollywood Burbank Airport and all destinations to and from California, Las Vegas, Oregon, Montana, and Washington state. Avelo started operations in 2021 at Burbank. Financial difficulties and insufficient profitability are cited as reasons for the shutdown. Breeze Airways Expands On West Coast As Avelo Retreats Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways both operate point-to-point routes in underserved markets. Avelo flies used 737s with a basic product offering. Breeze flies new A220s with Wi-Fi and premium seating. As Avelo pulls out of the West Coast, Breeze plans to expand into markets that have been served by Avelo, including Arcata, California (ACV), Burbank, California (BUR), Eugene, Oregon (EUG),
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