Australian Aviation Podcast Network

As Australian helicopters head north to help with wildfires in Europe, a deadly crash in Greece – and new regulations following a crash in WA two years ago – have once again put the spotlight on how dangerous it can be to fight fires from the air.
While national standard operating procedures are cutting down on confusion, and unmanned drones are taking surveillance crews off the front lines, it's clear that there will always be some danger for those who fly out to battle the increasingly common mega-blazes around the world.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David look at the risks borne by aerial firefighters, and ask what more can be done to keep our flying firies safe.
Plus, Australia's airports celebrate a rip-roaring financial year, with passenger traffic breaking records at gateways both large and small.

We don't talk about it too often on the podcast, but cargo is a huge sector of the aviation industry – and with big news out of both Western Sydney and Avalon Airports this week, it found itself unexpectedly in the spotlight.
WSI has at last opened its doors to freight ahead of its passenger launch in October, while Avalon Airport is seeing its first direct cargo services to Saudi Arabia –good news for both the Western Sydney and Geelong areas.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David unpack the crate expectations being placed on Australia's secondary airports as freight operations ramp up.
Plus, Project Sunrise arrives in Australia (sort of); a look at the inside of Jetstar's new 787-8 cabins (and also Osaka and Kyoto); and why haven't illegally sacked Qantas ground workers seen all their compensation money yet?

Qantas has frequently found itself in the news for all the wrong reasons over the past few years – but it got a much-needed win when the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) found last year's data breach wasn't caused by the Flying Kangaroo's own negligence.
With high marks for its swift response to the fiasco, and no need determined for any further investigation, Qantas can take the OAIC's findings as a sign that the fallout of the cyberattack is mostly behind it – but can it recover from the PR hit it suffered?
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David unpack the official verdict on the Qantas data breach, and ask if the national carrier really deserves all the flak it gets.
Plus, half a year on from the Air T-Rex deal, when will we actually see more Saabs back in the air?

As the aviation industry grapples with ongoing talent shortages, the question becomes: are current training methods the right model for creating skilled pilots at the rate the sector needs?
Cockpits are becoming increasingly automated, while next-generation training technologies such as VR, XR, AR, and advanced simulation are potentially able to boost safety without increasing risk exposure – so are current competency-based models keeping up with the new reality?
In this special Australian Aviation Podcast, UNSW and the Honourable Company of Air Pilots present a thought-provoking panel discussion on the evolution of pilot training and how industry, regulators, and academia can collaborate to deliver the best possible outcomes.
Join moderator Captain Adrian Young, as well as Churchill Fellow and former CASA Aviation Safety Advisory Panel member Adrianne Fleming, Qantas Group's Andrew Stead, and UNSW's Malcolm Good to discuss how pilot training can best meet the new realities of flying.

If you've ever found yourself scrambling for a pen on the plane to fill out one of those pesky paper cards before you reach Customs, fear not – after a two-year trial and much lobbying by the tourism industry, there will soon be a digital alternative to the Incoming Passenger Card (IPC).
Rolling out over the next 12 to 18 months, the Australia Travel Declaration will make the bane of every groggy passenger's tray table a thing of the past, streamlining the border process and bringing Australia in line with other countries in the region and around the world.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and special guest host Hannah Dowling discuss the end of the paper IPC era, and what it will mean for passengers, airports, and government agencies.
Plus, another big milestone for WSI with the arrival of its first freighter just two weeks from the official launch of commercial cargo flights.