Australian Aviation Podcast Network

Another week, another hair-raising near mishap at Sydney Airport, this time with a Virgin 737 almost taking off as a Qantas plane was crossing the runway ahead of it. Airservices has again come under the magnifying glass for the incident – so, what happened?
More importantly, with air traffic controllers still feeling the squeeze and hundreds of flights passing through Sydney every day, how can it be fixed? Can new technologies help bolster safety on the tarmac at Australia's busiest gateway – and what about Western Sydney?
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David dissect the ongoing struggles at Sydney Airport and ask what can be done about them.
Plus, speaking of Sydney, the airport's new Master Plan has been given the stamp of approval – and what's happening with slots?

We've all danced the airport suitcase shuffle, moving item after item back and forth between our cabin bags and our checked bags in a desperate hope to get in under those pesky weight limits.
Now, Jetstar says it's offering a solution – no more scales, no more luggage Tetris, just bring an under-seat bag for free. Simple, right? The only catch: overhead bin space will now cost you extra. So, is Jetstar's new policy convenience, cash grab, or a little bit of both?
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David weigh in on the pros and cons of Jetstar's new cabin baggage policy and unpack what it will mean for passengers.
Plus, Airservices is under fire again after disruptions and near-misses at Sydney Airport – so what's the solution?

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?