Another April Fool’s Day is behind us, and unfortunately for everyone excited about driving in a 737 from Sydney to Melbourne, it turns out “Wombat Groundways” isn’t actually real – sorry. Between Virgin Australia allowing you to check your “emotional baggage” and Mad Mex’s move into in-flight catering, aviation April Fool’s fans ate well this month – but it turns out one supposed prank may have been the real deal after all. Adam and Jake discuss a surprise move by Emirates that the airline insists is no joke. Plus, vale Val Kilmer – in the wake of Iceman’s passing, how well does Top Gun hold up?
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44:48
On location at Avalon Airshow
It’s the biggest event in Australian aviation: the biennial Avalon Airshow, which this year ran over six days at the end of March. Featuring static and aerial displays, as well as trade exhibitors and networking events, the 2025 show attracted more than 200,000 people in total across the six days, including 60,000 industry visitors. Around 350 aircraft were on show, either in the air and on the ground, with 902 participating exhibitor organisations from 28 countries contributing to the event. On the ground at the airshow, Adam and Jake get an up-close look at some military hardware as they discuss the news of the previous week.
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21:24
How Mission Aviation Fellowship is helping remote communities
Mission Aviation Fellowship uses its aircraft and volunteers to help people living in the most isolated communities in Australia and around the world. In this episode, the charity’s new local CEO, Chris Barnes, talks about their vital work, and what you can do to support them. The pair also discuss the organisation’s history, its fleet and stories of how their team are making a real difference to people that need it most.
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25:48
Infrastructure Week for Australia’s airports
As the “big four” airports – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – bring in record revenues for their aeronautical operations, they’re starting to splash a lot of that cash on future-proofing their infrastructure. Between third runways, terminal renovations, new safety technologies, and of course the ongoing construction of a second Sydney international gateway, airports on both sides of the Tasman are set to spend billions on upgrades over the next decade. Adam and Jake look at some of the latest projects in the spotlight and what they mean for the sector as it continues to recover from the lingering effects of the pandemic. Plus, does the government’s proposed aviation charter of customer rights go too far – or not far enough?
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50:07
A bad week to be a nervous flyer
Between tropical cyclones, cockpit medical episodes, and airport security breaches – and all of those just in Australia – one could perhaps be forgiven this week for having a sudden bout of aerophobia. There’s been a harsher spotlight on aviation safety stateside, too, with staffing cuts threatening the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as SpaceX’s latest Starship explosion forcing the closure of four major airports in Florida. Adam and Jake look back at a wild week in the skies and discuss some of the safety concerns that have been brought to the forefront. Plus, some long-awaited white smoke at Virgin Australia as a new chief executive is announced just hours before the carrier is awarded its coveted 28 weekly flights to Doha – so what will Jayne Hrdlicka’s legacy be as she finally bows out of the top job?
The official podcast network of Australian Aviation – where we unpack all the latest insights and developments plus the big issues impacting Australia’s aviation sector.
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