On this week’s episode, we welcome current commercial pilot and former RAF captain Scott Bateman to discuss his new book, Hercules: First in. Last Out. The story of an RAF legend.

We also discuss a pair of runway incursion incidents last week from New York and Washington DC. Plus, Boeing’s narrowed first quarter loss, the UK AAIB’s final report on G-OATW’s melted windows, and Chilean investigators issue their preliminary report on the inflight upset of a LATAM 787 in between Australia and New Zealand.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 265: Scott Bateman’s Hercules appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, escalating retaliatory attacks between Iran and Israel and their effects on global air travel, congressional hearings sharpen the focus on Boeing’s problems, and United Airlines makes big changes to its order book. Plus, we’ve got stolen gold, expensive eels, and a unique competition.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 264: Stolen gold and expensive eels appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Thousands of extra planes take to the skies and New Jersey experiences an earthquake. And that’s just through Monday this week. We then hear from a fresh 787-dreamliner-whistle-blower.html">whistleblower at Boeing who alleges that some 787 and 777 aircraft could experience structural failures. Plus, the NTSB issues its preliminary report on the United flight that went off the runway in Houston, Spirit Airlines announces pilot furloughs, and a Southwest 737 loses its engine cowling.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 263: Another whistle blows appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a plane crash lands and then crashes into another plane that crashed a few months earlier. Pratt and Whitney may have a new problem on their hands. The FAA’s mental health panel makes its recommendations. And the French pilot union is calling for a strike to protest a proposed law that would limit their ability to strike.

Helpful links for this week’s episode

• safety.net%2Fwikibase%2F378591">Photos of the Safe Air 727 after crash landing in Malakal
• JetBlue’s stricken A321neo
• FAA’s Mental Health & Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee report and recommendations
• JetBlue’s new bag fee matrix
• April 8th’s eclipse information for pilots
• Does flying during the eclipse count as night flying?

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here to download a transcript of this week’s episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 262: Striking for the right to strike appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we welcome AIN Media Group editor-in-chief Matt Thurber to discuss how the aviation industry is reacting to GPS spoofing and jamming. Plus, major leadership changes at Boeing could take the company in a new direction. And the FAA continues to clamp down, this time taking a closer look at United’s operations after string of recent incidents. But has the agency gone too far?

Helpful links from this week’s episode

• Matt Thurber’s excellent article on GPS spoofing and jamming at AIN Online
• Boeing’s memo announcing leadership changes
• Damage to Emirates A380 in Moscow
• Playback of Southwest Airlines flight 147
• Report in The Lancet on French heart transplant

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here to download a transcript of this week’s episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 261: How the aviation industry is reacting to GPS spoofing appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this episode of AvTalk, an update on the inflight upset experienced by a LATAM 787, the problem with popular media’s hyper focus on aviation incidents, and we dig in to the report detailing what actually happened when an errant flight plan shut down UK airspace last August. Plus, we discuss Flightradar24’s new GPS jamming map.

Helpful links and reading for this week’s episode

• The Air Current: Pilot seat movement at center of LATAM 787-9 dive investigation
• Are flights squawking 7700 more often?
• NATS flight plan processing failure report

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 260: Beware the chair appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this episode of AvTalk, Batik Air pilots asleep on the flight deck, a LATAM flight experiences an inflight upset, and Boeing’s problems only seem to be getting bigger.

Batik Air pilots were asleep for nearly 30 minutes during their flight to Jakarta. Over the sea between Australia and New Zealand, a LATAM flight experienced an inflight upset that injured 50 people, including 13 who required hospitalization. Boeing’s problems continue to compound with the US Department of Justice, the FAA, and the NTSB all displeased with the plane maker for new reasons this week, while airlines begin making adjustments to their order books to account for delivery delays.

Elsewhere, improperly installed wiring bundles could cause uncommanded spoiler deployment on the 737 MAX, a rudder issue from the 737NG surfaces in the MAX as well, and United Airlines has had a rough week.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 259: Asleep at the sidestick appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, JetBlue and Spirit walk away, American Airlines adds to its order book, and the NTSB isn’t pleased with Boeing.

JetBlue and Spirit call it quits

JetBlue and Spirit agreed to terminate their merger agreement, deciding that it would be impossible to meet regulatory conditions by the time their agreement ended in June.

American Airlines expands its order book, but there’s a catch

American Airlines order 260 narrowbody aircraft this week. Lots of attention was given to the airline’s order for the 737-10 MAX, but our resident numbers expert Gavin Werbeloff points out when the airline plans to take delivery of all the aircraft it has ordered is a much more interesting story.

NTSB chair criticizes Boeing’s lack of assistance in door plug probe

Testifying in front of the US Senate this week, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy criticized Boeing for a lack of transparency during the Alaska Airlines door plug investigation. And Boeing’s response isn’t encouraging.

FAA audit finds Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems quality control failures

The FAA said this week that it has completed a six week audit of Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems, finding “multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements.”

Boeing thinking about bringing Spirit back in house

In the midst of multiple investigations and an effort to right the ship, Boeing is considering buying Spirit and re-making the once-Boeing division part of Boeing-proper again.

Ethiopian Airlines orders the 777X

In an order that came seemingly out of thin air, Ethiopian Airlines ordered up to 20 777-9s this week.

Wizz Air has 20% of its fleet on the ground

Because of the issues affecting Pratt and Whitney GTF engines, Wizz Air has more than 20% of its fleet parked. They’ve even wet leased aircraft, including a Go2Sky 737-800 registered OM-GTF.

Delivery times for aircraft are… fluid

Seemingly no one can delivery an aircraft on time. In 2024, United Airlines says it expects to take 102 fewer aircraft than it originally forecast from Airbus and Boeing. Ryanair plans on taking only 40 of its 57 expected 737 MAX on order through June. And the Russian aircraft programs, they’re also years behind schedule.

Airbus working on software update for CFM thrust reversers

Following last week’s discussion on the incident involving a TAP A320, we come with an update as Airbus completes work on a software update for the CFM thrust reverser.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 258: With respect to documentation appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, following a highly critical report by a panel of aviation safety experts, the FAA gives Boeing 90 days to explain how its going to get its act together. We review a collection of aviation safety reports, including the final report on PK8303. And a TCAS incident between Qatar and Ethiopian highlights the need for extra vigilance when flying over Somalia. Plus, one airline now has its own barbecue sauce.

Section 103 Organization Designation Authorizations (ODA) for Transport Airplanes Expert Panel Review Report

That’s a long title for a long report. But the short of it is that Boeing needs to enhance its safety culture. We break down the report and talk about the gauntlet the FAA has thrown down.

Aviation safety reports

We begin with the final report on the crash of Pakistan International Airlines flight 8303 in Karachi in 2020. The report points to an incredible string of poor decisions by the flight crew leading to the crash of the A320 after an initial gear up touchdown and go around.

Danish investigators have published their final report on the curious incident involving a TAP A320, which conducted a go around after activating reverse thrust, while one of the engine’s thrust reversers remained open.

And Serbian investigators have released their 24-2.PDF">preliminary report on the Marathon Airlines E195 that struck equipment at the end of the runway following an intersection take off with just 1300 metres of runway.

TCAS!

Another win for TCAS this week, this time over Somalia as a traffic advisory kept a Qatar Airways 787 from climbing airspace occupied by an Ethiopian Airlines A350.

Elsewhere this week

IATA says 2023 was an incredibly safe year for aviation. Canadian ULCC Lynx Air has ceased operations. VietJet has signed an MoU for 20 A330neos. British Airways is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Austin with its own special barbecue sauce. Qantas put the A380 into domestic service for a day. United has expanded its already giant training center in Denver. Asiana will retire its last 747-400 at the end of March. And finally, a Delta Air Lines pilot chose a different way to mark his retirement.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 257: 30 minutes of bad decisions appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a Marathon Airlines E195 operating for Air Serbia strikes the ILS array on departure, rogue ATC on the radio over Somalia, Air Canada fire its chatbot, and updates from this year’s Singapore Airshow.

Marathon Airlines E195 hits ILS antennas on departure

A Marathon Airlines E195 operating for AirSerbia struck the ILS array for runway 12R while departing Belgrade’s runway 30L. The aircraft returned safely to Belgrade shortly after departure.

Somaliland pirate radio

Flights passing through Somali airspace have been subject to rogue ATC instructions, with fake controllers issuing climb and descent clearances.

Air Canada liable for chatbot who made up policies

A tribunal ruled Air Canada is liable for a refund based on a policy invented by the airline’s customer service chatbot.

Updates from the Singapore Airshow

Thai Airways finally places its order for additional 787s, COMAC gets its first orders for the “plateau” version of the C919 from Tibet Airlines, and Starlux is starting a dedicated cargo division with the A350F.

Boeing fires head of 737 MAX program

Ed Clark is out after 18 years at Boeing, including the last three as head of the 737 MAX program in Renton. Katie Ringgold will take over.

American Airlines says no more hang gliders

In addition to raising the prices for checked bags and changing how and when customers can earn loyalty points on their bookings, the airline will also stop accepting javelin, pole vault, and hang gliders onboard.

United flight diverts to Denver with damage to slats

A United 757 en route from San Francisco to Boston suffered damage to the leading edge slats on the right wing and safely diverted to Denver.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.

Click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.

The post AvTalk Episode 256: A bad day in Belgrade appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.