AvTalk - Aviation Podcast

On this episode of AvTalk, the Transair 737 is raised from the ocean floor, the FAA is concerned the radio may be too loud, and we’re sad to say, jet pack man isn’t real.
Transair 810 recovered from the ocean floor
| Transair 810, the 737-200 freighter that ditched south of Honolulu a few months ago, has been recovered. The NTSB has shipped the data recorders to its lab.
A380s get the knife
| A former Singapore Airlines A380 is being scrapped in Singapore and its not a pretty sight. And Emirates is scrapping their first A380 and will make much of the aircraft available for sale as upcycled products.
FAA cautions about new interference with aircraft radio altimeters
| The FAA has warned that a new portion of radio spectrum being deployed for 5G has the possibility to interfere with aircraft radio altimeters.
American Airlines takes the hot potato
| Last week was American Airlines’ turn at a multi-day operational breakdown. Over a three day period the airline canceled nearly 3,000 flights.
How are the new airlines doing?
| We learn about an airline that wants to start a new airline with a not-so-crazy merger. And we check in on aha!, Avelo, and ITA.
Flying the French cooking oil express
| Airbus and its partners completed a test flight with the A319neo with one engine powered completely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Is the Jet Pack Man mystery solved?
| Pilots in Los Angeles were seeing a person with a Jet Pack flying near LAX. After an investigation, it turns out that the actual sightings might be even stranger.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

Airbus chief test pilot Malcolm Ridley
On this episode of AvTalk, we’re joined by Malcolm Ridley, Airbus’ Chief test pilot to learn more about what exactly a test pilot does besides wearing those sweet orange flight suits. We talk with Malcolm Ridley about his career path, some highlights of his time at Airbus, and his favorite part of the job.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we look forward to the 8th of November, when international air travel to the US reopens to those around the world. We also check in on ITA Airways first week. Plus, the A380 is staging a bit of a comeback.
The US reopens to international travelers
On November 8, the United States will reopen to international travelers. Those arriving in the United States will need to provide proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test. We discuss how airlines are responding to the news.
ITA Airways takes off
Alitalia completed its final flight flight last week and ITA Airways took off the following day. The new airline won the tender for the Alitalia brand, but has decided to go in a different direction. We explain what’s happening in Italy.
Former Boeing pilot charged with fraud over 737 MAX
The US Department of Justice charged Mark Forkner, Boeing’s former chief technical pilot on the 737 MAX program, with fraud this week over his alleged actions on the 737 MAX program. We break down the indictment and what else we’re watching for.
The A380 is staging a comeback
The demise of the A380 may have been slightly exaggerated. We see which airlines are putting them back into service.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss the breakdown of Southwest Airlines’ operations over the past weekend—where it all began and how social media created a new problem for the airline. Plus, Air India finally has a new owner.
Southwest’s breakdown
From Friday 8 October through Monday 11 October, Southwest Airlines canceled thousands of flights because of operational issues emanating from Florida. We break down what we know about what caused the trouble to start and how multiple factors made it worse. We also discuss the role social media played in turning an airline operations story into something else entirely.
DOT to audit FAA staffing
The US Department of Transportation inspector general has initiated an audit of ‘staffing and training at FAA’s critical facilities’ to ensure that there are enough controllers. We discuss our predictions for the report’s conclusions.
Tata takes Air India
The Tata Group will take over Air India after outbidding rivals for the airline. The founder of Tata Group began what became Air India in 1932 and in 1953 the airline was nationalized. Now, in 2021, Air India will once again be a private airline back in Tata’s hands.
Bonza
Sensing an opportunity for low-cost flights in Australia, Bonza aims to take on existing carriers with no-frills, point-to-point flying.
NTSB job opening
The NTSB is hiring investigators, including one in the same division as Sean Payne, who we spoke with a few months ago. See how you can become an NTSB investigator.
Air New Zealand 787 vaccination site
Air New Zealand will turn one of its 787s into a vaccination site this weekend.
The L-1011 house
If your dream house includes a airline-themed cinema, we have the house for you.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Seth Miller joins the show to fill us in on what happened at this week’s IATA Annual General Meeting, countries and airlines continue to roll out vaccine mandates. And British Airways is bringing back its A380s sooner than it planned.
IATA Annual General Meeting
Friend of the show, and aerospace journalist, Seth Miller joins us once again to fill us in on what happened this week at the International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting. We get an overview of IATA’s vision for net zero carbon emissions, comments from IATA Director General Willie Walsh, and some bare truth from Emirates president Tim Clark.
Vaccine mandates multiply
Canada becomes the latest country to issue a vaccine mandate for travel and airlines are issuing mandates of their own. We see who has added requirements in the past week.
ITA makes a splash
Even before officially beginning operations, Italy’s ITA has placed a sizeable order for new Airbus aircraft.
British Airways brings back the A380s earlier than planned
Thanks to the pending relaxation of US travel rules, British Airways is planning to return its A380s to service beginning in November. First stops will be Los Angeles, Miami, and Dubai.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we’re back at our desks, HNA is going to combine all its airlines, eVTOL orders to be interested in, and pigs!—but not the flying kind.
HNA Group to merge its airline portfolio
HNA Group will merge up to 10 of the carriers in its portfolio with flagship Hainan Airlines as part of its bankruptcy restructuring. We break down the financial aspects of the deal and see which airlines will be folded in.
Qatar Airways to reactivate at least 5 A380s
Qatar Airways will reactivate at least 5 of its A380s, even though it doesn’t really want to. We discuss the ongoing issues with Qatar Airways’ fleet that led to the A380s getting a new (temporary?) lease on life.
New special liveries
Emirates and Southwest Airlines both unveiled new special liveries this week. Emirates A380 A6-EEU wears a colorful Dubai Expo livery. Southwest’s 737-700 N954WN is now in a Disney World 50th anniversary livery.
Finnair recycles 99.2% of an A319
Finnair has managed to recycle 99.2% of an A319 and performed the entire operation in-house. We discuss what is hopefully the future of aircraft end-of-life operations.
Bristow continues eVTOL buying spree
Bristow has now committed to three different eVTOL manufacturers with orders for up to 200 aircraft over the past two months. We discuss why this might just be the eVTOL operator that can actually make it work.
DOJ and states sue JetBlue and American Airlines
American Airlines and JetBlue are facing a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice regarding their ‘Northeast Alliance’. We break down what’s happening and some possible reasons why the DOJ has gone after the tie-up and why it doesn’t make much sense.
Links Jason mentioned from Cranky Flier: here, and here.
Pigs!
We’ve discussed sheep, goats, llamas, and more as a means to keep grass and other hazards clear at airports around the world. But pigs keeping geese away is a new one.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we join the Airbus Summit in Toulouse to see the status of sustainable aviation, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Hydrogen, and electric propulsion. But first, we have to get there.
Getting to Toulouse
Ian and Gabriel made it to Toulouse after rough travels—for very different reasons.
The Airbus Summit
Airbus hosted its first Summit entitled ‘Pioneering Sustainable Aerospace’. We discuss the new products the company unveiled and whether this week’s gathering in Toulouse is moving the conversation on sustainable aerospace forward or in a new direction entirely.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we get ready for a busy week of travel and the final report on Air India Express flight 1344 leaves us incredulous. Plus, there’s a new freighter in town.
‘Boeing’s Fatal Flaw’ Documentary
PBS and the New York Times have collaborated on a documentary looking at the development of the 737 MAX. We discuss the outline of the film and what to watch for.
Air India Express final report
Indian investigators released their final report regarding the runway overrun of Air India Express flight 1344 and the details a textbook example of compounding decisions leading to a disastrous result. We discuss some of the more egregious aspects of the flight and you can read the full, maddening report here.
Jet Airways returning?
It seems Jet Airways may finally have a plan to return to the skies by next year.
ITA, Alitalia, and Italy
European competition regulators have decided that ITA is not the same as Alitalia. We discuss the impacts of this decision on ITA’s prospects.
Special liveries to look out for
British Airways and Saudia (787 HZ-ARE and 777 HZ-AK28) have new special liveries that are worth keeping an eye out.
Mammoth Freighters
Mammoth Freighters is joining the 777 freighter conversion club with plans for full freighter conversions of the 777-200LR and 777-300ER. The first aircraft to be converted will be a former Delta Air Lines 777-200LR.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, the Raccoon returns! Plus, the FAA is keeping Virgin Galactic grounded, and the list of places the MAX can fly gets longer.
Welcome back Mr. Porter
Porter Airlines restarted flights this week after an 18 month hiatus. And not to miss out on the party, Air Canada also brought back flights to Toronto City Billy Bishop Airport, the city’s downtown airport.
FAA grounds Virgin Galactic
During its trip to space in July, Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity strayed outside of its assigned airspace safety area for nearly two minutes. Now the FAA has grounded the spaceplane pending the outcome of its investigation into the incident. Read The New Yorker’s article on the subject here.
Philippine Airlines shedding aircraft in bankruptcy
Philippine Airlines has long suffered financial pressures and the pandemic finally pushed the airline into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As part of its restructuring, the airline will shed 22 jet, including a handful of A350s and 777s.
Lufthansa Cargo adding A321P2F
Lufthansa Cargo will add a pair of A321P2F (passenger to freighter conversion) aircraft to its fleet. The A321s will be operated by Lufthansa City Line and fly within Europe in support of eCommerce operations.
Air Wisconsin’s CRJ200F
In even stranger news than Lufthansa’s A321P2F, Air Wisconsin is adding the CRJ200 freighter to its fleet.
More MAX, 787s still on hold
Singapore and Malaysia have now both cleared the 737 MAX for flight, while the FAA rejected Boeing’s proposed inspection regime for 787s with quality issues, pushing back the resumption of deliveries for the manufacturer’s main widebody until October at the earliest.
How to deliver and aircraft
Greater Bay Airlines gets its first 737 and the journey to its new home is circuitous.
Checkout of the Flightradar24 YouTube channel
Flight videos, tutorials, video versions of the podcast. We’ve got it all over on YouTube. Check out the latest videos and be sure to subscribe while you’re there to get notified when new videos are uploaded.
Meet up with us in Los Angeles next weekend
Jason and Ian will be at Dorkfest beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday, 18 September in the park across from the In-N-Out at Los Angeles International Airport. If you’re in the neighborhood, we’d love to chat. Stop by for airplanes and some Flightradar24 goodies.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, the Kabul Airlift ends and the last US military aircraft leaves Afghanistan after a 20 year war Emirates brings forward its final A380 delivery. And Eastern Airlines is getting into the boxes business.
Kabul Airlift ends
The Kabul Airlift has ended with the final withdrawal of United States troops from the Kabul Airport, marking the end of the 20 year war in Afghanistan. We tally the final numbers from the airlift, discuss some of the curious flights and discuss what’s next for aviation in Afghanistan.
Eastern Air Cargo?
Our resident numbers expert Gavin Werbeloff joins us to discuss Eastern Airlines plans to develop a fleet of 777 express freighters.
Emirates gets ready for its last A380
Emirates is moving up its final A380 delivery from June 2022 to November of this year.
Nope, not a drone
An Envoy E175 that was originally though to have struck a drone departing Chicago turns out to have struck a balloon.
Delivery of the first COMAC C919 expected this year
China Eastern Airlines says they’ll take delivery of the first COMAC C919 by the end of this year.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss the ongoing Kabul Airlift, the activation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet by the US Department of Defense and the other commercial airlines supporting evacuation efforts.
The Kabul Airlift
The United States and its coalition partners are engaged in a massive airlift out of Kabul. In addition to the military assets employed, dozens of airlines from all over the world are also helping move Afghan evacuees to safer locations. The US has even activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet for just the third time in history. We break down the logistics of the airlift and what’s happened so far.
Death defying airlines
Alitalia is dead, long live Alitalia. And South African Airways is set to relaunch flights next month. We talk airlines that have more than nine lives.
More new airline vaccination policies
Additional airlines have mandated vaccination for their employees, while Delta Air Lines has decided to go a different route.
El Al removing WiFi that might break planes
El Al is removing WiFi radomes from some of its planes over fears that the installed equipment could lead to a structural failure of the aircraft.
737 cargo freighter door opens in flight
An AeroSucre 737-200 cargo aircraft returned to the airport shortly after the main cargo door opened in flight.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.
 

On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss the rapidly devolving situation in Kabul, Afghanistan. And Ned Russell joins us to discuss his reporting on how airlines feel about the 737 MAX some eight months after its return to revenue service.
Chaos in Kabul
The rapidly devolving situation in Afghanistan created chaos at the Kabul airport over the past week. We discuss what’s happened at the Kabul airport and the effects on commercial air traffic in Afghanistan.
How airlines learned to stop worrying and love the MAX
We chat with Ned Russell, airlines reporter at Skift/Airline Weekly to learn more about how airlines have felt about the return of the 737 MAX and what they’ve seen over the past eight months. We also discuss the passenger reaction to the aircraft’s return to service. Ned’s full piece on the return of the MAX is available here.
Embraer’s new turboprop
Embraer released its revised turboprop configuration for its next-generation regional aircraft.
FAA AD on PW1500G and PW1900G engines
The FAA issued an airworthiness directive for Pratt and Whitney PW1500G and PW1900G engines instructing operators to replace portions of the high pressure compressor in the engines. The full AD is available here.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.
 
 

On this episode of AvTalk, the 737 MAX begins recertification flights in China, US airlines weigh vaccine mandates, and the law of unintended consequences hits airlines in the nose.
Airlines weighing vaccine mandates
Airlines are split on whether to require employees get vaccinated and what happens if they choose not to. We discuss which major airlines have already made it mandatory and which have said they’ll go a different route.
737 MAX recertification flights in China
The 737 MAX test aircraft is in Shanghai now conducting flights as China moves closer to re-certifying the MAX. There’s still no public time frame for that, however.
Getting under Qatar’s skin
Qatari regulators ordered Qatar Airways to ground 13 Airbus A350s after finding accelerated degradation of the aircraft surface underneath the paint. EASA has weighed in saying they haven’t been able to determine there’s a problem.
Joby goes public
eVTOL manufacturer Joby became a publicly traded company this week. Go back to episode 122 to learn everything you need to know about eVTOL aircraft.
Get out your smelling salts
From the law of unintended consequences depart, airlines are asking US regulators to provide exemptions for their first aid kits as they begin to run low on required “smelling salts” or ammonia inhalants. The inhalants are required in each first aid kit on board an aircraft. Because of supply chain issues and a re-classification of the inhalants by the CARES Act, airlines are concerned they’ll run out of stock and be forced to cancel flights.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we welcome back Steve Giordano of Jet Test and Transport to talk about his new YouTube series Cockpit Casual, which showcases the bizarre world of test and ferry pilots.
Spirit’s operational meltdown
We look at Spirit’s terrible week and what’s to come as they try and dig out from under a mountain of cancellations.
Miami Air 293 final report
The NTSB released its final report on the runway overrun of Miami Air 293 in Jacksonville. Read the full report.
British Airways renews A380 maintenance contract with Lufthansa Technik
British Airways renewed its maintenance contract with Lufthansa Technik for the care of its A380 fleet for another 5 years. But the news may not be as good as we think.
Boeing bringing the MAX to China
Boeing is bringing its 737 MAX test aircraft to China for recertification flights with the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
FAA wants better emergency documentation from Boeing
The FAA has instructed Boeing to provide more detailed emergency procedures for pilots of the upcoming 777X and 737-10 MAX.
Cockpit Casual
Steve Giordano has one of the most interesting jobs in aviation and he’s decided to take us all along for the ride. His new YouTube series Cockpit Casual follows his adventures as a test and ferry pilot, taking aircraft around the world on behalf of airlines and lessors. We chat with Steve about how the series came to be, the great first episode, and what we can expect to see on the channel.

Watch the first episode of Cockpit Casual

7 crashes in 7 days
This story of one pilot’s attempt to get his newly purchased Seawind home from California is one you just have to read to believe.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we sit down with Elan Head, editorial director of eVTOL.com to get a primer on the world of electric vertical take off and landing aircraft. Plus, Jason previews the new seaplane service from New York to Boston.
Jason’s Tailwind Tour
After our discussion last week about forthcoming seaplane service from New York to Boston, Jason took a quick demo flight with Tailwind Air in the Cessna 208EX around Manhattan.
A330 days of the Condor
Condor will replace its ageing fleet of 767s with 16 A330neos set to arrive starting next fall.
Everything eVTOL with Elan Head
Elan Head, editorial director of eVTOL.com, joins the show to give us an overview of the current electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing landscape including the proposed technologies, major players, and business cases. We also discuss the technical, regulatory, and public acceptance hurdles that eVTOLs face and how some companies are working to overcome those challenges.

Download and read Elan Head’s eVTOL primer

 
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, the industry recovery is expanding as we pass 100,000 commercial flights for the first time in over a year, the operator of the Transair flight that crashed in Hawaii is grounded by the FAA, and British Airways is quickly fixing its uncovered holes.
Passing 100,000 flights
For the first time since 13 March 2020, Flightradar24 tracked more than 100,000 commercial flights. We break down the numbers to see where recovery is taking hold and which regions are more precarious.
FAA grounds Rhoades Aviation
The FAA has grounded Rhoades Aviation, the operator of Transair flight 810. The investigation in to Rhoades began in 2020 and the FAA notified Rhoades of its intention to withdraw its maintenance inspection authority, a move that would effectively halt flights by the airline, two week prior to the ditching. We look at what the FAA has said and the time line of the process.
British Airways fixing its uncovered holes
British Airways has accelerated the process of covering the apex pin bore hole, which is located next to the nose landing gear down lock pin hole on 787. We discussed in depth last week why the cover is necessary.
Alitalia, gone, but not gone at all
Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA), the successor airline to Alitalia will begin operations on 15 October. Italy has announced there will be a public tender for rights to the Alitalia name and branding. Ian and Jason get ready to bid.
Malaysia Airlines trying to sell its six A380s
Not much more to add than the headline, but Ian and Jason get ready to bid on these too.
Send us your eVTOL questions
On next week’s episode, we’ll sit down with Elan Head from eVTOL.com to learn more about electric vertical take off and landing aircraft development and what we need to be looking out for over the next few years. Email us with your questions.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.
 

United orders 200 Heart Aerospace electric regional aircraft, Porter finally confirms its E195-E2 order, and Boeing is now dealing with fresh 787 quality issues.
Heart Aerospace gets a big order from United
United Airlines and regional partner carrier Mesa Airlines ordered 200 Heart Aerospace ES-19 all-electric regional aircraft this week. The aircraft, still in development, is expected to fly with the airline by the end of the decade. We break down the order and investment in Heart Aerospace as well as walk through some of the challenges facing electric commercial aircraft.
Heart Aerospace announcement | United Airlines announcement | Seth Miller’s route analysis
Previously: United’s Supersonic order | United’s narrowbody order
Porter Airlines confirms large E195-E2 order
After months of denials, Porter Airlines finally confirmed it has ordered up to 80 Embraer E195-E2s. Porter currently operates a fleet of Dash 8 Q400s. The new jets are scheduled to join the airline beginning in the second half of 2022 and will fly to destinations in Canada, the US, and Caribbean from Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Richard Branson’s weightlessness
With this weekend’s trip space-adjacent portions of the atmosphere complete, we discuss a few competing ideas on the utility of these space “travel” projects.
Jon Ostrower’s tweet | Jason’s response
Fresh 787 quality issues
Boeing has discovered another issue with its undelivered 787s, this time a problem with the forward pressure bulkhead. To address the issue, Boeing will further slow 787 production and delivered fewer 787s this year.
UK AAIB issues update on BA boop
The UK AAIB issued a special bulletin following the nose gear retraction incident on a British Airways 787 in London last month.
Airbus and Boeing take different routes with customers
Airbus and Boeing’s approach to order cancellations has been wildly different during the past 18 months. Following a Wall Street Journal article published this week breaking down the numbers, we discuss the possible long-term affects of these approaches.
Saudi Arabia’s new plan to compete 20 years ago now
Saudi Arabia announced plans to create a mega-hub connecting airline. We look at what they’re attempting and Jason has a few thoughts on the wisdom of the project.
Airline Weekly article
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On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss the ditching of a Transair 737-200 in Hawaii. Delta is headed to the used plane lot and we’re finally ready to launch Richard Branson into space.
Transair 810 ditching in Hawaii
A Transair 737 operated by Rhoades Aviation ditched in the water near Honolulu after suffering engine trouble. Both crew members of the cargo jet survived and were rescued by the US Coast Guard. We discuss what we know so far and what the 10-member NTSB investigative team is working on now.
Delta hits the used plane lot for a deal
The Air Current reports that Delta Air Lines will take used A350s from LATAM and 737-900ERs from Lion Air to grow its fleet following pandemic-related cuts. Delta withdrew its entire 777 fleet and parked a large number of narrowbody aircraft at the beginning of the pandemic.
Mitsu-what now?
Mitsubishi might be considering a restart of limited CRJ production. We entertain the notion for a brief moment.
Air Astana sues Embraer
Air Astana has sued Embraer over issues with its E190-E2 aircraft. We discuss the lawsuit and Embraer’s response.
Launching Richard Branson into space
Richard Branson will ride his Virgin Orbit’s VSS Unity into space on Sunday, 11 July. Set an alert for registration N202VG if you’d like to follow along.
New from Flightradar24
Check out our YouTube channel for our growing collection of flight videos, including our most recent that takes Gabriel Leigh on a surprise private flight. And if you’d like a version of the podcast with subtitles, the AvTalk playlist includes our most recent episodes.
And we’ve added a new Widgets button to the bottom menu bar on Flightradar24.com. Control which widgets you see in the left sidebar and the order in which they appear. There’s also a new ‘Last Clicked Flights’ widget that displays the last 5 flights you’ve clicked on the site. Easily go back to one of the flights by clicking on it in the widget. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this week’s episode, United announces a huge and real aircraft order, the Boeing 777X suffers another setback, and an airline in Alaska seeks to become the Icelandair of the northwest.
The big United order
Jason attends his first large industry event this week in Newark, as United announces an order for 270 737 MAX and A321neos. And big changes are coming to the cabin as well.
Boeing’s 777X problem
The FAA sent a letter to Boeing in May that was first reported this week advising the manufacturer that the 777X is not yet ready for certification flights. We discuss the latest set back for the 777X.
Ravn’s new plan
Alaskan airline Ravn has a plan to become the Icelandair of the northwest, using 757s to connect destinations in Asia to the lower 48 US states via Anchorage.
Sky Lease overrun final report
Canadian investigators issued their final report on the runway overrun and breakup of a Sky Lease Cargo 747 at Halifax in 2018. The full report can be found here.
Special flights mentioned in the show

* Qantas’ Brisbane to Vieux Fort cricket carriage.
* Kalitta Air’s new livery
* Air Canada’s special Fly the Flag livery 787
* Lufthansa’s new special livery

Following the Tour de France
If you enjoy watching the Tour de France, we discuss how it gets from the cameras to your screen. Check out our blog post: How the Tour de France goes from cycle to screen.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, Southwest Airlines is getting a new CEO, airlines are running into the great training roadblock, and the 737 MAX still isn’t re-certified in China.
Southwest Airlines’ CEO changes
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly announced he will step down in February 2022, with Robert Jordan assuming the role. Kelly will remain with Southwest as Executive Chairman through 2026.
Crew crunch causing cancellations
Crew availability is affecting airlines’ ability to run as many flights as they’d like—with some airlines like American Airlines canceling hundreds of flights a day. The number of available crew is hampered by training and currency requirements that need to be completed before crew can fly.
MAX updates
The 737-10 MAX flew for the first time last week, marking the last first flight for variants of the MAX family. We also discuss the lack of certification for the MAX by China.
Undesirable retraction
A British Airways 787 (G-ZBJB) suffered a nose gear mishap on the ground in London last week. The nose gear retracted while the aircraft was parked and being loaded with cargo for a flight to Frankfurt.
New liveries
Southwest Airlines now has “Freedom One” and Skymark Airlines has a fresh Pokémon-themed 737.
Checking Heathrow’s math
Heathrow claimed Jazeera Airways’ new Kuwait City-London route was the longest operated by the A320neo, but Jason actually did the math and it’s not even close.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, the US and EU close the book on their aviation subsidies fight and turn their attention to China. CFM debuts its new RISE engine platform. And Airbus and Cathay Pacific are working on single pilot operations for the A350 in cruise.
The EU and US make nice, turn their attention to China
After nearly two decades of acrimony and countless back-and-forth legal challenges the European Union and United States have agreed to halt their fight over commercial aircraft subsidies at the World Trade Organization, and instead turn their attention to what they call “non-market economies,” e.g., China, as the competition to design and build the next commercial airliner expands.
Airbus and Cathay Pacific working on A350 single pilot operations
We explain Airbus’ proposal for single pilot operations on the A350 during cruise periods and some of the challenges that Airbus and any airline will have implementing single-pilot operations
CFM RISEs to the occasion
CFM, the joint venture between General Electric Aviation and Safran announced its new RISE program (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines), an engine platform build on open-rotor technology that targets a 20% reduction in emissions from current engines.
US DOT wants $25.5 million from Air Canada
Air Canada is facing a proposed $25.5 million fine from the US Department of Transportation for not refunding passengers for canceled flights during the pandemic. We break down what the DOT is saying and why Air Canada says it shouldn’t have to pay.
Other aviation news
Yes, other things happened! Ryanair got its first MAX, PLAY got its first aircraft, Lufthansa is sending big planes to small places, and South African Airways might soon be in private hands.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.
 

On this episode of AvTalk, we welcome aerospace journalists John Walton and Jon Ostrower to discuss United Airlines’ order for Boom’s Supersonic Overture jet, and the likelihood of the aircraft ever entering service.
Our discussion of United’s order for Boom’s proposed supersonic jet covers the challenges Boom, and any airline seeking to fly the supersonic jet, will encounter.
Technology
BOOM’s Overture aircraft currently lacks a critical component for flight: engines. While Rolls Royce is in talks to provide an engine for Overture, there is no deal—or design—ready at the moment.
Money
Aircraft development is hard and expensive. Billions of dollars expensive. So far, Boom just doesn’t have enough cash to get it from paper to passenger airplane.
No one likes a sonic boom
Opposition to supersonic flights over land will be a main driver of where any future supersonic aircraft can operate. And that in turn, leads to…
Economics
The small market and multitude of constraints on any supersonic aircraft’s operations makes the economic case for such an airplane very challenging.
Environmental costs and challenges
Boom has said it’s designing the Overture to run on 100% ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’ (SAF). But that doesn’t solve the problem of having to burn many times more fuel than a comparable subsonic flight in the first place. Nor does it account for where the SAF is going to come from. SAF accounts for a tiny percentage of global fuel stocks at the moment and raising that share to the level necessary to support supersonic flights is by no means an easy feat.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.
 

On this episode of AvTalk, we try to fit in as many Breeze Airways puns as we can as Jason fills us in on the airline’s inaugural flight. We also take stock of the situation in Belarus and see where things stand now. Plus, Airbus is getting ready to ramp up A320 family production in a big way.
Jason puts wind in his sails on the Breeze inaugural
Jason took the inaugural Breeze Airways flight and it carried him aloft, but it didn’t sweep him off his feet.
Update on the situation in Belarus
We discuss the current status of the situation in Belarus, which airlines have changed routes, and how Belavia, the Belarusian airline is adapting to increased restrictions on where it can fly.
Boeing meets the FAA
Boeing has halted deliveries of the 787 again. It has also reached a settlement with the FAA and agreed to pay a $17 million fine related to unapproved sensors on the 737NG and 737 MAX and possibly non-conforming slat tracks on the 737 MAX. We dig into both issues.
Airbus’ assembly lines getting ready to pick up speed
Airbus is preparing its suppliers for a big jump in the number of A320 family aircraft it produces every month over the next 4 years.
Sure seems like things are improving
We look at some of the positive steps and data points we’ve seen this week that makes us think we’re moving in the right direction.
The winglet thingy
HiFly is preparing to test a wing-tip device designed by The Aircraft Performance Company on one of its A330s that is intended to reduce fuel consumption beyond a standard winglet. We’ll let you see for yourselves.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss the forcible diversion of a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius to Minsk, Belarus and the ensuing international response.
On 23 May, Ryanair flight 4978 was forcibly diverted by Belarus. Aviation journalist Seth Miller of PaxEx.aero joins us as we discuss what happened, the international reaction, and why all of this matters.
Helpful links

* Flight data for Ryanair flight 4978
* Where Belarus-based airlines can now fly
* Who was flying over Belarus before last week
* Lawfare blog Seth mentions

Other things that happened this week
Supersonic start-up Aerion is no more, SpiceJet is under investigation for an onboard wedding in the middle of a COVID-19 outbreak, Emirates president Sir Tim Clark turns heads again with his comments on the 777X, and the US FAA downgrades Mexico to safety category 2.

On this episode of AvTalk, a Metroliner and SR22 collide over Denver and everyone walks away safely. A Boutique Air flight loses a door. And Boeing fixes the latest issue with the 737 MAX.
Metroliner vs SR22
A Cirrus SR22 and Key Lime Air Swearingen Metroliner collided near Denver’s Centennial Airport last week. Everyone walked away safely. We cover what we know so far.
Boutique Air flight loses a door
A Boutique Air flight from Minneapolis to Ironwood didn’t get very far last week. On the departure roll on the runway, the aircraft’s cargo door opened.
737 MAX updates
Boeing has developed a fix for the potential electrical grounding issue on some 737 MAX aircraft. Some airlines have already repaired theirs and put them back into service, while Boeing has begun delivering the aircraft once again.
Which airlines are on the move, and which are still grounded?
JetBlue is finally, actually flying to London with tickets going on sale this week from New York to both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. PLAY airlines, founded by a group of former WOW executives, is set to launch next month from Iceland. And Porter Airlines, which has been been grounded since last year due to the pandemic border restrictions between the US and Canada, has extended its suspension of service through at least July.
Koru Care
Air New Zealand’s special Koru Care flight was this week and 50 kids with disabilities or terminal illnesses got the flight of a lifetime.
Is Alaska, is not Alaska?
Ian takes issue with the phrase “Proudly all Boeing” and invites you to set him straight.
Big podcast news!
We’re moving to a weekly format! You’ll hear Ian and Jason twice as often beginning next week. The show format will stay similar, but we’ll likely keep the episodes a bit shorter. Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we continue our conversation with NTSB investigator Sean Payne to discuss the NTSB’s most wanted list and their call for crash protected recorders to be installed in all passenger carrying commercial aircraft.
More MAX news
The FAA issued its airworthiness directive saying some 737 MAX with electrical grounding issues need to be fixed before they can fly again. But Boeing is still working on the service bulletin to tell operators how to do that.
Separately, an airworthiness directive mandates checks on some CFM LEAP-1B engines that power the 737 MAX. These checks are due to ‘pressure transducer corrosion following extended storage periods.’
ZeroAvia makes ‘off airport landing’
ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-powered prototype made an ‘off airport landing’ earlier this week. The aircraft’s left wing was torn off the fuselage after its landing gear dug into the soft earth in a field next to the airport following a forced landing. Luckily there were no serious injuries and the company and investigators have begun the process of understanding what went wrong.
The tower is empty, but there are plenty of eyes watching
London City airport became the first major airport to transition to a remote control tower earlier this year and made the announcement publicly last Friday.
Orders and fleet changes
Incremental change seems to to be the order of the day as airlines add a handful of new aircraft to their order book to complement their new fleet structures in a post-Covid world. We discuss changes at Lufthansa, Silk Way, and Aeromexico. And Malaysia Airlines confirms its A380s will exit the fleet.
NTSB’s most wanted list with Sean Payne
We welcome back Sean Payne for part 2 of our discussion to dig in to the NTSB’s most wanted list, especially the board’s continued call for the installation of image recorders on the flight deck of commercial aircraft. We discuss what the NTSB actually means when they say image recorders and the lack of any crash protected recorders in many passenger carrying commercial aircraft.
Listen to part 1 of our conversation here
 
Delay code? What’s a delay code?
News from United Airlines this week that they’ll do away with Delay codes prompts Ian to ask Jason, “Hey, what’s a delay code, and why do I care?” Turns out, if you have a tight connection, you might care a great deal.
New Airlines
There are new airlines sprouting up all over the place! Avelo, Aero K, Bees, the a new mysterious entrant into the space formerly occupied by Joon, Super Air Jet.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.
 

On this episode of AvTalk, we welcome Sean Payne, an investigator with the US National Transportation Safety Board, for the first in a two-part interview. In part one this week, Payne walks us through how the NTSB collects, processes, and uses information from aircraft data recorders to help determine the cause of an accident.
First flight on Mars
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter made its first flight this week, achieving the first powered, controlled flight on another planet. The first flight lasted 39.1 seconds and reached a height of 3 meters (10 feet).
Trans-Tasman bubble
Perhaps paving the way forward for other travel success stories, the Trans-Tasman bubble opened this week, allowing Australians and New Zealanders to fly between the two countries quarantine free.
737 MAX electrical issues
Boeing continues to look for a fix for the electrical grounding issues on some 737 MAX, while airlines keep those airplanes on the ground.
NTSB investigator Sean Payne
Sean Payne is a mechanical engineer by training and an NTSB investigator in the vehicle recorder division. He walks us through how investigators locate, download, and analyze data from the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorders during accident investigations.
This is part 1 of our two part conversation with Payne. He’ll join us next week for part 2 to discuss the future of recording devices and what the NTSB is hoping authorities will mandate.
Additional reading on NTSB procedures for data recorders

* FAA Advisory Circular on Flight Data Recorders
* FAA Advisory Circular on Cockpit Voice Recorders
* NTSB FDR handbook
* NTSB CVR handbook

Programming notes
Jason and Ian joined the PlaneTalkingUK podcast last week and had a great time. Watch the episode here.
And AvTalk is now on Amazon Music. So if you like to listen to your podcasts there, give us a follow so that each new episode is automatically placed in your library.
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, the densest version of the 737 MAX is certified, a ketchup packet shortage brings us back to a previous espiode, and we talk with Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren about an important but under-reported portion of Boeing’s history.
SJ182
The memory module from the cockpit voice recorder of Sriwijaya Air flight 182 has been recovered.
MAX 8-200
The FAA and EASA have certified the 737 MAX 8-200, the high density version of the MAX 8 that can seat over 200 passengers in its densest configuration. Boeing added an exit door aft of the wing to facilitate the increased passenger count. This variant of the MAX was designed with Ryanair in mind and the airline is now ready to take delivery of its first of hundreds of 737 MAX.
GPS unit replacements
An issue with a Rockwell Collins GPS unit means that they’ll need to be replaced on approximately 3,500 aircraft in the US alone. But interesting, the fix requires a hardware update, not software.
Japan Airlines retiring PW4000-powered 777-200s
In a very unsurprising announcement, Japan Airlines says that it will not return its PW4000-powered 777-200s to service. These aircraft are affected by the grounding and inspection order regarding PW4000 engine failures. Japan Airlines had already planned to retire these aircraft soon, so moving the timeline forward just makes sense.
Boeing restarts 787 deliveries
After a five month halt, Boeing resumed 787 deliveries in late March with the first aircraft going to United Airlines.
Problems for Ethiopian Airlines in Zambia
Last weekend, two Ethiopian Airlines flights made approaches and one landing at a still under construction airport in Zambia.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren introduces us to Frugal the Squirrel
We welcome back Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren and open up is vault of airline history to meet Frugal the Squirrel, Boeing’s mid-1970s ‘larger-than-life’ energy conservation mascot.

Ketchup crisis
There’s a ketchup package shortage in the US, and we know exactly who to call.
The longest flight that wasn’t
This is a bit of an odd one. Comlux’s recently acquired 787, formerly an Aeromexico aircraft, flew from Seoul to Buenos Aires, a distance of 12,106 miles. They then said it was the world’s longest flight ever recorded. It’s a long flight to be sure, but with out any qualifying statement, it’s incorrect. As for commercial aircraft, a Boeing 777-200LR flew from Hong Kong to London in the eastbound direction for a total flight of 13,422 miles. The flight time for the 777 was also longer at 22 hr 43 min compared to 20 hr 19 min for the Comlux 787. An impressive feat by Comlux, but the question remains: why?
Let us know what you think (and let your friends know)
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode, we check on Iceland’s erupting volcano, dig through the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 final report, and Gabe sits down with Amapola Flyg’s CEO to learn more about the small airline operating a fleet of Fokker 50s.
Eruption at Fagradalsfjall
The eruption at Fagradalsfjall made its fiery debut last week southeast of Iceland’s main airport, Keflavik. Fortunately, this eruption was not accompanied by a massive ash cloud, and has actually increased tourism in the area.
The PS752 final report and its discontents
Iran’s Air Accident Investigation Board released its final report on the downing of PS752 this week, reiterating the cause of the crash to be the missiles fired at the aircraft shortly after takeoff from Tehran. Both Ukraine and Canada took the unusual step of criticizing the report, with Ukraine saying that its ‘does not reveal the root causes of the tragedy or the chain of actions that led to it.’ For its part,

On this episode of AvTalk, we mark two years since the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 and the beginning of a years long effort to fix the 737 MAX and return it to service. We also discuss Sir Tim Clark’s recent comments on Boeing in an interview with Jon Ostrower of the The Air Current. And Air Baltic CEO Martin Gauss joins us for an AvTalk interview to discuss how the airline has managed through the pandemic, including becoming an all A220-operator almost overnight.
Two years since Ethiopian flight 302
This week marks two years since the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302—the second deadly crash of the 737 MAX in just over 3 months— and the beginning of a nearly two year worldwide grounding of the aircraft while Boeing and regulators from around the world addressed issues with the aircraft’s design. We take stock of where the MAX program is now and what’s changed since March 2019.
Promised link: Southwest’s initial 737 MAX routes
 
Tim Clark’s strong words for Boeing
In an interview with The Air Current’s Jon Ostrower, Emirates Airline president Tim Clark had strong words for Boeing about the 737 MAX, the quality issues surrounding the 787, and the company’s overall culture. Clark places blame for the aircraft manufacturer’s woes directly on management and Boeing’s board of directors. We pull out some of the choice quotes to discuss, but the interview is well worth reading in its entirety.
UA328 update
The NTSB issued an investigative update on 5 March, providing additional information on the sequence of events that led to the failure of the PW4077 on UA328. According to the NTSB, the pilots reported that they increased the engine power four minutes after take off to climb more quickly through expected turbulence, and ‘immediately after the throttles were advanced a loud bang was recorded on the CVR. FDR data indicate the engine made an uncommanded shutdown and the engine fire warning activated shortly after.’
AvTalk interview with airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss
Gabriel Leigh speaks with airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss to learn how the airline has weathered the pandemic, what it’s like becoming an A220-only operator overnight, and how the next few months will critical for the airline as it gets ready to exit hibernation.
Read a condensed, annotated version of our interview with Martin Gauss
 
AerCap and GECAS to combine
AerCap is set to acquire General Electric’s aviation leasing arm GECAS in a deal that will see the combined lessor own over 2,000 aircraft.
DARPA invents grass
In Ian’s favorite story of the week, DARPA has come up with a novel solution to reduce the dust produced by landing V-22 aircraft.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us a review on iTunes.

On this very special episode of AvTalk, we’re joined by Sven Lidström of the Norwegian Polar Institute to learn about Troll Research Station in Antarctica and the station’s blue ice runway.
Troll Research Station
As the operations coordinator at the Troll Research Station in Antarctica, Lidström is in charge of making sure the polar outpost runs smoothly. Since 2005, that job has included maintaining the research station’s 3000 meter runway built into the blue ice on the glacier in front of the station. Located 250 kilometers from the edge of the ice shelf and 4,300 km from Cape Town, the nearest international airport, all of the challenges at Troll are magnified by its remote location.
For more images from Troll, see our companion blog post.
Watch video of Icelandair’s 767 arriving and departing Troll Station.
 
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss what we know so far about the engine failure aboard United Airlines flight UA328 and what investigators and regulators are doing now to ensure that the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine is safe to operate.
It’s raining engine parts
On Saturday, 20 February two engine failures on two different aircraft led to two very different responses. Over Maastricht, a Longtail Aviation 747 ejected engine components from its number 1 engine after it failed just after take off. The aircraft held while jettisoning fuel and made a safe landing at Liège (not Leizig as Ian misstated) a short time later.
Later in the day, United Airlines UA328 departed Denver and approximately 4 minutes after takeoff its number 2 engine failed. Engine parts, including the inlet cowl rained down on Broomfield, Colorado west of Denver and the flight made a safe landing back at Denver 23 minutes after take off.
We pick up the discussion to see what has happened in the week since, including the worldwide grounding of the PW4000-112 engine pending detailed inspections.
Helpful UA328 links

* UA328 flight data and updates on investigator and regulator actions
* Twitter thread by former 777 (and current 767) pilot “Miami Rick” on the actions the crew would perform in an engine failure scenario
* Where are the grounded PW4000-powered 777s?

Planes in, planes out
We run through the wide variety of fleet movements made by airlines over the past year.
Updates on the MAX
SCAT Airlines puts their MAX 8 back in service and the US Department of Transportation Inspector General releases its report on the FAA’s certification of the 737 MAX.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening this year! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.
 
 

On this episode of AvTalk, Air Greenland CEO Jacob Nitter joins Gabriel Leigh for a discussion on how the airline has managed through the pandemic and how they’re planning to emerge on the other side. We also discuss the recently released preliminary report on the crash of Sriwijaya Air flight 182 and the dramatic drop in air traffic in China to start the year.
Sriwijaya Air 182 preliminary report
Indonesian investigators have released their preliminary report on the crash of Sriwijaya Air flight 182. We cover the report’s findings and lay out which questions still need answers.
Air traffic in China drops to start the year
Air traffic in China is down significantly from mid-December through the beginning of February. We take a look at the numbers.
Air Greenland CEO Jacob Nitter
Air Greenland CEO Jacob Nitter sits down with our Gabriel Leigh to discuss how the airline has navigated the pandemic, their fleet renewal, and why the airline is optimistic about the future of aviation in Greenland.
Flight tests and long distance deliveries
We run down some surprising upcoming test flights and a few long-distance deliveries.
Sun Country going public
Sun Country Airlines is set to become a public company soon. We take a look at the unique situation of Sun Country and how they were able to grow their business in 2020.
Listener mailbag
We begin a new series we’re calling listener mailbag where we answer questions from listeners about aviation topics they have questions about. In our first rummage through the mailbag, Matthew Justice wants to know why some airlines paint an aircraft’s registration on the wing and some do not.
If you have a question you’d like us to answer, email us here.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening this year! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.
 

On this episode of AvTalk, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority clear the 737 MAX for flight. And Ian hatches a plan to save Norwegian Air by getting the Norwegian government to sell its shares in GameStop.
Sriwijaya Air flight 182 updates
We discuss the status of the black boxes and what investigators are reportedly looking at more closely as we await an interim report next month.
EASA and the UK CAA clear the 737 MAX
EASA and the UK CAA both cleared the 737 MAX to fly this week, paving the way for the aircraft’s return to European skies. The EASA airworthiness directive is similar to the one issued earlier this month by Canada, requiring addition actions beyond those mandated by the US FAA.
Boeing’s reports record loss for 2020
Boeing reported a record $12 billion loss for 2020 as it dealt with the continued grounding of the 737 MAX, quality issues with the 787, 777X program delays, and other problems in divisions outside commercial airplanes. We also see delivery of the first 777X slip to late 2023, with entry into service likely not before early 2024.
Ian’s plan to save Norwegian with GameStop cash
An online community has fueled a meteoric rise in the price of GameStop stock this week. The government pension fund of Norway happens to own 2.6% of GameStop’s stock. Ian attempts to convince Jason that the Norwegian government could recapitalize Norwegian Air with proceeds from selling its position in GameStop. To be clear, this is all hypothetical and the government of Norway does not—nor should it—take any investment advice from Ian and this podcast.
A troubling report on GPS interference
We discuss a troubling report about the effects purposeful GPS interference is having on aviation to determine just how troubled we should be. You can read the report in IEEE Spectrum here.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening this year! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.
 
 

On this episode of AvTalk, we review what we know so far about the crash of Sriwijaya Air flight 182. We also look at the state of aviation industry as we begin 2021. And our first 737 MAX update of the year has little to do with the airplane itself.
Sriwijaya Air 182
Sriwijaya Air flight SJ182 crashed shortly after take off from Jakarta on 9 January 2021. We review what we know so far about the crash and the state of the investigation.
COVID’s continuing effects on aviation
From dismal traffic numbers to rolling ATC facility closures to general uncertainty in the market, we take a look at COVID is continuing to have an effect on the aviation industry.
Norwegian cuts long-haul
Norwegian announced this week it would not return to long-haul flying, removing the 787 from its fleet.
Madrid gets snow — a lot of snow
Madrid was hit with a massive snow storm this week, at one point halting operations at MAD for 50 hours.
Qatar blockade lifted
Qatar’s neighbors have lifted the blockade they imposed in June of 2017, once again allowing Qatari aircraft access to their airspace. With restored access to Saudi Arabian airspace, Qatar Airways flights to the south and west no longer require and hours-long deviation.
737 MAX update
GOL, American Airlines, Copa, and Aeromexico now have the 737 MAX back in service. But the biggest update so far this year is the deferred prosecution agreement between Boeing and the US Department of Justice. We discuss the terms of the agreement. We also discuss Jon Ostrower’s recent article on the inclusion of MCAS in the 737 MAX, which asks, “was MCAS really necessary at all?”
Airbus and Boeing orders and deliveries in 2020
We run through the planes that Airbus and Boeing got out the door in 2020 and look at what the backlog can tell us about how each manufacturer is approaching the next few years.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening this year! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

Happy New Year! This week we’re looking back at a couple of our favorite AvTalk conversations from 2020. We’ll be back on 15 January with our first new episode of the year.
Completing the Trifecta
Jon Weiswasser is a doctor, the drummer for Eagles tribute band Eaglemania, and a pilot with an engrossing YouTube channel called Life in the Fast Lane and he joined us in May to talk about completing the trifecta—landing at Newark, La Guardia, and JFK during the same flight in a Vans RV-8.
Jet Test and Transport
Steve Giordano is who you call when you need to get a handful of 737s out of Australia in the middle of a global pandemic. Or perhaps you need a Dash 8 made airworthy and flown from desert storage in the US to the middle of Africa. His team at Jet Test and Transport fill a fascinating niche in the aviation industry and Giordano joined us in October to fill us in.
Thank you for listening!
Thank you to everyone for listening to AvTalk especially as we crossed the 100 episode threshold! We’re looking forward to a much better year in 2021 and we’re hoping to bring you stories from around the world as soon as it’s safe to do so. Happy New Year and happy tracking!

On our 100th episode of AvTalk, we’re joined by John Walton to learn about the complexity of transporting the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine and why there’s a run on dry ice. Plus, we look back at 2020 and try desperately to escape to 2021 as fast as we can.
Our last 737 MAX update of the year
GOL has put the 737 MAX back in to service. Aeromexico will follow suit next week and other airlines will conduct their first passenger flights before the year is out. Others are waiting until the first quarter of 2021. Transport Canada is set to approve the MAX for service early in the new year. We also look at 737 MAX orders and deliveries and Boeing’s new job listing for MAX pilots.
Mitsubishi effectively ends the SpaceJet program
Mitsubishi is cutting the workforce of the SpaceJet program 95%, effectively shuttering the aircraft’s development. We discuss how things got to where they are now and what possibilities lie ahead.
Doomsday Plane pirates plunder potential prize parts
Thieves were able to make off with equipment from the Russian government’s ‘Doomsday plane’ while it was undergoing maintenance. We scratch our heads and ponder the plundering.
Brrrrrrr — transporting the COVID-19 vaccine
John Walton joins us to discuss the challenges facing airlines and airports as they transport the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine and why things may be easier as new vaccines are developed and approved.
Notes as promised

* 2-8℃ = 35-46℉
* -20℃ = -4℉
* -80℃ = -112℉

*Rough calculations offer the weight of 1 Boeing 777F in bushels at 12,780 bushels.
 
The An-225 is warming up for action
Antonov Airlines announced last week that it will put the An-225—the world’s largest cargo aircraft—into service in the near future as demand for bulk cargo carriage remains high.

2020 year in review
We look back at all that has happened in 2020 besides the COVID-19-related destruction of the aviation industry. From the beginning of the year and the shoot down of Ukraine International Airlines PS752 in Tehran to British Airway’s subsonic record to a giant kangaroo, we recap the year that was.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening this year! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, whale songs, a Vulcan howl, Chewbaca’s greeting—whatever you want to call it, Graham Webb from Pratt and Whitney joins us to explain the Geared Turbo Fan’s distinctive noise. We also discuss November traffic numbers, new movement on the 737 MAX’s return to service, and new rules for animals in the cabin on US flights.
November air traffic review
November commercial traffic was down 40% from 2019, but the Thanksgiving holiday did see a slight bump.
Brazil clears the 737 MAX
Brazil’s aviation regulator has cleared the 737 MAX to return to commercial service. GOL expects to begin flights on 10 December.
Volga Dnepr grounds An-124 fleet
Following an uncontained engine failure on one of its An-124s, Volga Dnepr Airlines has grounded its entire fleet of the cargo carriers. No preliminary cause has been determined for the failure in Novosibirsk last month, so the airline is acting out of an abundance of caution.
The whale song explained
Graham Webb, Vice President and General Manager of the regional jet geared turbofan engine program at Pratt and Whitney joins us to explain exactly what Jason and Ian have been hearing when an aircraft with Pratt and Whitney GTF engines passes overhead.
Emotionally unsupported
New rules issued by the US Department of Transportation this week will curtail the number of ‘emotional support animals’ in the cabin on US airlines. We discuss the new rules and changes we’re hoping to see.
The Airchive – an avgeek paradise
If you’re looking for a great way to spend a vast amount of time, take a trip to The Airchive. Curated by aviation journalist Chris Sloan, the site features historical models, ephemera, maps, photos, and more through the history of aviation.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode, The Air Current’s Jon Ostrower joins us to discuss the FAA’s approval of the changes to the 737 MAX and the withdrawal of its grounding order, clearing the way for the aircraft to begin its return to commercial service. We also discuss major developments in aviation business as Korean Air is set to take over Asiana Airlines and Norwegian is filing for financial protection as it seeks to restructure. And… a 737 hit a bear in Alaska.
The MAX is back — In conversation with Jon Ostrower
20 months after the aircraft was ordered grounded, the FAA has approved its return to service. The Air Current’s Jon Ostrower joins us to explain it all. There are software changes, wiring re-routing, and in-depth training for pilots still needed before the MAX can carry passengers. We look at where the program stands now and what’s likely to happen moving forward. We also explore what’s next for regulators, Boeing, the airlines, and the traveling public.
Read more from Ostrower on the historical context of the 737 MAX grounding and what lessons can be learned from the grounding of the DC-10
 
Norwegian files for examinership in Ireland
Following the Norwegian government’s denial of additional funding, Norwegian Air is seeking financial protection in Ireland (where its aircraft assets are based). We look at how Norwegian got here through a combination of overreach and a string of very bad luck.
An-124 suffers engine failure in Russia
A Volga-Dnper Airlines An-124 suffered an uncontained engine failure on departure from Novosibirsk—possibly as the result of a wildlife encounter. The engine failure caused multiple system failures, including brakes, radio communications, and all electrical systems. The aircraft was brought safely back to the airport, but experienced a runway excursion on landing, likely due to not having any brakes. The electrical failure also explains why the ADS-B data stops suddenly.
Korean Air to take over Asiana Airlines
Korean Air will take over beleaguered Asiana Airlines, making the combined airline one of the world’s largest. We discuss the rationale for the take over and see at what the combined airlines might look like.
Preparing a COVID-19 vaccine for transport
We discuss the recent good news from Pfizer and Moderna and look at some of the challenges ahead for the global supply chain as aviation is set to form the backbone of any vaccine distribution.

* Thread from John Walton about the temperature challenges
* Video from Wendover Productions that Jason mentioned

Let us know what you think
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On this episode of AvTalk, the impossible has happened—Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport is open! We welcome Matthew Colbert, founder of Empire Aviation Services to learn more about how small airports are seeing their air service affected by COVID-19. Plus, Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren joins us for a piston-powered adventure.
Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport is finally open
After nearly 10 years of delays, Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport is finally open. The airport inaugurated flights this past weekend with two special arrivals from the airports largest airlines, Lufthansa and easyJet. But in appropriate fashion, things didn’t work out exactly as planned.
Ten years since QF32
This week marks 10 years since Qantas flight QF32 suffered an uncontained engine failure shortly after departure from Singapore. The aircraft suffered substantial damage, but the crew were able to safely return to Singapore and no one onboard or on the ground was injured.
The A220’s unique ‘song’
We return to our discussion of the A220s unique whale song with excellent evidence courtesy of a listener. You can clearly hear the sound in this video of a Swiss A220 in London.
HiFly says bye bye to their A380
HiFly announced it will not renew the lease on their A380 and instead take a few A330s to meet their capacity needs.
How are small airports affected by COVID?
We chat with Matthew Colbert, founder of Empire Aviation Services, to learn how small airports have been affected by COVID-19 and some of the ways they’re responding to gain and keep air service.
Note: Cape Air is a Part 121 operator, not Part 135.
 
A flat-lined recovery
We look at the numbers and they’re not great. The recovery of commercial flights has stalled, but there are some bright spots around the world.
A piston-powered adventure
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren joins us to discuss his flight aboard the last flying DC-7. You can see photos from that flight and read more about the DC-7 in Business Insider.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, the longest flight in the world is set to return soon, but with a few twists. European regulators are moving forward with recertification of the 737 MAX and Cathay Pacific closes its Cathay Dragon subsidiary. Plus, we discuss what’s keeping the avgeek in us going while we’re grounded.
Checking in on Steve
Last episode, Steve Giordano of Jet Test & Transport joined us for a fascinating conversation. He mentioned that after we recorded our episode he would be flying a 737 freighter to New Zealand.  Well, he did do that, but this happened along the way.
Singapore Airlines bringing back the world’s long flight—with a twist
Singapore Airlines will relaunch its Singapore-New York service next month, but will move the service from Newark Airport to JFK. Additionally, instead of the A350ULR with only business and premium economy seating, the route will be served by a standard A350, meaning passengers will have the ability to enjoy regular economy seating for nearly 20 hours. We discuss why Singapore is bringing the flight back and what’s driving the changes.
EU says 737 MAX recertification coming soon
The director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said last week that the 737 MAX is moving forward with recertifcation there and there would soon be an Airworthiness Directive available for public comment.
Cathay Pacific cuts thousands of jobs, closes Cathay Dragon
Cathay Pacific announced this week it will cuts nearly 6,000 jobs and close operations at subsidiary Cathay Dragon. Flights formerly operated by Cathay Dragon will be divided among Cathay Pacific and low-cost carrier HK Express. Cathay also said it is deferring deliveries of the 777X to “after 2025”.
US Department of Defense completes study of COVID transmission on aircraft
The US DOD and United Airlines performed a study on COVID transmission on aircraft and we discuss the results and why it still doesn’t leave us wanting to fly anytime soon.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
The Italian government has decided to create a successor airline to Alitalia. Beyond that, who knows what’s happening.
The rundown
Etihad flight 88 became the first Gulf-based airline flight to overfly Israel. Shortly after that, Etihad conducted the first passenger flight to Israel by a Gulf-based airline. Wizz Air has taken delivery of an ex-Qatar Airways Cargo A330F on behalf of the Hungarian government. Southwest is moving north and will start flights from Chicago-O’Hare and Houston (IAH) next year. Zip Air’s first passenger flight had 2 people on it. Airbus delivered the 1500th A330, an A330neo to Delta Air Lines. Airbus also delivered A320 family MSN 10,000 to Middle East Airlines and the first A220 assembled in the US, which happens to be the first for Delta.
Let us know what you think
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On this episode of AvTalk, the FAA releases the Flight Standardization Board Report for the 737 MAX, which details the training pilots will need before they can fly the aircraft. And we’re joined by Steve Giordano of Jet Test and Transport to learn about a fascinating niche in the aviation industry.
737 MAX training standards released
The FAA Flight Standardization Board released its draft standards for pilot training for the 737 MAX. We discuss the 5 major tasks pilots will need to accomplish and what else remains as the MAX moves toward certification.
Boeing moving all 787 production to South Carolina
As expected, Boeing is moving all 787 production to South Carolina. What does this mean for the 787 and what might it mean for Boeing’s footprint in the Pacific Northwest?
COVID-related changes
Some airlines are converting more aircraft to cargo configurations, others are saying goodbye to aircraft early. And some airlines are starting new routes they wouldn’t normally consider. We run down the ways COVID continues to affect how airlines are managing.
Steve Giordano — Jet Test and Transport
From returning 5 737s to their lessor across and ocean in the middle of a pandemic to making sure a recent cargo conversion meets regulatory requirements, Steve Giordano and his team at Jet Test and Transport are busy these days. We talk with Steve about one of the most unusual and interesting jobs in aviation.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, the last A380 rolls out of assembly, more aircraft are slated for storage, and we dig in to some of the more noteworthy comments on the FAA’s proposed 737 MAX airworthiness directive.
The Final A380
The final Airbus A380 (MSN 272) rolled out of assembly this week, bringing the A380 closer to the end of production.
More aircraft headed into long-term storage
Lufthansa announced this week that its A380 fleet and much of its A340-600 will now be placed in stasis, unlikely to ever fly with the airline again. Meanwhile, Delta is sending their 737-700 fleet into retirement and their 777 fleet is scheduled to make its final flight this fall.
Flights to nowhere gain popularity, but at what cost?
Flights to nowhere, like Qantas ‘Great Southern Land Tour’ that sold out in 10 minutes last week, are gaining popularity with airlines as a way to generate revenue.
737 MAX Comments
The public comment period on the FAA’s 737 MAX proposed airworthiness directive is coming to an end and we dig through some of the more noteworthy comments, including those of former Boeing engineers, the families of ET302 crash victims, and the UAE’s civil aviation authority.

On this episode of AvTalk we’ve got jet packs, a bunch of helium balloons with an ADS-B transponder, and The Air Current’s Jon Ostrower joins us to discuss the new quality issues affecting the 787 and the subsequent FAA investigation.
August traffic levels off
We begin with a review of August traffic stats and it’s not great. But Airbus and Boeing did deliver a few aircraft and both booked orders, with Airbus adding a single ACJ320neo to its backlog.
Strange aviation
In a strange turn of events, multiple pilots reported seeing a ‘guy in a jetpack’ on approach to LAX last week. Meanwhile in Arizona, illusionist David Blaine strapped himself to a bunch of helium balloons and ascended to 25,000 feet before parachuting back to earth.
El Al flies to the UAE
El Al made its first ever flight to the United Arab Emirates last week and crossed Saudi Arabian airspace. Additional private flights between the two countries have taken place in the days since.
Fresh 787 issues lead to FAA investigation
Two week’s ago The Air Current’s Jon Ostrower broke the news that eight 787s had been grounded due to the presence of two manufacturing quality issues on those aircraft that when combined mean the aircraft structure may not meet load specifications. This week Ostrower reported on a new FAA investigation looking into those and additional quality issues affecting the 787. He joins the program this week to fill us in.

On this episode of AvTalk, the FedEx 767 emergency landing at LAX, Canada takes the 737 MAX out for a spin, and we look at an unfortunately large amount of discouraging news from around the industry.
FedEx 767 emergency landing at LAX
A FedEx 767 made an emergency landing in Los Angeles last week after an issue with its left main landing gear. We discuss the close coordination between the pilots and air traffic control to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
State of the industry
Much of this episode deals with the stark reality facing airlines and the people that work for them at the moment. Traffic growth has slowed, airlines are making plans to keep schedules pared back for years, and thousands of people throughout the industry are facing furlough in the coming months. There are a few brights spots, but they were hard to find this week.
737 MAX update
Transport Canada will conduct test flights with the 737 MAX as part of their recertification efforts. The 737 MAX also got its first order of 2020 with Enter Air signing on for 2 firm orders plus 2 options.
Wildfires and hurricanes
Aviation continues to play an important role in fighting wildfires and predicting the path of hurricanes. We cover some of the interesting aircraft active right now.
Cargolux masks up
Cargolux has added a masked 747 to its fleet. LX-VCF now wears a face mask and special titles.

On this episode of AvTalk, we discuss the proposed Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive to return the 737 MAX to the air and what steps still need to be taken before the aircraft can return to service. We also look at the major changes airlines are making to their fleets and discuss which aircraft we’re going to miss the most when they’re gone.
Public comment period
The airworthiness directive regarding the 737 MAX’s return to service was published last week and the public comment period has begun. We discuss the proposed AD and what the comments section looks like so far.
Air India Express runway excursion
An Air India Express 737 suffered a runway excursion in Kozhikode on landing. After landing the aircraft continued past the end of the runway and slid down a steep embankment at the far end of the runway, breaking the aircraft into two pieces. Both pilots and 16 passengers were killed in the accident. We discuss the conditions at the time and what investigators are looking at as they attempt to determine the cause of the accident.
Birds, then birds again
A LOT E195 suffered a bird strike on departure from Poznan last week. The flight returned safely to Poznan and redeparted a short time later. And then it hit more birds. This time the aircraft diverted to Warsaw for a safe landing.
The cuts continue
We discuss reports on various airlines this week considering additional cuts to the their fleets. Aviation Week reports on Lufthansa’s plans for major changes to its fleet including the possible withdrawal of the entire A380 fleet, as well as the early retirement of the 747-400s and all A340s.
In Asia, Cathay Pacific and EVA Air are both making adjustments to their order books. Cathay is downsizing some of its A350 order to the -900 from the -1000 and EVA is reportedly swapping some of their 787s for 777Fs.
In 2020 so far, the 737 MAX order book has shrunk by 864. Reporting in the Seattle Times this week, Dominic Gates notes, 416 of those have been outright cancellations, while 448 are due to accounting rules regarding order certainty.
Check your orifices
EASA wants you to make your pitot tubes and static ports are free and clear after you’ve removed your aircraft from storage. Multiple airspeed and altitude errors have been reported to EASA as aircraft return from COVID-19 related storage.
Jason takes the opportunity to clarify his remarks
Jason commented on twitter this week that he would miss the A380 more than the 747 when both are retired from passenger service. To close out the show, we explore that statement a bit more and come to consensus about the fate of the giants.
Let us know what you think
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On this episode of AvTalk we say goodbye to a big chunk of the passenger 747 fleet, one airline is bringing a 747 back from the desert, one airplane caught fire in Shanghai, and our resident numbers expert Gavin Werbeloff joins us to help break down some of the dismal numbers from the across the industry.
The shrinking 747 fleet
We discuss the recent 747 retirements including British Airways’ announcement and the final Qantas 747 flight. And one operator is pulling a 747 out of the desert.
PS752 Black Boxes finally analyzed
The PS752 Flight data recorder and Cockpit voice recorder have been downloaded and analyzed by the French BEA after months of negotiations over whether and where to send them between Iran and other countries like Ukraine and Canada.
Clarifying Qatar
In our previous episode, we misstated the effects of the ICJ’s ruling. While still a positive step for Qatar, there’s still a long way to go before any resolution to the situation.
Check your valves
The FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive instructing operators of 737s that have recently returned to service after storage to inspect a bleed air valve for corrosion. A stuck valve could lead to an engine shut down in flight.
The numbers, they are bad
Our resident numbers expert Gavin Werbeloff joins us once again to tell us just how bad airlines are doing right now and some of the things he’s watching in the coming months that could point toward recovery or deeper trouble.
Icelandair’s wild week
In the course of three days, Icelandair fired all of its flight attendants and planned to have pilots perform their duties. The flight attendant union threatened to strike immediately. And then Icelandair and the union reached a new contract averting all of the above.
Not-so-Smartwings
A report on the Smartwings 737 that flew from Greece to Prague on a single engine is highly critical of the captain’s actions.
 
 

On this episode of AvTalk, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization details the chain of events that led to the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752. The NTSB issues its report on the Atlas Air 3591 crash. And US airlines begin backing away from ambitious recovery plans as COVID-19 cases are again on the rise.
Report review
This week, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization released a factual report detailing the chain of events that led to the downing of PS 752. We discuss what happened and where the investigation stands.
The NTSB held its board meeting on the crash of Atlas Air 3591 to determine the probable cause of the crash in Texas.
And the Moroccan BEA released a report on a serious incident involving a Royal Air Maroc ATR 72 that could have been much worse.
Recovery? Not so fast
The second quarter was horrible. Initial financial reporting from Delta gives us an idea of just how horrible. And other airlines are continuing to park aircraft and preparing to furlough staff. There are a few bright spots, but thus far, the bad news far outweighs the good.
ICJ issues ruling in Qatar blockade case
The International Court of Justice issued a ruling on the Qatar blockade. We discuss what’s happened over the past three years and how we got here.
 

On this episode of AvTalk, we look at the preliminary report from the crash of Pakistan International Airlines flight 8303. We also discuss the recent disturbing news about fraudulent pilot licenses in Pakistan and the response of authorities around the world. Meanwhile, the 737 MAX has begun certification flights with the FAA and July is set to bring a variety of changes to airline fleets and schedules.
PK8303 preliminary report
We dissect the preliminary report from Pakistan’s AAIB to discuss what we know so far about the crash.
‘Fake’ pilot licenses in Pakistan
In his briefing on the preliminary report from PK8303, Pakistan’s aviation minister announced 262 out of 860 pilots in Pakistan had ‘fake’ pilot licenses. 150 PIA pilots have been grounded so far and the European regulator EASA has now banned PIA from operating to European destinations through the end of 2020.
737 MAX takes major step towards recertification
Boeing and FAA conducted the long-awaited certification test flights for the 737 MAX this week, a major milestone in the aircraft’s long road back to commercial service. While the flights these mark an important chapter in returning the MAX to the skies, there are still many steps to be completed before the plane can carry passengers.
Airbus to cut 15,000 jobs
Airbus is planning to cut 15,000 jobs through 2021, cutting 5,000 employees each from Germany and France, 1700 in the UK, 900 in Spain, and the balance to come from locations around the world.
Chinese Big 3 take delivery of their first ARJ21s
Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern all took delivery of their first COMAC ARJ21s this week.
French BEA to analyze the data recorders from PS752
Iran will send the data recorders from the downed Ukrainian 737 to French air investigative authority BEA for analysis beginning the week of 20 July.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.

On this episode of AvTalk, we look at the signs of recovery around the world as aircraft are reactivated and passenger numbers rise. And we chat with Gabriel Leigh about how airlines and aircraft storage professionals safely store and reactivate aircraft.
Moving forward
Most signs seem to be pointing in the right direction as airlines prepare their schedules for the coming months. Some airlines in Europe have restarted flights, while airlines around the world continue to add to the planned operations by removing aircraft from storage. However, this week’s lock down in Beijing and the subsequent cancellation of hundreds of flights could foreshadow a larger reaction to any second wave.
Most airlines around the world have now adopted some sort mask policy to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (and other diseases), but major US airlines have taken things a step further and said they will ban passengers who refuse to wear a mask onboard.
Further reading: OpsGroup article on North Atlantic diversion airport restrictions
How to store an aircraft
We welcome Gabriel Leigh to the show to discuss his recent article on aircraft storage and some of the surprising things he learned reporting the story.
Mudding in an A321
A VietJet A321 exited the runway and became stuck in the mud after landing in wet conditions in Ho Chi Minh City. Thankfully no one was injured. Because of that incident an EVA Air flight held for five hours waiting to land.
737 MAX nearing certification (possibly)
Based on reporting from Jon Ostrower at The Air Current, the FAA certification flight for the 737 MAX could come by the end of the month. We walk through what that might mean and express a healthy dose of skepticism.
Let us know what you think
Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving us 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.