Aviation News Talk – Pilot Stories, Safety Tips & General Aviation News

Gear-up landings are often dismissed as embarrassing pilot mistakes, but landing gear mishaps are far more common, complicated, and expensive than many pilots realize. In this episode, Max talks with Tom Turner of the American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation about why gear-up landings and landing gear collapses continue to happen—and the operating habits and maintenance practices that can prevent them. Turner says the Beechcraft Bonanza, Baron, Debonair, and Travel Air fleet averages about one reported landing gear mishap every week. Those events represent roughly 40 percent of the mishaps reported to the American Bonanza Society. And because many landing gear events do not meet NTSB reporting thresholds, Turner says contacts in the insurance, aircraft rebuilding, and salvage industries believe the actual number may be two to three times higher. The problem is not unique to Beechcraft. Turner previously tracked landing gear events across piston retractable-gear aircraft and found comparable or even…

In Episode 425 of Aviation News Talk, Max talks with retired Air Force General David Brubaker about STEM Flights, a nonprofit organization that pairs middle- and high-school students with volunteer pilot mentors for free, one-on-one aviation experiences designed to introduce them to careers in aviation, aerospace, engineering, and other STEM fields. STEM Flights grew out of Brubaker's own experience after retiring from the Air Force in 2005. During his military career, he flew aircraft including the F-4 and F-16 and finished his career with an assignment at the Pentagon. After retiring, he became active in general aviation and began taking young people flying. But Brubaker didn't simply give them airplane rides. He expected them to participate. They helped with navigation, looked at the instrumentation, worked with the radios, and often took the controls themselves. Years later, he began hearing back from some of those young people. Several had gone on to study aviation, aerospace, engineering, and other…

Max talks with Greg Brown about one of the most important—and often underestimated—roles in aviation: the flight instructor. Greg is one of aviation's most respected CFIs, writers, and pilot mentors. A pilot since 1972 and a flight instructor since 1979, he was named the 2000 Industry/FAA National Flight Instructor of the Year, became the first-ever Master Flight Instructor, and was inducted into the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame in 2021. Many pilots know Greg from his aviation books, including The Savvy Flight Instructor, The Turbine Pilot's Flight Manual, Flying Carpet, You Can Fly!, and Job Hunting for Pilots, as well as from his long-running "Flying Carpet" column in AOPA Flight Training magazine and his Cockpit Adventures from the Flying Carpet podcast. In this episode, Greg and Max focus on practical advice for people who are becoming CFIs, looking for CFI jobs, or trying to build a better flight instruction business. Greg explains that he did not become a flight instructor immediately after earning…

Max talks with Maya Shpak, CEO of SkyPath, about how pilots can avoid turbulence and find smoother air by combining crowdsourced observations, aircraft data, and machine-learning predictions. The idea for SkyPath came from an airline captain and check airman who encountered turbulence and realized that the iPad already carried in the cockpit contained accelerometers capable of measuring aircraft movement. Much like a traffic app gathers information from phones on the road, SkyPath could collect ride-quality observations from participating aircraft, send them to the cloud, and return an updated turbulence picture to other pilots. Maya says the system now receives data from about 40,000 users each day. An iPad observation is only one of five sources used by SkyPath. The system filters accelerometer readings, removes noise, and normalizes each report for aircraft type. That adjustment is important because light turbulence in a large business jet may feel moderate in a smaller general aviation airplane. When two…

Max talks about the fatal crash of Beech C90 King Air N249CP, an air ambulance flight that departed Roswell Air Center in New Mexico shortly before midnight on May 13, 2026. The aircraft was headed for Sierra Blanca Regional Airport near Ruidoso to pick up a patient for transport to Albuquerque. It was a short flight—only about 51 nautical miles—but it ended in tragedy when the King Air struck terrain near the Capitan Mountains. Both pilots and both flight nurses were killed. The aircraft was operated by Generation Jets under Part 135 as an unscheduled fixed-wing aeromedical flight. The two medical passengers were flight nurses employed by Trans Aero Medical Services. Max emphasizes the human side of the accident: these were young professionals on a mission of mercy, people who had dedicated themselves to helping others. That makes the accident especially painful, but also especially important to study carefully. According to the preliminary report, the flight occurred in dark-night VMC with zero percent…

Max talks with New Zealand pilot Keith Froude during a scenic flight in Keith's Flight Design CTLS over Fiordland, one of the most dramatic flying environments in the world. Departing from a grass runway near Lake Te Anau, they discuss CTLS operations, RAANZ microlight flying, parachute-equipped aircraft, personal flotation gear, ADS-B, electronic flight bags, and the realities of flying a light aircraft among steep mountains, lakes, fog, and changing winds. The flight becomes a real-time lesson in conservative mountain flying. Keith explains why he climbs before crossing water, why he wants altitude before entering valleys, how local wind layers and morning heating can create bumps even early in the day, and why moving maps are so valuable in terrain where valleys and peaks can quickly look alike. Max and Keith also talk about local helicopter and floatplane traffic, avoiding the busy Milford Sound environment, the Manapouri power station, glowworm caves, Lake Te Anau, and the challenges of keeping a light,…

Max talks with Troy Duck and John Von Fange about their dramatic Cirrus SR22T CAPS parachute deployment in N39VF after a power loss near Chanute, Kansas. What began as a routine flight quickly turned into an emergency when they heard a loud banging noise and lost engine power. Faced with a rapidly developing situation, they attempted to divert toward the airport, declared an emergency, and ultimately pulled the CAPS parachute. The event was unique in that they were able to user their Spyderco Manix 2 pocket knives to cut two of the parachute's Kevlar attachment harness lines from within the airplane. In this episode, Troy and John describe what happened in the cockpit, how they assessed their options, and what led them to activate the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System. They also share what happened after touchdown, when strong winds kept the parachute inflated and dragged the aircraft across the ground, creating a second phase of danger after they were already on the surface. This conversation offers valuable…

LaGuardia Runway Collision and the NTSB Preliminary Report Max talks about the fatal LaGuardia Airport runway collision involving Jazz Flight 646 and an ARFF fire truck responding to an emergency near Terminal B. The accident occurred at night, in rain and reduced visibility, as multiple airport rescue firefighting vehicles were moving toward an emergency scene and needed to cross Runway 4 at Taxiway D. Dr. Victor Vogel Max also gives a tribute to Dr. Victor Vogel, who recently passed away. The basic outline sounds simple: a fire truck was cleared to cross an active runway and was struck by a landing regional airliner. But the NTSB preliminary report reveals a much more complicated chain of events involving ATC communications, emergency response workload, runway status lights, ASDE-X limitations, and human factors. Truck 1 was part of a larger convoy of emergency vehicles. The tower controller cleared Jazz Flight 646 to land, then later cleared Truck 1 and company to cross Runway 4. About 20 seconds before…

Max talks with Russell Ladbrook about a chance meeting in New Zealand that turned into one of the most delightful episodes of Aviation News Talk. Max was taking a glowworm cave tour when Russell noticed his Cirrus jacket, struck up a conversation, and soon realized he was talking to the host of a podcast he had followed for years. By the end of the day, the two were sitting down at the Fjordland Aero Club near Manapouri Airport for a conversation about flying in one of the most scenic and demanding parts of the world. How aero clubs keep flying affordable Russell explains that aero clubs fill a role in rural New Zealand that would often be handled by a flight school or FBO in the United States. In smaller towns, there may not be enough demand to support a traditional aviation business, so clubs become the way local flying survives. The Fjordland Aero Club has about 85 members, a hangar, and club-owned aircraft, along with privately owned airplanes brought in by members. What makes the model especially…

Max talks with Mike VanStaagen about the design philosophy behind the Cirrus SR20, SR22, and SF50 Vision Jet, and how Cirrus rethought what pilots and passengers should experience inside an airplane. Mike explains how his architectural mindset helped him bring together competing ideas at Cirrus and turn them into aircraft that felt modern, spacious, intuitive, and comfortable. They discuss why Cirrus focused so heavily on easier entry and exit, better visibility on the ground and in flight, and a roomier cabin than traditional GA airplanes. Mike describes how ideas borrowed from the auto industry shaped the Cirrus cockpit, from the pilot-centered layout to the center console and cleaner instrument panel design. He also shares the story of how a tiny clay model helped convince Cirrus leadership to move away from a conventional flat panel toward the now-familiar Cirrus interior. The conversation then turns to the Vision Jet, including the secret garage project where the concept first took shape, why the…

Airline pilot career path roadmap with Jason Blair: Part 61 vs Part 141, R-ATP, and what matters most for getting hired. Max talks with Jason Blair about building an airline pilot career path that gets you to the right seat faster—without expensive detours. If you're comparing Part 61 vs Part 141, wondering whether R-ATP changes your strategy, or trying to figure out what actually helps with getting hired, this episode is a practical roadmap. Jason explains how to think backwards from your target job (regional, major airline, charter, corporate) and make training decisions that protect your timeline and seniority. They start with the gatekeeper: the FAA medical. Jason shares how to "preflight" potential medical issues, avoid self-inflicted paperwork delays, and choose the right AME strategy. Then they break down training options: where Part 141 structure can reduce total hours and accelerate progress, and where Part 61 flexibility makes more sense for career changers balancing work and family. Jason also…

Max talks with Josh Harnagel, COO of Redbird Flight, about a practical use-case that matters to almost every instrument pilot: logging IFR instrument currency and staying proficient in an FAA-approved simulator. Josh explains why many pilots buy Redbird's FAA-approved tabletop devices specifically for currency—especially to knock out the holding requirement—and why he likes shooting an approach in the simulator before flying it in the airplane. Max shares why he does the same thing before recurrent training, because simulator reps surface the "gotchas" that can spike workload in real IFR—like autopilot behavior on LNAV+V. Josh breaks down Redbird's product lineup, clarifies what's FAA approved versus "just a computer," and explains where Basic ATDs and Advanced ATDs fit in training. They also touch on Redbird GIFT (Guided Independent Flight Training), remote instruction possibilities, and why avionics emulation is hard (and expensive) to do with perfect fidelity. Then the episode pivots to a Redbird factory…

An Epic E1000, N98FK, crashed near Steamboat Springs, Colorado during a night RNAV (GPS) approach. The lateral track was almost perfect, but the vertical profile was fatal: the airplane remained on an LNAV+V "advisory glide slope" and descended below the 9,100-foot MDA into terrain. Max explains what Garmin calls Advisory Vertical Guidance, why LNAV+V can look nearly identical to an LPV on the PFD, and why it does not provide obstacle protection below minimums. He shows the airplane crossed the FAF MABKY and stepdown fix WDCHK essentially on altitude—then continued descending instead of leveling at MDA. Max reviews the three requirements in 91.175(c) for descending below an MDA, explains why many autopilots will fly any coupled glidepath right through minimums unless you intervene, and decodes chart warnings like "Visual Segment – Obstacles" / "34:1 is not clear." He also shares his own simulator experience flying the RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 32 at KSBS and hitting the same mountain when the autopilot was coupled to…

Max talks with Matt Bergwall, Executive Director of the Vision Jet Product Line at Cirrus, about the just-announced Cirrus SF50 G3 Vision Jet—and before that, he offers an unusually personal look at what the AOPA President's job actually requires. Max opens by explaining that he interviewed for the AOPA President role twice and uses that experience to outline what makes the position difficult and consequential. In his view, the job is not simply "being the public face of GA." It demands relentless travel to connect with members, lawmakers, regulators, and stakeholders—while still maintaining a strong day-to-day presence at headquarters to lead a sizable staff. He also emphasizes the fundraising reality: membership dues matter, but major donors increasingly drive what's possible, especially as traditional advertising revenue has eroded across media. Max argues that regardless of opinions about leadership changes, AOPA's advocacy work and member services—like the hotline—can be meaningful to pilots, and he…

Max talks with Rob Mark about the fatal crash of Cirrus SR22T N17DT near Shelbyville, Indiana, and why this accident is so instructive for any pilot who flies approaches at low altitude with high workload. The NTSB's probable cause centers on inadequate airspeed and an aerodynamic stall, but the real value is in the flight data that shows how the airplane got there: low power held for an extended period, repeated stall warnings, multiple ESP interventions, and flaps that ultimately remained retracted until impact. This episode matters because it's rare to have this level of detail. The NTSB recovered onboard data that captures dozens of parameters multiple times per second—far more than you usually get from ADS-B alone. Max describes how the NTSB published extensive graphs and also released a spreadsheet of recorded parameters. The spreadsheet didn't include position data, so Max combined it with ADS-B track points and interpolated the missing locations to create a second-by-second reconstruction. The result…

Max talks with Rob Mark about a classic "simple mistake with big consequences" scenario: a pilot who possibly raised the landing gear handle instead of selecting flaps up during the landing roll in a Cirrus Vision Jet. The event looks minor on the surface—no injuries and the airplane stayed on the runway—but it exposes a human-factors trap that can bite any retractable-gear pilot, especially when you're trying to be quick and efficient right after touchdown. The discussion centers on the NTSB's final report for a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet that landed at Watsonville Municipal Airport (Watsonville, California) on August 9, 2024. The pilot reported a normal approach and landing. Before touchdown, he had the flaps set to 100% and saw three green landing gear indications. Touchdown itself was uneventful. But during the landing roll—right about when braking began—the nose landing gear collapsed. Max and Rob walk through what the data showed. On short final, the airplane was properly configured: flaps at 100% and the…

Max talks with Mark Waddell of the Cirrus Owner and Pilots Association (COPA) about how Cirrus pilots can reduce accidents by focusing on the places where the accident chain most often begins: unstable approaches, indecisive go-arounds, and delayed choices during power-loss events. They discuss what pilots are doing in the cockpit that turns routine flights into incidents, and what specific habits and training standards reduce that risk. Mark explains that 2025 included eight fatal Cirrus accidents and twelve CAPS saves. Mark argues that the big safety wins come from addressing repeatable patterns: how pilots manage energy on final, how quickly they reject a bad approach, and how early they commit to the safest outcome when the engine isn't reliable. A major theme is decisiveness in abnormal situations, especially anything involving power. Mark walks through how power-loss or engine-roughness events can seduce pilots into flying a normal pattern and hoping things stabilize. That often burns altitude and…

Max talks with host Scott Hamilton of WBT, Charlotte's News Talk radio, about the Statesville, North Carolina Citation 550 crash that killed NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others, then expands the conversation with a fresh technical finding and a practical training takeaway for pilots. While preparing for the short radio interview, Max revisited the ADS-B track and noticed something he hadn't seen anyone else write about: the altitude anomaly isn't merely a "jump," it's an impossible spike. The key number is stark. The ADS-B data shows a reported climb of 1,374 feet in 1.64 seconds, which implies a climb rate of almost 50,000 feet per minute—a rate that doesn't make sense for a Citation. Max's point is that this isn't a real aircraft maneuver; it's a data or sensor-path artifact. What makes it more compelling is what happens immediately beforehand: for 34 seconds, there were 14 ADS-B transmissions in a row with the exact same reported altitude. That kind of perfectly flat series is abnormal even if an…

Max talks with Dr. Catherine Cavagnaro about how aerobatic training builds safer, more confident pilots by reducing loss of control, improving stall and spin awareness, and shortening the startle response. Although many pilots associate aerobatics with airshows or extreme flying, this conversation reframes aerobatic training as a practical safety tool that directly applies to everyday general aviation operations. Catherine explains that the core value of aerobatic training lies in learning where "the edge" of aircraft control really is. Many pilots are taught to avoid stalls and spins at all costs, which can unintentionally create fear rather than understanding. Aerobatic training deliberately takes pilots past that edge in a controlled environment so they can see, feel, and understand what happens beyond it. Once pilots truly understand where that boundary lies, they are far better equipped to avoid unintentionally crossing it during normal flight. A major theme of the discussion is loss of control, which…

Max talks with John Fiscus, co-founder of The Flight Academy, and Director of Operations Jordan Ming to break down how one of the country's most respected Cirrus-focused training organizations was created, expanded, and refined over more than two decades. Whether you're an instructor considering the entrepreneurial leap, a pilot curious about how flight training businesses operate, or someone fascinated by the evolution of modern GA training, this conversation delivers clear, practical insights rooted in real experience. John opens with the origin story behind The Flight Academy—one shaped unexpectedly by the aftermath of 9/11. Before starting the company, John was an instructor and corporate pilot for Cirrus Aircraft, preparing for an airline career. When airline hiring collapsed overnight, he and colleague Luke realized they could not compete with furloughed, highly experienced pilots suddenly entering the market. But they also saw a growing demand: Cirrus owners nationwide needed instructors who truly…

Max talks with former KTVU 2 and KRON 4 anchor Ken Wayne, founder of Flying Tails, about his extraordinary animal rescue flights involving bear cubs, bald eagles, coyotes, and dozens of shelter animals across California. Drawing on his past experience as a Navy journalist, Ken describes the path that led him from military broadcasting to a major-market news career—and ultimately to a mission that blends aviation with wildlife rescue. Ken's journey began at the Navy's Defense Information School, where he learned print reporting, photography, radio, and TV production. His service assignments took him from the Aleutian Islands to the Mediterranean aboard the USS Biddle, and finally to Subic Bay in the Philippines, where he hosted a radio show and shot television stories for the Far East Network. He also frequently traveled by helicopter and even completed a carrier landing in a COD aboard USS Midway, building a deep appreciation for aviation. Years later, after buying a Cessna 182 and flying with friends, Ken…

In this episode of Aviation News Talk, we begin with the developing details In this episode of Aviation News Talk, Max sits down with renowned safety expert Dr. Todd Conklin to explore some of the most important aviation safety lessons pilots can learn from Human & Organizational Performance (HOP)—a framework rooted in human factors, systems thinking, and the realities of how people actually perform in complex environments. Todd's work has shaped safety programs across multiple high-risk industries, and in this episode he explains how these ideas translate directly to aviation, both for professional pilots and general aviation flyers. Todd begins by reframing how pilots should think about safety. Safety is not a static condition or something you "have" because you passed a checkride; instead, safety is a capacity, similar to fuel, that must be built, protected, and constantly replenished. This capacity includes time to think, margin for error, resilience, and the ability to recover when something goes wrong.…

In this episode of Aviation News Talk, we begin with the developing details Weather accidents in general aviation often happen to pilots who genuinely believe they're cautious about flying in marginal conditions. But when you look closely at the chain of decisions that lead up to VFR-into-IMC crashes, a consistent pattern emerges—fatigue, long flights, pressure to complete a trip, weakening visibility, and the belief that "I can stay just under this." In Episode 404 of Aviation News Talk, Max Trescott unpacks a tragic example of this pattern and shows how NTSB data helps explain why GA pilots continue to stumble into weather accidents. Max begins with a detailed look at a 2023 crash involving a Piper Archer, N21480, flown by a 66-year-old private pilot who was en route from Maine to Sun 'n Fun. The pilot had made this long trip multiple times before and was familiar with the route. He departed Maine, stopped twice for fuel, and ended the day by sleeping on a couch in a pilot lounge—after ordering Uber Eats…

In this episode of Aviation News Talk, we begin with the developing details surrounding the crash of UPS Airlines Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky. The aircraft, tail number N259UP, was a 34-year-old MD-11F powered by three General Electric CF6-80 engines. Bystander video shows the left engine separated from the wing, with the wing engulfed in flames as the aircraft lifted off. ADS-B data indicates the aircraft climbed less than 100 feet before beginning a descending, left-turning roll from which it did not recover. The crew had already passed V1, meaning they were committed to takeoff and did not have adequate runway remaining to stop. In situations like this, flight crews may have no survivable option, and this accident may represent one of those rare but tragic scenarios. We also compare aspects of this event to American Airlines Flight 191, the 1979 DC-10 crash at Chicago O'Hare. While both accidents involved the loss of…

Vision Jet owner Ken joins Max Trescott to recount an unforgettable five-day training adventure that bridged the gap between piston flying and turbine jet proficiency. As a longtime Cirrus SR22 pilot from the Boston area, Ken had spent nearly a decade flying for both business and family trips, rarely exceeding 300 nautical miles from home. When he decided to upgrade to a 2019 G2 Vision Jet, he wanted more than a checkout—he wanted a head start on mastering the airplane before tackling the Cirrus type rating course in Knoxville. In this episode, Ken explains how his "pre-SOE" plan came together. After reaching out to Max, the two pilots scheduled nearly a week of flying to experience diverse weather, airports, and procedures. The goal: to learn the G3000 avionics, improve cockpit workflow, and build real-world familiarity before entering formal training. Their first day took them from Bedford, Massachusetts, to Burlington, Vermont, and then to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Max demonstrated how to safely…

Max talks with John Fiscus of The Flight Academy to break down two Cirrus SR22 accidents that highlight the extremes of safety outcomes in general aviation: one a dramatic survival story, the other a heartbreaking tragedy. Accident 1: CAPS Parachute Save over Lake Michigan The first accident involved a Cirrus SR22 (N121JB) that suffered engine failure shortly after reaching 7,500 feet on a flight across Lake Michigan. The pilot and passengers had life vests ready, immediately turned toward shore, declared a mayday, and deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The parachute brought the aircraft down safely into the cold waters, where the occupants were rescued by the Coast Guard. This outcome underscores why CAPS has become one of Cirrus's most powerful safety innovations. John emphasizes lessons from the accident: Always wear flotation gear before flying over large bodies of water. Be cautious of low-time airplanes—this Cirrus had only 75 hours in four years, raising concerns about engine…

Max talks about the final NTSB report results for a Cessna 340 that crashed in IMC while on approach into San Diego. The pilot's logbook revealed that Instrument Proficiency Checks and Flight Review conducted during the prior year were cursory and did not meet the requirements for issuing those endorsements. Max talks about the problems with pencil whipping flight training and falsifying endorsements. He lists all of the elements required for an IPC, so you can ensure you're getting all of the training required for an endorsement. ATC audio provided by LiveATC.net Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed…

Max talks with CFI and retired Air Force pilot Tom Dorl, about what GA pilots can learn from military flight training. Tom talks about the processes he used to fly during his 25-year military career. These include a more structured approach to preflight planning, maintaining proficiency and upgrading flying skills, building a unit of people to help you improve, and post flight debriefings. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener…

Have you ever struggled to enter a flight plan or an instrument approach into a GPS navigator? If you fly with an autopilot, do you know how to use it, and how to use all of its modes? Today we talk about the cockpit voice recorder transcript, just released by the NTSB, of two Pilatus PC-12 pilots who crashed in North Carolina. What you'll hear is chaos in the cockpit. Unbelievably, the two pilots struggled during the entire 27-minute flight, to enter a flight plan into the aircraft's FMS system. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a…

Have you ever wondered about the causes of pilot fatigue? Or how you can recognize the signs of fatigue in yourself and others? Do you about the regulations and guidelines for flight and duty time limitations to prevent fatigue? Dr. Victor Vogel joins us today to talk about what pilots need to know about the causes of fatigue, and what you can do to counter fatigue and sleepiness. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question…

Join Max Trescott as he delves into an astonishing real-life story with Jonathan Fay, who was struck by a laser while flying, and against all odds, tracked down the perpetrator. The criminal used a powerful industrial laser to target his aircraft and immediately afterwards, Jonathan could not see any of his instruments. He did succeed in landing, though he had eye damage that lasted for several weeks. Tune in to discover the gripping details of how Jonathan leveraged the vast tools of the internet to unmask the identity of the laser-wielding perpetrator. An arrest was made, and last week the man pled guilty. This is a remarkable story of resilience, investigation, and ultimately, justice served. Don't miss this riveting episode! Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a…

Max talks with Catherine Cavagnaro about a crash in Kentucky last week that killed a young CFI and his student. The crash was tragic on multiple levels and gathered a lot of attention online because of the CFI's social media posts made throughout the flight that demeaned the student. The CFI even documented the line of thunderstorms they flew into before the aircraft broke up in flight. We talk about the many things that were wrong about the flight and the need for better CFIs. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like…

Max Trescott test flies the new single engine DA50RG aircraft that was recently certified in the U.S. by Diamond. Diamond has been working on different configurations of the DA50 for over ten years, and the 5-seat DA50RG with retractable landing gear is the first version to be certified and delivered in the U.S. It uses a 300 hp, FADEC controlled engine that runs on Jet A fuel. Base price for theDA50RG is $1,150,000 and options include air conditioning, FIKI, and oxygen. Mentioned on the ShowLifeStyle Aviation Diamond DA50RG POH (DA50C) Please Support the Show Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of…

Max talks about an emergency that occurred earlier in the month as Endeavor flight 1516 departed LaGuardia enroute to Savannah, GA. The controllers and flight crew worked together remarkably well, and there's a lot that general aviation pilots can learn from their interactions. We also replay an interview from the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast in which they interviewed Mark Robinson, of Frequentis Australasia about remote towers. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask…

Max talks with Rob Mark about remote towers, a new technology similar to air traffic control towers, and we discuss why FAA has been so slow to certify them in the U.S., despite successful demonstrations in Virginia and Colorado. Remote towers are in successful operation in other countries. Max also talks about somatogravic illusion how it was most likely the cause of the fatal crash of a Cirrus SR20 that involved a student pilot who crashed at night in NJ, starting an 800 acre wildfire. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question…

Max Trescott talked with FAA Administrator nominee Mike Whitaker in 2019 about his former job as FAA Deputy Administrator. Mike talked about that job, about his activity as a Private pilot and his thoughts on NexGen and the future of General Aviation. Mike talked about factors that led to the decline of GA after the 1970s, and his optimism for further growth due to demand for more pilots, the Part 23 rewrite, and new technologies like electric aircraft. He also talked about NextGen, ADS-B, and his prop strike. This is a replay of that 2019 interview. Mentioned on the Show FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook FAA's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical KnowledgeFAA's Aviation Weather Handbook Please Support the Show Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed…

Max talks with Robert Schapiro about how pilots can add on a gyroplane rating to their certificate. It takes surprisingly few hours for a pilot to add-on a gyroplane rating. He also talks about the accident rates for small airplanes, cars, and motorcycles. And finally he shares four inspirational stories from pilots who have overcome obstacles to get their pilot certificates. Mentioned on the Show Gyro Life, Stevensville, MDRon's Gyros, Searcy, AR Please Support the Show Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk.…

Max talks with Dr. Warren Silberman about an investigation into nearly 5,000 pilots suspected of falsifying their medical records to conceal that they were receiving benefits for mental health disorders and other serious conditions that could make them unfit to fly. Dr. Silberman talks about issues raised by the article, and he also has advice for what you should do BEFORE you go to get your next medical. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording…

Max talks with Catherine Cavagnaro about the new FAA Advisory Circular AC 90-66C on non-towered operations and straight-in approaches. The new Advisory Circular is significantly longer than the previous version, and it places much more emphasis on straight-in approaches. It says "the FAA does not recommend that the pilot execute a straight-in approach for landing, when there are other aircraft in the traffic pattern." Pilots choosing to execute a straight-in approach do not have a particular priority over other aircraft in the traffic pattern. Pilots "should not use paint schemes or color descriptions to replace the use of the aircraft call sign." Also, "Pilots are reminded that the use of the phrase "ANY TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, PLEASE ADVISE" is not a recognized self-announce position and/or intention phrase and should not be used under any condition." Mentioned on the Show Advisory Circular 90-66C: Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations Catherine Cavagnaro YouTube Channel Ace Aerobatic School Please Support…

Max talks about the July 2021 crash of a Challenger Jet that was doing a circling approach at the Truckee, CA airport. The NTSB just released its final report on that accident, And there's a lot that GA pilots can learn from this accident. The NTSB faulted the first officer's improper decision to attempt to salvage an unstabilized approach by executing a steep left turn to realign the airplane with the runway centerline, and the captain's failure to intervene after recognizing the FO's erroneous action. Both pilots both ignored stall protection system warnings, which resulted in a left-wing stall and an impact with terrain. The NTSB also cited the flight crew's self-induced pressure to perform and poor crew resource management, which degraded their decision-making. The flight was the first pairing of this crew with the operator. The captain, who had signed an employment contract with the operator, but was not yet an employee at the time of the accident. The first officer was not the accident operator's…

Max talks with Laurence Balter about how the general aviation community in Hawaii is flying relief supplies to help victims of Maui's wildfires. The town of Lahaina is served by just a single road, which has closed frequently since the wildfires began a week ago. Electricity and cell phone outages have also hampered relief efforts. Soon after the fires, local Maui pilots began organizing to fly supplies into Kapalua Airport, near Lahaina, but which is closed to most general aviation flights. The pilots received permission to fly into Kapalua, and began flying relief supplies to the airport. Balter and Maui Brewing founder Garrett Marrero organized the effort via text messages and social media, and flights began on August 11. The pilot group worked with the airport fire departments at Maui's main Kahului Airport. Firefighters and volunteers weighed and loaded supplies that were delivered to the fire station. The process worked in reverse at theKapalua airport, where local fire fighters unloaded planes and…

Choosing a flight instructor is one of the most important decisions you'll make as you work to become a pilot, and later as you work on additional certificates and ratings. And that's because having the right CFI can be one of the biggest factors in your success. Not that you can't succeed with an awful flight instructor, but it's so much easier if you're with the right flight instructor. Most likely, you'll get to choose a new flight instructor multiple times, either because your first flight instructor has moved on, or you've moved to a new location, or you're working on advanced training in some aircraft in which your previous flight instructor doesn't specialize. And the flip side of all of this is firing a flight instructor, which we'll talk about later. Since choosing the right flight instructor is so important, you'll want to give this a lot of thought and not just sign up with the first flight instructor you come across, or your friend, or your employee who's been itching to get you to fly with them.…

284 The Surprising Distraction before a 737 Crash + GA News Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary 284 The final NTSB report is out for Transair flight 810, which crashed at night in the ocean shortly after takeoff from Hawaii. The pilots thought that they had a rare double engine failure. In fact, they had just a single engine failure, but they left both throttles at idle, dooming the plane. The probable cause said…

283 Wings to Rotors: How you can start now to add a helicopter rating to your pilot certificate + GA News Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary 283 Max talks about his experience getting a helicopter add-on rating, and how you can do it too. The FAA allows a fixed wing pilot to add-on a helicopter rating with 30 hours of helicopter time. For someone without a pilot certificate, they'll need a minimum of 40 hours of…

282 Foggy Night: Unraveling the crash of a Cessna Citation 550 jet at French Valley in Southern California Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you've learned something from the show that made you a safer pilot or pass a checkride, please join the club and support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation via PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary282 Max talks about the crash of N819KR, a Cessna Citation 550 jet, at French Valley in Southern California. The pilots flew two GPS approaches at 4 AM, while the field was below IFR minimums. After the first…

281 What's Wrong about the 70-50 Takeoff Rule with Catherine Cavagnaro + GA News Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary 281 Max talks with Catherine Cavagnaro about the Myth of the 70-50 takeoff rule and what's wrong with it. It seems that 70-50 rule is extracted from a basic but unrealistic model for aircraft takeoffs that ignores air resistance. The same model predicts her Bonanza will go supersonic shortly after…

280 Miracle in the Mountains: Heroic Rescue by Alaska Air National Guard Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary280 Max talks with LtCol Zerkel and Capt Phillips of the Alaska Air National Guard, who were part of a heroic effort to rescue two NY pilots who crashed a Cessna 182 in high in the mountains. The pilots spent 36 hours waiting to be rescued. At the same time, the Guard was trying to extract 12 mountain…

279 Poor Decision Making Kills Airline Pilot in C150 Crash + GA News Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary 279 Max talks about an accident that highlights how external pressures, fatigue, and poor decision making can doom even a high time, professional pilot. An experienced airline pilot crashed a Cessna 150 near the airport of intended landing around 10 PM. He and his teenaged son had been flying all day, and had…

278 Prop Safety, Checklist Usage: Listener Mail - A Friday Mailbag Special + GA News Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary 278 Max discusses a propeller accident in which a CFI let a 16-year old student out of an airplane with the engine running, all to avoid having to get out in the rain. NEVER let anyone out of your plane with the propeller still turning. He also reads a number of emails from listeners about their…

277 External Pressures & Stress Lead to a Cessna 170 Accident + GA News Your Cirrus Specialist. Call me if you're thinking of buying a new Cirrus SR20 or SR22. Call 1-650-967-2500 for Cirrus purchase and training assistance, or to take my online seminar: So You Want to Fly or Buy a Cirrus. Aviation News Talk is a listener supported show. So if you listen, please sign up and join the club to support the show! Make a monthly donation via Patreon and get various goodies, or make a one time donation at PayPal. Send us your feedback or comment via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. Summary 277 Max talks with CFI Chris about how his self-imposed pressure and stress led to multiple incidents and accidents. Chris shares how a 1-hour checkout with the new owner of a Cessna 170 led to an accident. But Chris also had two other accidents or incidents within a 3-year period. He attributes all of them…