AvTalk - Aviation Podcast Flightradar24

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

Thank you for listening!

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



Click here for a transcript of this episode.

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

Helpful links for this week’s episode



* Photos of the Safe Air 727 after crash landing in Malakal

* JetBlue’s stricken A321neo

* FAA’s Mental Health & Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee report and recommendations

* JetBlue’s new bag fee matrix

* April 8th’s eclipse information for pilots

* Does flying during the eclipse count as night flying?



Thank you for listening!

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



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

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

Helpful links from this week’s episode



* Matt Thurber’s excellent article on GPS spoofing and jamming at AIN Online

* Boeing’s memo announcing leadership changes

* Damage to Emirates A380 in Moscow

* Playback of Southwest Airlines flight 147

* Report in The Lancet on French heart transplant



Thank you for listening!

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



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

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

Helpful links and reading for this week’s episode



* The Air Current: Pilot seat movement at center of LATAM 787-9 dive investigation

* Are flights squawking 7700 more often?

* NATS flight plan processing failure report



Thank you for listening!

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



Click here for a transcript of this episode.

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

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

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

Thank you for listening!

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



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

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

JetBlue and Spirit call it quits

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

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

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

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

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

FAA audit finds Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems quality control failures

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

Boeing thinking about bringing Spirit back in house

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

Ethiopian Airlines orders the 777X

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

Wizz Air has 20% of its fleet on the ground

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

Delivery times for aircraft are… fluid

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

Airbus working on software update for CFM thrust reversers

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

Thank you for listening!

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



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