Time on Wing Podcast Courtney & Gueric

What would it take to break up the duopoly?  A lot of money, strong aftermarket support, and a healthy dose of insanity.

Ross Mitchell of MHIRJ joins us on the Time on Wing Podcast to discuss his history in the regional space.  

The conversation also touches on the challenges of flying gliders and the transition to powered airplanes. Ross discusses his transition from contracts to marketing at Bombardier and shares insights into the aviation industry during the early 2000s, including campaigns and the factors that influenced airline decisions. The conversation covers various topics related to the aviation industry, including the shortage of maintenance technicians, the future of regional aircraft, and the longevity of the CRJ-700. Ross Mitchell, from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jet (MHIRJ), discusses the challenges of recruiting maintenance technicians and the need to promote the career to younger generations. He also mentions that the CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 will continue to be in service for a long time due to their economic performance and lack of a suitable replacement. The conversation highlights the importance of maintaining smaller markets and the impact of aircraft retirements on those communities. 

We explore the importance of regional aircraft in the aviation industry and the challenges they face. It highlights the misconception that regional aircraft have shorter lifespans compared to larger aircraft and emphasizes their role in connecting passengers to long-haul flights. The discussion also touches on the difficulty of breaking up the narrow-body duopoly and the importance of aftermarket support in the success of new aircraft. The conversation concludes with insights into the business aircraft market and the differences in selling luxury aircraft compared to commercial aircraft.

What if the most efficient way to move air travelers might be on the ground?

Seat costs and carbon emissions 90% lower than airborne options, industry-leading seat pitch, 100% available wifi, air-side connections, and the guaranteed lowest cruise altitude... flight level zero.

David Sunde of The Landline Company shares how he used his extensive knowledge of airline networks to find the most cost-effective, sustainable way to connect passengers.

Takeaways

-The aviation industry is complex and fascinating, with various aspects such as revenue management, engineering, and operations.
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 Understanding the intersection of automation and human intervention is crucial in airline operations.

- Working at a startup in the aviation industry provides valuable experience and prepares individuals for starting their own businesses.

- The pilot shortage and the importance of the airport experience are significant factors in the transportation industry. Landline is a mobility company focused on providing a cost-effective and convenient alternative to personal car trips to the airport.

- They use buses as the mode of transportation and work with airlines like American, Air Canada, Sun Country, and United to offer seamless connections for passengers.

- Landline has created unique experiences, such as carrying passengers tarmac to tarmac and providing a non-sterile network.

- Their goal is to capture the market of people who currently drive themselves to the airport and offer them a more affordable and efficient option. Landline provides bus-to-air connections in high-traffic corridors, offering certainty and convenience for travelers.

- They adjust block times for traffic and take on the risk of buffer time to ensure passengers make their connections.

- Landline aims to extend its distribution capability beyond airport codes and consider all transportation options for travelers.

- The company prioritizes practical and incremental steps to reduce CO2 emissions and believes multimodal transportation is a key solution.

Sound Bites

"If you like the business of doing business, there is no business like the airline business."
"Until we start interstellar travel, this is the coolest thing."
"The complexities of the airline industry and the challenges of getting it right."
"These are airline guys running a bus company."
"We're not tied to the bus forever. We're a mobility company primarily focused on taking people off the road on the way to the airport."
"We're building this network that exists outside the airport to get people off the road."
"This is not a rounding error."
"The thing that people traveling value more than anything is certainty."
"All that buffer time, we basically take on the risk of the buffer time that you would give yourself."

Lawfirm vs. lessor vs. airline - which is a more demanding environment?

Priscilla Branco, SVP of Marketing for Macquarie Air Finance, talks through her history in law, airlines, and aircraft lessors.  We also spend time discussing the Latin American market and what makes it so dynamic.

Priscilla brings a breadth of knowledge to the Time on Wing podcast and finally gives the Latin American market the attention it deserves.

What does aircraft and engine maintenance have to do with leasing aircraft?  Everything.

We have a conversation with Shannon Ackert to talk about the changes coming in the industry with maintenance costs and escalation.  Shannon regales listeners with a master class in the technical side of aircraft financing.

What are some of the challenges the airline industry is facing in achieving sustainability?

We talk sustainability with Shashank Nigam and Dirk Singer of Simpliflying.  The discussion proves to be far more nuanced than "don't emit carbon."

How do aircraft manufacturers consider new aircraft development?

This latest Time on Wing podcast welcomes Andy Shankland, Managing Director and Partner at Seabury Aviation Partners.  Andy's former roles included time at British Aerospace and Airbus, which brings a bounty of experience for  him to call on during the podcast.