The Air Up There Federal Aviation Administration

What would the aviation industry be without trailblazers? Well, frankly, it would not be at all.


In our final podcast episode of the season, you'll hear from Administrator Steve Dickson about the path that led him to aviation. But this isn't your standard interview. The person asking the questions is Malik Sinegal, a young aviator whose story is rather remarkable, too.

Drones are the most rapidly evolving form of aircraft, and while recreational pilots fly them for fun or photography, drones can do a lot more. In this episode, we explore some of the many functional roles that drones play right now — from creating maps in the aftermath of a wildfire and measuring wind speed in the center of a hurricane, to monitoring crops. You'll hear from Commander Tom Madigan of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, Lieutenant Junior Grade Nicole Chappelle from NOAA's Officer Corps, and James Grimsley, who managed the Choctaw Nation's participation in the FAA's UAS Integration Pilot Program.

Wildfires have become more intense over the past few years, and we're getting used to seeing firefighting aircraft in action. But, that's only part of our story. Aircraft are also used to direct ground operations, protect firefighters and provide a birds-eye view of the action. In this episode, we'll meet the pilots and ground crews who give us an inside look at how aircraft help fight wildfires.


In this episode, you'll hear from Joshua Nettles, Tactical Air Operations Division Chief for CAL FIRE, and Josh Mathiesen, Interagency Fire Chief for Six Rivers National Forest and Redwood National Park, U.S. Forest Service.

The FAA keeps 5,000 airplanes on average moving safely through the sky every hour. How is this possible? Listen to hear it from our experts.


In this episode, you will learn how the puzzle pieces fit together in a cross-country flight — from takeoff to cruising altitude and back down — and how an orchestra of more than 14,000 air traffic controllers, in unison with pilots and airport personnel, creates a symphony of flights moving safely and efficiently across the nation while faced with a variety of constraints like weather, construction and heavy traffic areas. You'll also hear about the critical role of airway transportation specialists, our Tech Ops personnel, who keep thousands of pieces of critical FAA equipment tuned up for controllers and pilots to use in this complex dance.

The COVID-19 public health emergency has affected nearly every industry, and companies are trying to navigate the new normal of operating. General aviation is no exception. New businesses have cropped up to meet the demand for alternative forms of transportation. Innovations in pilot training have moved at lightning speed to provide quality, technical training solutions. Listen now to hear how private pilots are keeping their skills sharp, how the industry is working to accommodate new business, and how everyone is working to make sure the skies remain safe.


In this episode, you'll hear from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's (AOPA) Tom Haines, Jens Hennig of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Aviation International News' Matt Thurber, and Julie Boatman of Flying Magazine.

The COVID-19 public health emergency has dramatically reduced the number of passengers flying in our airspace, but the National Airspace System remains a critical part of our nation's response. From keeping flights carrying PPE on track to mitigating risk inside the tower cab, here's how the FAA's air traffic control team keeps the system running. Hear from Air Traffic Controllers and supervisors from Bedford, MA, Memphis, TN, and others across the system as they discuss how the public health emergency affected them at work and at home.