The Next Trip - An Aviation and Travel Podcast (Doug and Drew)
Explore every episode of The Next Trip - An Aviation and Travel Podcast
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Feb 2022 | Boarding Pass 115: Qatar's Rebound Relationship | 00:47:27 | |
We keep our pilot memoirs and deice diaries short today after some mixed feedback. Who are we kidding?? Doug talks about his trip to Honduras and happening to be there for their presidential inauguration. Drew talks about running it hard with a full schedule during the Nor'easter. Also: | |||
| 14 Feb 2022 | Boarding Pass 116: Nonrev Lounge Crossover Pt. 1 | 01:01:49 | |
Welcome to our first crossover episode with another aviation podcast, Nonrev Lounge. NonRev Lounge is hosted by Tyler who works ramp, his sister Monique who’s a gate agent, and their friend Lara, a flight attendant and a previous guest on our show. Today we have Tyler guest hosting the show with two other avgeek friends, Greg and Nate. We’re taping from SFO where we’ve met to spot planes and participate in some major avgeekery. This is a two part episode with this being Part 1 and Part 2 airing tomorrow, February 15th, on Nonrev Lounge. Be sure to check them out right after this and subcribe to their podcast. Nonrev lounge is focused on travel and their exciting jobs working for a major airline with a hub at Phoenix. Topics in this episode Join the conversation! | |||
| 21 Feb 2022 | Boarding Pass 117: Flyover States? Nah, we Love Everyone... | 00:50:09 | |
Doug and Drew meet up in DC with Doug picking up an SFO-DCA trip before he leaves the 737. Doug tells Drew his route was over some "flyover states" so we research where the term came from. Drew regales you with the history of College Park Airport which he lives by and we discus airports named after presidents on this President's Day episode. Other topics: | |||
| 28 Feb 2022 | Boarding Pass 118: Australia is Open for Business! | 00:57:01 | |
The world is starting to open up but will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine change everything? We discuss the breaking news of countries closing their airspace to Russia and the unfortunate destruction of the heaviest airplane in the world, the Antonov 225, Myria. We get a lot of feedback from you regarding the use of the term “gas” versus “fuel”, you do a deeper dive into our Flyover States segment, and you offer more airports named after famous people in your neck of the “tarmac”. Also on this episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 07 Mar 2022 | Boarding Pass 119: Mriya | 01:00:55 | |
Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, affecting millions of people. Sanctions against Russia are coming from all angles and we discuss how aviation is affected. We end with some positive news on COVID19 with infections declining and masks coming off everywhere - even on some planes. Other topics on this episode: | |||
| 14 Mar 2022 | Boarding Pass 120: Airplane Repo | 00:47:19 | |
We start with positive news of countries opening back up to international travel and Drew’s trip to Chicago. Other topics discussed: We end with a light-hearted ranking of all the annoying passenger types. Doug might be the small bladder passenger and Drew is definitley chatty Cathy. | |||
| 21 Mar 2022 | Boarding Pass 121: First Flight! | 00:52:36 | |
Drew finally has his first private pilot training flight and, as expected, it was amazing. Doug enjoys his last few weeks on the 737 before 777 training next month. We both talk about last week’s busy operation with full flights during and weather issues around the country. Topics on the episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | Boarding Pass 122: Russia, China, Delta, Frontier and a Whole Lot More... | 01:00:32 | |
Pilot memoirs continue with Doug doing his last 737 flights, before going to 777 training, and Drew regales you with his second Piper Warrrior flight above the DC Area. Topics covered:
We end the show answering lister Noah’s questions about ATC ground delay programs and Drew talks about listeners also starting their prival pilot journey. Join the conversation! | |||
| 04 Apr 2022 | Boarding Pass 123: Cargo Airline Truck Driving, Agriculture Aviation Major, Lifelong AvGeek | 01:02:41 | |
Longtime listener and avgeek friend Ryan joins us to talk about changing lanes in his aviation career. Ryan has been an avgeek his whole life and had dreams of being a pilot or working for the airlines. His road took him to driving trucks for a major cargo airline and loving his quality of life in a “flyover'“ state. Doug starts the transition from the 737 to the 777 and Drew talks about running a busy hub operation this week. We also discuss: Find ryan at @plainsandplanes on Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation! | |||
| 11 Apr 2022 | Boarding Pass 124: jetBlue Crashes the Party | 00:57:51 | |
Move over Frontier, jetBlue also has its eye on Spirit and makes a bid to buy it. Of course we have opinions on this - would a jetBlue/Spirit merger help or complicate jetBlue’s current operational issues? Would the cost of reconfiguring all of Spirit’s aircaft be worth it? Would the merger be denied because the two control so much New York to Florida traffic? Listen to what we think jetBlue’s master plan may be. Drew talks about Mainline and Express and how branding and customer products are similar but flight operations and dispatch are separate. We end the episode laughing about how Condor’s new livery is so bad,…it’s good. Listen to find out why. Join the conversation! | |||
| 18 Apr 2022 | Boarding Pass 125: Middle East Airlines are Back! | 01:01:56 | |
Next Trip was the #1 aviation podcast in Dubai this week so who better to have on this episode than the #1 avgeek in Dubai? Return guest, Roxi or @roxavgeek on Instagram and Twitter, is a flight attendant for a Dubai based carrier and also has a large following as an aviation influencer. Traffic is up 215% in the Middle East and we ask Roxi if it seems like the area is beyond COVID. She also recaps the Dubai Airshow for us since she was attending the event when we taped before. Also on this episode: We end the show with your questions for Roxi on aircraft and aviation. Did you stump her? You gotta listen! Join the conversation! | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | Boarding Pass 126: Back to Normal | 00:53:34 | |
We’re partying like its 2019! Load factors and fares are up as Americans throw off their masks and head back to the skies as COVID19 wanes. We go through the spreadsheets as the major US carriers reveal their 1st quarter results. We also talk about Russia cranking up the TU-214, cough Russian 757, and IL96-300, cough Russian A340, production lines. In our pilot and airport memoirs we talk about Doug’s 777 training and Drew’s airport operation which changes drastically when load factors increase from 75% to over 90%. Join the conversation! | |||
| 02 May 2022 | Boarding Pass 127: Bigfoot | 00:58:40 | |
We’re going from Guppies (737’s) to Bigfoot (777) as Doug finishes 777 training. One of the striking features of the 777 is its huge main landing, the largest on any aircraft. We dig into landing gear and getting aircraft on the ground vs. off the ground on this episode. Other topics discussed Delta flight attendants start getting paid during boarding Is the A220 the 787 of long, thin domestic routes. Breeze starts A220 transcon flights We end the show sharing listener comments on flying on the 747, getting through Amsterdam Schipol Airport, and airline boarding cutoff times. Join the conversation! | |||
| 09 May 2022 | Boarding Pass 128: Project Sunrise | 01:05:11 | |
Drew is fresh off his third private pilot training flight so get ready for more small plane pilot memoirs. Doug is more excited about Drew’s business trip and asks him if it was better than Zoom - spoiler…..uhhh YES!! Also on this episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 16 May 2022 | Boarding Pass 129: EuroBiz | 01:00:46 | |
What's better, having a middle seat open, lounge access, and high quality meals, or a bigger seat? We discuss Eurobiz vs US domestic First. Other topics on this episode: | |||
| 23 May 2022 | Boarding Pass 130: Alliances | 01:03:57 | |
What was the first airline alliance - was it STAR, NW/KL, oneworld, Wings? We discuss international alliances that help improve revenues and ease passenger connectivity across carriers. Also, we believe we may be entering a new Golden Age of Aviation with supersonic airliners running on sustainable fuel, electric sea gliders, and airlines competing on improved passenger experience. Doug waits for the call to fly his first 777 and Drew has a busy week with flight training, irregular ops at work, and two Next Trip listeners visiting. Other topics: We finish the show answering great questions from listeners regarding passenger experience on the 787 and 777, Eurobiz, and possible new mid-continent airline hubs. Join the conversation! | |||
| 30 May 2022 | Boarding Pass 131: Why Not the 767-400? | 00:58:39 | |
Doug is going stir crazy at home waiting for “the call”, with his first 777 assignment, and Drew is trying to keep the operation from getting crazy with 4 ramp closures for lightning within a few hours. To get our minds off our week, we obsess about why the 767-400 wasn’t successful with only 37 built. We continue our discussion about a new “Golden Age” of aviation with Bombardier flight testing the Global 8000, which will be the fastest passenger airplane, and the growth of luxurious airport lounges. Also on this episode: Check out this great historical lounge overview by Lounge Review. https://loungereview.com/the-use-of-airline-lounges-as-a-marketing-tool-history-and-innovation/ Join the conversation! | |||
| 06 Jun 2022 | Boarding Pass 132: CRM | 00:59:43 | |
Doug is still waiting to be called to work his first 777 flight and Drew gets some family time in between crazy busy operations shifts. Busy or not, we always find time for our avgeek podcast break. Speaking of work and pleasure, what’s a good term for a combination business/leisure trip? Bleisure, Lisness, WFV (working from vacation)? We share your great ideas. What is CRM, crew resource management, and how does it apply in any work environment, not just on the flight deck? Also on this show: We do a go-around on our 767-400 story from last week with some added fun facts We end the show with a great question about regional airlines from Drew’s flight instructor Kathleen and a big thank you to flight attendants around the world for your hard work. Happy International Flight Attendants Day! Join the conversation! | |||
| 13 Jun 2022 | Boarding Pass 133: Kentucky to California | 00:53:49 | |
Drew heads out to California with Next Trip contributor, Greg from Kentucky, while Doug waits to fly the 777. We discuss Kentucky aviation and our crazy trip out to LAX which involved a few changes due to full flights everywhere. Greg talks about Cincinnati, Ohio’s airport, CVG, which is actually in Kentucky, the large cargo hub at Louisville, and the lack of air service at Lexington. We also discuss: Join the conversation! | |||
| 20 Jun 2022 | Boarding Pass 134: Doug Flies the 777! | 01:03:36 | |
Doug is fresh off his first 777 flight with a trip from San Francisco to Honolulu, to Guam, and back. Drew has a bunch of questions for Doug on the 777 and the airports he visited, and has his own story flying the other end of the spectrum - a single engine Piper Warrior. Other topics on this episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 27 Jun 2022 | Boarding Pass 135: Trust Us, We're All Trying! | 01:02:04 | |
Just off our Boeing 777 and Piper Warrior flights we are pumped up and ready to talk aviation! Doug gets to fly a frequent flier across the 4 million mile mark and Drew gets comfortable with Warrior landing patterns and touch and goes. We then dive into: We end with a listener’s love-hate relationship with his hometown airline, Norwegian. Join the conversation! | |||
| 04 Jul 2022 | Boarding Pass 136: Crew Scheduling: We Need You... 20 Min Ago | 00:54:22 | |
Happy 4th of July to our American listeners! On this holiday weekend Doug gets a call to fly to Taiwan, 20 minutes after the check-in time, to cover a 777 first officer opening. We tape with Doug in a glorified hotel “jail” cell in Taipei with the country still under severe Covid-19 restrictions. We talk about Doug’s trip to Asia, Drew’s “seconds to cancelation” story about how everything has to come together in Airport Ops to get a flight out of the gate and off the ground. We also discuss: Join the conversation! | |||
| 11 Jul 2022 | Boarding Pass 137: Frontier 1.0 and Leisure Suits | 01:06:57 | |
Matt joins us for the third time and is now an official co-host! His love for aviation started as a nonrev flying on his dad’s benefits on the original Frontier. He then went from ramper, to operations agent, to zone controller, to customer service supervisor, and finally to travel agent. He regales us with stories from when suits were required for employees. We also discuss: We end the episode quizzing Matt on weird reservations terms. Ever heard of an open jaw ticket, skiplagging, and married segments? It’s all in this fun filled episode | |||
| 18 Jul 2022 | Boarding Pass 138: Skynest | 01:05:53 | |
Would you pay extra to use a flat bed on a long flight? Air New Zealand thinks you will with their Skynest which are 6 stacked bunks mid cabin. We discuss this and commiserata about both of our crazy work days negotiating East Coast thunderstorms and a pigeon (?). Drew is hitting the private pilot training books and Doug has a previous KC10 pilot and coworker jumpseating on his flight. Also on this episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 25 Jul 2022 | Boarding Pass 139: Summer Travel | 01:07:11 | |
Summer travel is in full swing and so are Doug with a family vacation, and Drew with a busy airport operation. We give you tips on how to avoid drama at the airport by planning ahead. Get there early, have back up plans, use the airline apps, and check the FAA's National Airspace System Status to avoid problem airports. Also on this episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 01 Aug 2022 | Boarding Pass 140: Is the Recovery Stabilizing? | 01:07:11 | |
Are we seeing aviation stabilizing as airlines hire workers back and the travel surge starts to ease? We discuss positive trends we’re seeing in the supply chain, load factors, and our daily work life. Also on this episode: We end the show answering some great questions about LCC’s, pilot training, and diversions from our listeners. | |||
| 08 Aug 2022 | Boarding Pass 141: Northern Lights... In the Summer! | 01:01:21 | |
Doug embarks on his Atlantic IOE with a flight to Frankfurt that is pure aviation magic from two sunsets, during takeoff, and a rare view of the aurora borealis on a summertime flight. Drew might be changing from Team Piper to Team Cessna with a new instructor and flight school. A Cessna with a low budget “EICAS” system…whaaat? Also: We end with listener question what to where inflight in case of an emergency. Our answers may shock you. Join the conversation! | |||
| 15 Aug 2022 | Boarding Pass 142: A Walk Down Memory Taxilane | 00:55:55 | |
Doug and Drew meet up in California and tape in person. Drew takes Doug to Concord Buchanan Airport where he started his aviation career as a lineserviceman. Doug tells us about his first charter flight and how being on reserve is like nonreving for your job. Also on this episode: We spend a lot of time bantering with each other, and you, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip, the Next Trip! | |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | Boarding Pass 143: You'll Take What's Available | 01:00:42 | |
This week’s show has an airport theme with our buddy Francis, an airport ops supervisor, joining us for the 2nd time. Francis explains airport classifications, signage, and how they deal with diversions. We also dicuss: We end with a quick lesson on airport signage and lighting that will raise your avgeek credentials. Join the conversation! | |||
| 29 Aug 2022 | Boarding Pass 144: Winging It | 00:58:27 | |
High wing or low wing, what’s better and what’s the difference? We discuss that, trying to sleep during a 3 hour break on an 11 hour flight (spoiler…it’s hard), and a glass cockpit in a Cessna 172. Also: | |||
| 05 Sep 2022 | Boarding Pass 145: Eefrow | 00:51:21 | |
Doug has the smoothest flight ever to Eefrow (London Heathrow) and Drew is planning to fill in as ops manager at SFO where his airline career started. Doug’s flight from SFO to LHR carries the legacy of Pan Am flight 1 which flew the route in the 90’s. Pan Am flight 1 of yore flew around the world in 1947. We discuss the other “Flight 1’s” of the world which represent several airline’s most prestigious routes. Also on the episode: | |||
| 12 Sep 2022 | Boarding Pass 146: Unplugged | 00:56:43 | |
We're semi-unplugged this week with Doug taping with his cellphone from a layover hotel room. Forgive us for too much realness on this MacGyver'ed episode. Drew gives an update on private pilot training and Doug is back from a 2nd LHR trip. We discuss what rights you have when your flight cancels. Surprise, you will get less from ULCC's (ultra low cost carriers). The DOT hss created a dashboard to help you fund the answers at: Other topics on this episode: | |||
| 19 Sep 2022 | Boarding Pass 147: The Holy Trinity | 00:56:55 | |
World traveler and friend of the show, Ian, joins us to talk about frequent flier programs and the benefits of having status on multiple airlines. He mentions the “holy trinity” 🤣 of the Star Alliance, oneworld, and Skyteam and being elite on all three. We also discuss whether Boom's Overture will go forward after Rolls Royce announced they’re leaving the project, the rise in business travel, and the United/Emirates partnership. Find Ian on Instagram at @iandeyoung | |||
| 26 Sep 2022 | Boarding Pass 148: The Queue | 00:54:57 | |
Leave it to our British friends to turn a line into an institution. We discuss The Queue to pay last respects to Queen Elizabeth and guess what? There's an aviation tangent. Drew regales Doug with his trip to LAX via Fargo and LAX to DC via Maui (it's complicated). Also on this episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 03 Oct 2022 | Boarding Pass 149: It's Not Duct Tape | 00:49:23 | |
This week our thoughts are with our listeners in Florida who are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. We highlight NOAA and their work studying and other storms, to improve forecasts, and we take a close look at their Hurricane Hunter aircraft. Currently two Lockheed WP-3D aircraft named Kermit and Ms. Piggy are tasked with flying into the eye’s of storms. An engineer on one of the passes through Ian called it the worst flight he’s ever had in terms of turbulence! Other topics on this episode: We end the episode with a tank dive into what speed tape is - don’t be afraid, it’s normal to see on aircraft. Join the conversation! | |||
| 10 Oct 2022 | Boarding Pass 150: Oh, They're Out There... | 01:01:22 | |
Doug see’s some strange lights on a red eye flight between SFO an EWR and other flights report the same. The FAA hasn’t come back with any confirmation so we have some fun with what we think they might be. Drew and Doug meet up at IAD to take a look at Drew’s workplace and Doug’s office (a 777 flight deck). Also on this episode: Join the conversation! | |||
| 17 Oct 2022 | Boarding Pass 151: Loyalty | 01:01:04 | |
Drew is back from a Winter Ops meeting and Doug is at a nondescript hotel room (sound familiar) getting rested for a red eye flight. We talk about company loyalty and how it has changed over the years. The example we used was a listener poll on whether airlines should board employee standbys by time of check in or seniority. The answers will surprise you! We also discuss: | |||
| 24 Oct 2022 | Boarding Pass 152: Turbulence! | 00:54:25 | |
Drew’s flight instructor tells him to get ready to rock and roll with high winds. We discuss turbulence, crosswind landings, and “beating up” the pattern. We also discuss:: | |||
| 31 Oct 2022 | Boarding Pass 153: Eurotrip | 00:57:21 | |
Doug and Drew, taping from a Houston airline lounge, are fresh off their excellent avgeek adventure to Europe. We’re excited to regale you with our stories about tailcams, nail-biting nonrev travel, Eurobiz, and Singapore Business Class. This whirlwind trip included flying on SAS to Copenhagen, then Manchester, and back to the US on Singapore Airlines. We enjoyed visiting and getting to know listeners in both cities. Thanks to Dominik and David for showing us around! We also discuss: Join the fun! | |||
| 07 Nov 2022 | Boarding Pass 154: A.V. Geek? | 00:55:17 | |
Doug and Drew are back to work with Drew hosting an avgeek group with the airport authority and Doug doing his last simulator ride on the KC10. Doug squeezes in a quick trip to see family and breaks his reluctance to use his standby airline travel benefits. Also in this episode. Join the conversation! | |||
| 14 Nov 2022 | Boarding Pass 155: Boeing and China | 00:57:19 | |
Doug and Drew were on flip flop and laptop trips this week (we'll explain) with Doug being best man and wedding cruise director and Drew working LAX Ops. We also discuss: | |||
| 21 Nov 2022 | Boarding Pass 156: Home for the Holidays (Some of us at Least...) | 00:57:17 | |
Doug and Drew ring in the holiday season with our rendition of Home for the Holidays - don’t worry, its just the first two verses. Where exactly was Karen Carpenter when she was singing about people coming and going through Pennsylvania for some homemade pumpkin pie? PHL, PIT, or MEM? We tank dive which airport she was in and which airline. Also on this episode. | |||
| 28 Nov 2022 | Boarding Pass 157: Single Pilot? Yeah... No Thanks | 00:51:40 | |
The traffic is terrific as we roll into the holiday travel season. Doug is mixing work and pleasure on his trip while Drew is enjoying the week off. We discuss passenger volumes and how airlines hope to avoid the meltdowns we saw this summer. Also: | |||
| 05 Dec 2022 | Boarding Pass 158: The Jakarta Incident | 00:56:53 | |
Doug was in Hawaii for Thanksgiving but got out before Mauna Loa erupted. We discuss how volcanic ash affects aircraft engines and review some near-disasters where 747’s lost all 4 engines due to eruptions around the world. Also: Join the conversation! | |||
| 12 Dec 2022 | Boarding Pass 159: Farewell Queen | 01:19:08 | |
Doug is in Hawaii and Drew is in Charlotte, with our buddy Matt, who rejoins the show to rant with us on a multitude of topics. Did you know that Charlotte was the 5th busiest airport in the world in 2021 by numbers of flights, and that it is American Airlines’ 2nd largest connection hub. We talk about its history and its rise from a Piedmont Airlines station to a megahub. Also on this episode: Come for the avgeek information, stay for the #MattRants! | |||
| 19 Dec 2022 | Boarding Pass 160: (New) Planes, Planes, Planes, Planes, Planes, Planes...for EVERYBODY! | 00:47:03 | |
Things didn’t go as planned for Doug or Drew this week with both grounded with health issues and full flights, respectively. Doug was sick at home, and Drew couldn’t get to Europe and visited the DC Air & Space museum instead. The podcast cheered us up though! On this episode we discuss: This is our last episode before Christmas, so Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy Holidays everyone! | |||
| 26 Dec 2022 | Boarding Pass 161: Airplane Popsicles | 00:42:16 | |
We’ve talked about deicing planes before they takeoff but how do we keep them from turning into 737 popsicles when they’re sitting at the airport? Drew talks about processes to keep airplanes and ground equipment from freezing over before he goes in to deal with -1F temperatures. Doug is about to fly to Munich before Christmas Eve - will it be festive or sad? See the pictures below. Also on this episode: | |||
| 02 Jan 2023 | Boarding Pass 162: Southwest | 00:55:51 | |
Doug and Drew have to split taping between 2 airline lounges as Doug travels home to California after check rides in Denver. This episode’s wifi issues can't hold us back from our last 2022 taping, making a 100% completion factor. Thank YOU for sticking with us! In this episode: | |||
| 09 Jan 2023 | Boarding Pass 163: Critical Points | 00:58:13 | |
To divert or not to divert, that is the question for Doug and crew over the North Atlantic. Drew and Doug discuss diversion decisions from flight and station operations perspectives. On this episode we also discuss: We end the episode with an email from listener, Gordon, about his trip on a Continental DC10 with a pub onboard for all customers. Join the conversation! | |||
| 16 Jan 2023 | Boarding Pass 164: Low-Cost Extravaganza | 01:16:14 | |
This episode is all about ULCC’s with Travis Christ, Head of Avelo Marketing, joining the show. We were supposed to fly on Avelo’s inaugural from Orlando to Dubuque, Iowa but the flight was canceled due to DBQ Airport still establishing their security plan. Avelo had an awesome recovery effort which led to Travis joining the show. He tells us all about the new airline and about his path from ramper to airline executive. Doug and Drew proceed with our ULCC run with plans to fly Avelo soon. We take you along for the ride which in avgeek Morse code is: | |||
| 23 Jan 2023 | Boarding Pass 165: Stalls | 00:56:56 | |
This episode is packed - we talk about the crash of a Yeti Airlines ATR72, a runway incursion at JFK, and what an aircraft stall is and how to avoid one. But wait there’s more - airport lounge access and hotel elite status, Lufthansa makes a bid for Italy’s ITA, and the “Continental Mafia”. Biscoff lovers wait until the end to hear our cookie rant! | |||
| 30 Jan 2023 | Boarding Pass 166: Off to the Boneyard | 00:47:48 | |
Drew is back from an Airport Ops conference and Doug flew a KC10 on its final flight. Drew talks about the need for widebodies to make better use of scarce pilot crews and slots at busy airports. Doug regales us with his recount of flying a KC10 low along a sunny California coast and then east to Tucson. | |||
| 06 Feb 2023 | Boarding Pass 167: Flight Planning | 00:49:02 | |
Doug is flying to Taipei and Drew is off to Tenerife this week. We look at flight planning and considerations for turbulence and taking advantage of the jet stream to save time. Also: | |||
| 13 Feb 2023 | Boarding Pass 168: Balloon(s?) | 00:58:43 | |
Doug and Drew are back from trips in opposite directions. Doug flew to post-Covid Taipei as crew and Drew to Tenerife on a quick avgeek getaway with friends. We discuss our trips and: | |||
| 20 Feb 2023 | Boarding Pass 169: The Return Home...to Japan! | 01:01:18 | |
Doug takes his mom, Ruth, along for the ride to Japan where she was born. We talk about how it feels to be “back home" and how Japan is getting back to normal after Covid19. Also on this episode. Join the conversation! | |||
| 27 Feb 2023 | Boarding Pass 170: Weight Restricted | 00:49:01 | |
| 06 Mar 2023 | Boarding Pass 171: Inflation and Ticket Prices... and "Real" Dollars? | 01:01:15 | |
Doug is back from his KC10 “fini” flight and Drew’s been spending time with visitors at DC aviation museums. Which one is best for avgeeks? Also: Join the conversation! | |||
| 13 Mar 2023 | Boarding Pass 172: Engine Geek | 01:02:54 | |
Greg, our buddy and show contributor, joins us to talk about aircraft engines - how they work, air-starts, and engine supply chain issues. He also is excited to be back in the aviaton industry with what could be his dream job. Doug regales us with a pilot memoir about his 2nd trip to Japan and reveals he’s a train (rail?) geek too. We also discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 20 Mar 2023 | Boarding Pass 173: Startups | 00:48:28 | |
Doug is back from Kona and Denver and Drew had an unexpected deicing event, and major delays due to winds and a single runway operation, the next day. Also on this episode: | |||
| 27 Mar 2023 | Boarding Pass 174: Throttle Monkeys | 00:57:16 | |
Doug is back from a fun, and tiring, family vacation in Disneyland and Drew spent another day at the Udvar-Hazy Aviation Museum in DC. How many trips must he make before he gets docent status and free parking? On this episode we discuss: | |||
| 03 Apr 2023 | Boarding Pass 175: ADIRUs Down Undah | 00:59:05 | |
Doug is back from his first trip to Sydney, Australia and Drew is taking new hires on ramp tours. On this episode we discuss: | |||
| 10 Apr 2023 | Boarding Pass 176: How'd That Hub Get There? | 00:50:07 | |
Drew gets coworkers from 4 departments together because teamwork makes the dream, and the operation, work. Doug is on break from flying the 777 - any withdrawal symptoms? We check on him and discuss: | |||
| 17 Apr 2023 | Boarding Pass 177: Doug Does DFW | 01:11:34 | |
Doug is at DFW for a meetup with our buddies at Nonrev Lounge Podcast. He also talks about flying the competition from Sacramento to Wichita and driving (?) to DFW. Drew's about to leave for Chicago to help improve a tool they use to manage the operation. We also discuss: | |||
| 24 Apr 2023 | Boarding Pass 178: Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly | 00:54:35 | |
Doug's in KC46 school in Wichita and Drew's back from helping improve airline ops tools in Chicago. This week we discuss: | |||
| 01 May 2023 | Boarding Pass 179: Direct | 00:42:58 | |
Drew is back from an IRROPs strategy session in Las Vegas and Doug is on the way home from Wichita for a break from KC-46 training. They were both on direct flights …or were they non-stop flights? Doug av-splains the difference. Also on this episode: | |||
| 08 May 2023 | Boarding Pass 180: Looming Pilot Strikes? | 00:59:02 | |
Drew is back from another Summer IRROPs preparation meeting and Doug is back to Wichita in KC46 training. Drew talks about how airlines and ATC work behind the scenes to make sure your flight is safe. Both Doug and Drew talk about how they individually work with ATC and Dispatch, real time, to get planes moving. We also discuss: We finish the episode ranting about an article lamenting airport lounges. We agree lounges could be better, but a lounge is better than no lounge! Join the discussion! | |||
| 15 May 2023 | Boarding Pass 181: ATCGPT | 01:09:30 | |
Nose to the grindstone for Doug and Drew this week with Doug hitting the KC46 books and simulator and Drew prepping for a busy summer airline hub operation. We dive into commercial aviation jet routes which could be a J route or Q route based on if its using ground based VORs or GPS - confused yet? Don’t change the station, we’ll explain. Also on this episode: | |||
| 22 May 2023 | Boarding Pass 182: 5G Extension? | 00:51:26 | |
Airlines are asking for more time to update aircraft altimeters but will the FAA extend the deadline at the end of June? Telecoms executive Hugh Odom, president of Vertical Consultants, joins us to talk about the concerns. Doug goes down memory taxi lane with a visit to Enid Oklahoma where he did early flight training. Drew talks about ensuring thousands of bags fly with passengers. We also discuss:
Join the discussion! | |||
| 29 May 2023 | Boarding Pass 183: Air Capital of the World | 01:20:56 | |
Doug and Drew are on location in Wichita, Kansas which claims to be the Air Capital of the World. Is it? We tour the city to find out. All these aviation giants here but “The I C..T.” is not all about aviation. We visited breweries, a nature trail, the charming Old Town, and played pickleball! | |||
| 05 Jun 2023 | Boarding Pass 184: Brushwing Rising in HKG | 00:56:52 | |
Cathay Pacific’s Senior VP, Americas, Chris van den Hooven joins us as his carrier bounces back from Covid19. China’s “zero covid” policy has kept Cathay Pacific out of the resurgent Asian travel market but now, with restrictions lifted, the sky’s the limit. Also on this episode: We end with Chris regaling us with bar recommendations for when we visit Hong Kong, and can tape with him IN PERSON. Join the discussion! | |||
| 12 Jun 2023 | Boarding Pass 185: DB Cooper | 00:55:36 | |
Doug is back in California for a break from KC46 training and Drew is managing through the crazy busy Summer flght schedule. We touch on the Air India diversion to Siberia and SFO go-arounds drama before we head down memory taxi lane with a look back at the Boeing 727. Also on this episode: Join the fun! | |||
| 19 Jun 2023 | Boarding Pass 186: Sliding into the Week | 00:55:21 | |
Drew talks about managing throught the Summer flight schedule and Doug is getting ready to head back to training, this time in Altus, Oklahoma, the middle of nowhere. Is it really the middle of nowhere though? Drew does some research and finds goat petting, corn shucking, and axe throwing to keep Doug occupied. We also discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 26 Jun 2023 | Boarding Pass 187: Paris 2023 | 01:05:08 | |
Drew has a rough week with nights ending up at IHOP and not Jimmy’s (we’ll explain) and Doug is on a soccer dad break from KC46 training. On this episode we discuss Spirit Aerosystem machinists go on strike, causing new supply chain issues for the 737 and 787 We end the show with a discussion about missed approaches and go-arounds. Don’t be afraid and enjoy more flight time. :) Join the conversation! | |||
| 03 Jul 2023 | Boarding Pass 188: Pack Your Patience | 00:54:16 | |
Doug and Drew comiserate with each other and travelers after a rough week at the airlines. We talk about what happened with the weather and ATC and the difficulties of recovering after hundreds of planes and thousands of crewmembers are displaced. We also discuss: We end the show with our first Google Voice message from abroad with a comment from Mark in Calgary, Canada. Join the discussion! | |||
| 10 Jul 2023 | Boarding Pass 189: Francis Takes On ARFF | 00:47:31 | |
Next Trip Public Enemy #1, airport ops supervisor Francis, joins Drew on a widebody transcon trip from DC to LAX. We visit Next Trip public enemy #2, Aaron, and regale Doug about planes, Hollywood, and ARFF of course. In this episode: | |||
| 17 Jul 2023 | Boarding Pass 190: Straight to the Points | 01:06:48 | |
Spencer Howard of Straight To The Points, a must-have premium travel resource, joins us this week. We discuss how he left a career in politics to follow his passion which has taken him around the world in luxury. We were also able to confirm that Spencer is an avgeek….at least we think he is, you decide. Spencer also discusses with us: | |||
| 24 Jul 2023 | Boarding Pass 191: Hobson's Choice | 00:49:01 | |
Doug gets to fly the KC46 (for real, not simulator) and discusses the similarities with the 777. Drew is in peak Summer airport operations and working to keep things moving. On this episode we discuss: Airline passengers can make a Hobson’s choice if they don’t like their meal. Listen to hear what that is. Join the discussion! | |||
| 31 Jul 2023 | Boarding Pass 192: Move Team & Oshkosh | 01:00:20 | |
Patrick from the Move Team at Drew’s Airport joins us to talk about moving multi-million dollar aircraft and being the rescue crew for aircraft in need. He is also fresh from EAA Oshkosh! On this episode we discuss Join the discussion! | |||
| 07 Aug 2023 | Boarding Pass 193: Not Without My... | 00:48:10 | |
Drew is having a difficult work week while Doug is just as busy on his time off. On this episode we discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 15 Aug 2023 | Boarding Pass 194: Turnaround Time with Oscar Munoz | 01:01:53 | |
Doug and Drew interview Oscar Munoz, recent CEO and Chairman of United Airlines. Oscar talks about how he turned around a major US airline and put it on a path to success. We talk about his new book “Turnaround Time” which chronicles his life and career and fulfilling his American dream. Oscar discusses with us: We don’t let Oscar leave without answering some avgeek questions! Join the discussion! | |||
| 21 Aug 2023 | Boarding Pass 195: Back to Work! | 01:11:19 | |
Doug is flying the line again and Drew is transitioning to AM shift. We talk about one of our favorite cities, Heathrow…sorry, London, where Doug just did a 24hr turnaround. Also on this episode Join the discussion! | |||
| 28 Aug 2023 | Boarding Pass 196: All Roads Lead to PSLs | 00:52:14 | |
See Rome and fly! Doug’s speed dating the Eternal City and Drew's on AM shift avoiding delays for customers in line for pumpkin spice lattes. We discuss Join the discussion! | |||
| 04 Sep 2023 | Boarding Pass 197: No Way Red Way | 00:52:37 | |
It’s the busiest Labor Day weekend ever in the US and Drew’s mom tells us about getting the last seat on a flight from SF to DC. We also discuss: Join the discussion | |||
| 11 Sep 2023 | Boarding Pass 198: Dorkfest! | 00:51:59 | |
Doug and Drew make it to Dorkfest 2023 LAX and meet up with a bunch of our awesome friends and listeners. This is a yearly avgeek meetup first organized by Brett Snyder, better known as blogger Cranky Flier. VIP listeners Ian and Ryan join us on the episode. We discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 18 Sep 2023 | Boarding Pass 199: Impending Groundings? | 00:54:10 | |
We're back from Dorkfest at LAX but the fun didn't stop there. Doug had a rags to riches avgeek story for his return to the SF Bay Area and Drew and buddies went west to Honolulu (as one does) before returning to the mainland. On this episode we discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 25 Sep 2023 | Boarding Pass 200: Thank You Listeners! | 00:52:30 | |
We made it to 200 episodes and could not have done it without you. Thank you for letting us be your avgeek fix every week. We do it for you! Thanks for the feedback, comments, engagement, and inspiration. We planned a fabulous trip for this episode but had to postpone because life happens, and we’ve alway said people (and pets) over planes. There will still be a celebratory trip soon but in the meantime we’re back to business with the following topics: Join the discussion! | |||
| 02 Oct 2023 | Boarding Pass 201: Arrivederci Avgeeks | 00:45:21 | |
Doug is in Green Bay for a Packers game, after operating his 2nd flight to Rome, while Drew holds court with four avgeeks in DC. We discuss | |||
| 09 Oct 2023 | Boarding Pass 202: Planes, Planes, and More Planes | 00:59:16 | |
Doug is back from Frankfurt, and Drew is rounding everyone up to create Winter ops checklists as temps start dropping. Breaking news is a cargo 757 doing a belly landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee after a possible hydraulic issue. We discuss landing gear situations as well as a planeload of other topics: Join the discussion! | |||
| 16 Oct 2023 | Boarding Pass 203: Full Circle Part 1 (Back Where it Started) | 00:40:26 | |
Drew is at SFO filling in for ops manager and Doug survived a water park with 2 kids. We do a quick taping before Drew rushed to get on a flight to Hong Kong (or anywhere in Asia). We discuss We end the show with our plans for one perfect day in Hong Kong. | |||
| 23 Oct 2023 | Boarding Pass 204: Full Circle Part 2 (One Perfect Day) | 01:09:18 | |
Doug and Drew make it to Hong Kong to celebrate over 200 episodes. We accomplish our mission of walking to Checkerboard Hill where aircraft made the sharp turn before landing at Kai Tak airport until 1998. Drew has a special visitor from Sri Lanka with a civilian aviation story and Doug is back to KC46 training. . We discuss: | |||
| 30 Oct 2023 | Boarding Pass 205: Downsizing? | 00:51:32 | |
Drew is back from a Winter Ops Summit in Chicago and Doug is getting his honey-do list done before flying to Taipei. We discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 06 Nov 2023 | Boarding Pass 206: Just Tap the Brakes | 00:47:24 | |
Drew has roadblocks getting flights out with the jetstream causing early arrivals in Europe, weight restrictions to Tokyo due to a volcanic eruption, and gate space issues at Las Vegas. Doug is in Denver for flight sim training after just arriving from Taipei. We discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 13 Nov 2023 | Boarding Pass 207: Cargo Flashes Warning Signs | 00:44:15 | |
Doug is back from 777 simulator training and Drew continues Winter Ops training in 70F temps. We discuss: We finish the episode previewing Doug’s trip to New Zealand that evening and Drew's trip to Europe the next day. Join the discussion! | |||
| 20 Nov 2023 | Boarding Pass 208: Thanks for Nothing | 01:03:30 | |
Doug is back from New Zealand and Drew's back from Geneva via a 747 from Frankfurt. Both are gearing up for a record breaking Thanksgiving travel period. We talk about what we’re thankful for but it didn’t go as planned. 😃 | |||
| 27 Nov 2023 | Boarding Pass 209: The Great Sandwich War of 1958 | 00:52:51 | |
Doug is back from Beijing and in the US Midwest for Thanksgiving while Drew is working the busiest holiday travel week ever. We talk about out Thanksgiving celebrations and discuss: Join the conversation! | |||
| 04 Dec 2023 | Boarding Pass 210: Busiest Day in History | 00:53:47 | |
It’s confirmed - Sunday, November 26 was the busiest day in US aviation history. Drew talks about how it was running the operation that day, and Doug recounts leaving snowy Chicago. We discuss: Join the conversation! | |||
| 11 Dec 2023 | Boarding Pass 211: Alaska Makes an (Un)Surprising Move | 00:59:08 | |
Doug is back from KC46 training near Philadelphia and Drew is working to save fuel by having aircraft APUs shut down fast. Both of us are excited about the Alaska/Hawaiian merger and of course we have opinions on it. Should they start a new airline brand or keep Alaska and Hawaiian identities separate? We also discuss: | |||
| 18 Dec 2023 | Boarding Pass 212: Why Flying is Miserable: And How to Fix It | 01:20:26 | |
Ganesh Sitaraman, professor at Vanderbilt University, and author of “Why Flying is Miserable: and How to Fix It”, joins us to talk about the history of the airlines and how to make them better. We discuss:
Join the conversation! | |||
| 25 Dec 2023 | Boarding Pass 213: Under the AvGeek Christmas Tree | 00:55:58 | |
Drew and Doug are both on the job the week of Christmas with Drew working the busy hub operation and Doug doing flights to London, then Houston, back to London, and then home to SFO. We talk about news stories as presents and what we’d like to see under the avgeek Xmas tree. We also discuss: Join the discussion! | |||
| 01 Jan 2024 | Boarding Pass 214: Another Year Over and a New One's Just Begun | 01:06:25 | |
Doug is back from his “W” trip SFO-LHR-IAH-LHR-SFO and trying not to think of where his body clock is. Drew enjoyed a traditional airline Christmas of working and then enjoying takeout Chinese food on the couch with Robbie and doggie, Henny. We discuss: Join the discussion! | |||