In this special episode of Aviation News Talk, Max discusses a recent fatal crash involving N1089W, a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, at MacArthur Airport in Long Island. The aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff, leading the pilot to attempt a 180-degree turn back to the runway, a maneuver often referred to as the "impossible turn." The plane crashed short of Runway 6, resulting in the deaths of both the pilot and passenger. Max explains the dangers of the "impossible turn," especially for faster aircraft like the Bonanza, due to their larger turn radius. He suggests that using the full length of ..read more

Max talks with career coach Carl Valeri about current trends in the aviation industry regarding pilot hiring. Major issues include supply chain problems affecting both Boeing and Airbus, with specific concerns about engine inspections and manufacturing delays. Additionally, the premium leisure travel market is thriving, while low-cost travel faces challenges due to economic conditions. The conversation also highlights the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers, especially in the East Coast corridor, leading to reduced flights and pilot demand. Valeri emphasizes the importance of pilots ga ..read more

In this episode, Max visits Skyryse, a Southern California-based startup. Its Skyryse One helicopter, has a revolutionary cockpit configuration that eliminates traditional controls such as the cyclic, collective, and pedals. Instead, it features a single centrally mounted control stick and two touchscreen displays, all powered by a triply redundant fly-by-wire flight control system and the company's proprietary SkyOS. The Skyryse One is half the cost of the cheapest IFR-certified helicopters, significantly enhancing safety in the helicopter industry. The aircraft is priced at $1.8 million, hig ..read more

In this episode, Max explores Loft Dynamics, a Swiss company transforming helicopter training with cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) simulators. During his visit to their Santa Monica demo center, Max flies the Airbus H125 training device, the only VR simulator approved by EASA. Loft Dynamics offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional full-motion simulators, which are bulky and expensive, ranging from $6 to $20 million. Their compact VR simulators, including the H125, H145, and Robinson R22, cost around $1 million and utilize an open design with electric motor-driven seats. The technol ..read more

Max discusses the critical role of human factors in aviation safety, prompted by the tragic crash of Yeti Airlines flight 691 in Nepal in 2023. The flight crashed during a visual approach due to pilot errors and high workload, resulting in the loss of all 72 people on board. Trescott explains how human factors like high workload, distractions, and ineffective Crew Resource Management (CRM) played a critical role in the accident. The crew's use of noise-canceling headsets and the challenging new airport approach added to their workload, leading to mistakes. Trescott uses the SHELL model (Softwa ..read more

Max talks with CFI Jim Simon, about an incident involving a Cirrus SR22T and a parachute deployment. During a routine flight, the engine of their aircraft suddenly seized, resulting in a complete loss of power. Jim, who was flying with a learner, took control and performed emergency procedures. He opted not to land on a congested highway or in water, instead aiming for a greenbelt area. At 1,500 feet MSL, he pulled the aircraft's parachute, experiencing a violent but controlled descent. They narrowly avoided power lines and landed softly in a marshy area. Both occupants exited the aircraft unh ..read more

Max talks with Dr. Victor Vogel about mental health issues and what pilots need to know when getting a pilot medical certificate. He also talks about how somatogravic illusion nearly brought down Southwest flight 2786, which nearly crashed while flying the missed approach at Lihue, Hawaii. He also discusses two fatal twin engine accidents that occurred this week in Colorado and New York. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly ..read more

Max talks with Mark Kolber, an aviation lawyer and CFI, about the FAA's compliance program. Mark explains that the program, launched in 2015, shifted from a punitive approach to a more rehabilitative one, encouraging pilots to report mistakes and undergo retraining rather than facing severe penalties. He highlights the benefits of being proactive and transparent with the FAA to resolve issues through remedial training. Mark discusses the importance of filing a NASA form for protections if a case goes to formal enforcement and advises seeking professional guidance when contacted by the FAA. He ..read more

Max and Jason Blair discuss recent changes in the FAA's aviation testing standards, notably the transition from PTS to ACS. Key updates include the conversion of the CFI test to ACS, introducing scenario-driven evaluations. New maneuvers, such as demonstrating flight characteristics under various conditions, have been added for CFIs. Instructors can now use pre-developed lesson plans, easing the preparation burden. Instrument rating changes allow using approaches with decision altitudes like LNAV/VNAV and mandate partial panel approaches to reflect real emergency scenarios. GPS databases must ..read more

Max explores a tragic aviation accident involving the crash of a N8924Y, a Piper Twin Comanche shortly after its new owner purchased it. The pilot was flying the aircraft home when he encountered various challenges, including fatigue, pressure to return home quickly, and low experience in the specific aircraft model. The episode delves into the circumstances surrounding the crash, highlighting common factors seen in similar accidents. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the landing gear problem while hand-flying the aircraft in dark night conditions. Ultimately, the crash was attributed to the ..read more