Episodes

What happens when a mid-sized business jet hits a herd of deer at 100 MPH? 🎧 In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike analyze the recent emergency involving ExecJet Flight 901 out of North Palm Beach County (F45). We break down the real-time ATC audio as the crew deals with airframe damage, fuel gauge failure, and the high-stakes decision to keep the landing gear down. Key highlights in this episode: Controllability & Gear Strategy: Why retracting the gear after a strike ...

How do you balance an airline career, a social media brand, and a healthy lifestyle? In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , we sit down with Ava Almquist (@pilot.avabelle) to discuss the modern path to the flight deck. From navigating the flight training "hamster tunnels" at the University of North Dakota (UND) to the realities of sitting on airport reserve , Ava provides a transparent look at the industry. In this episode, we cover: The 1,000-hour Restricted ATP and why your degree...

Why did a commercial jet and a military Black Hawk collide over the Potomac River? In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast , we analyze the NTSB final report on the 2025 DCA mid-air collision. We dive into the systemic FAA failures, air traffic control workload, and the heartbreaking connection to the 2026 Winter Olympics and US figure skater Maxim Naumov . Key Topics Discussed: The Incident: A minute-by-minute breakdown of PSA Flight 5342 and PAT25. The Investigation: Why TCAS and gro...

Why do airplanes hate the cold? In this episode, we’re breaking down the high-stakes world of Winter Aviation Operations . From Mike’s "sketchy" blizzard departure in Providence to the "cockpit gremlins" that appear when the mercury hits zero, we explore the technical challenges of de-icing, fuel planning, and keeping a jet alive in sub-zero Newark. If you've ever wondered what's happening behind the scenes during a snow delay, this is the episode for you. What’s really going on with the MD-11? ...

What really happened to Air New Zealand Flight 901? 🏔️✈️ In our first "Hot Topic" episode, Tom and Mike dive deep into one of the most controversial aviation accidents in history: the 1979 Mount Erebus disaster. What was supposed to be a luxury, champagne-filled sightseeing flight over Antarctica turned into a nightmare when a DC-10 slammed into an active volcano. In this episode, we discuss: The Luxury Experience: 36 flight attendants, gourmet meals, and the legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary. The Fa...

In this milestone episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike officially bring the show to video for the very first time. This special episode goes behind the scenes into their home studio setups , aviation memorabilia, podcast gear, and how the show is evolving from a traditional audio podcast into a full video aviation podcast experience . But it’s not just about the studios — the conversation dives deep into real-world aviation and airline industry topics, including: ✈️ Episode t...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast , where we talk aviation, travel, and the things you NEED and WANT to know about flying . It’s a quick-hit episode today—covering breaking aviation news, airline hiring shifts, and some classic stories from the road. A look at a Challenger 600 crash in Bangor, Maine UPS officially retires the MD-11 and what it means for cargo aviation Southwest Airlines ends open seating —a major culture shift A car crashes into Delta’s baggage claim at DTW and the ...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast with Tom & Mike —and this one is special. This episode marks our 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY , celebrating one full year of conversations about aviation, travel, career paths, and the realities of life in and around the flight deck. Our very first show aired on January 12th , and this episode reflects on how far we’ve come and where the industry is headed. We open the show talking about what the last year has meant, why these conversations matter, and how li...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast , where Tom, Mike, and special guest Travis dive deep into aviation history, industry news, and the stories that shape the world of flying. In this episode, we cover two very different but equally fascinating sides of aviation —modern airline consolidation and the brutal realities of World War II bomber operations. We break down the reported Allegiant–Sun Country merger , what it means for the low-cost leisure market, and why consolidation may be un...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast , where Tom and Mike talk aviation, travel, and the real-world experiences flyers and crews deal with every day—covering the things you need and WANT to know about flying. This episode blends technical aviation insight , travel chaos , and classic road stories , with plenty of humor along the way. • Heather joins us while navigating a difficult family loss—huge thanks for powering through • Producer tracks in the studio failed to record • A strong f...

In this post-Christmas episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike recap the holidays, listener corrections, airline life on the road, and dive deep into recent aviation accidents and industry discussions . The guys break down listener call-outs and corrections from the Christmas episode, talk airline schedules, training culture, and what it’s really like balancing family life with flying during the holidays. From childhood Christmas nostalgia to international travel prep, nothing i...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast , where Tom and Mike talk aviation, travel, pilot life, and the things you NEED—and WANT—to know about flying , with a special Christmas edition of the show. This episode blends holiday traditions, aviation culture, travel memories, and real-world news , with plenty of laughs and meaningful moments along the way. 🎶 Holiday Talk & Traditions • Elvis and Christmas music debates • Favorite Christmas songs (Bing Crosby, Billy Idol, and a few hard passes...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast , where Tom and Mike break down aviation news, airline operations, pilot life, and the stories you don’t hear anywhere else . In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics—from critical MD-11 fleet updates to big career news , unexpected travel chaos, and a JetBlue flight that narrowly avoided a military tanker near Venezuela . ✈️ What’s in this episode: • MD-11 Update – New insight into bearing recommendations, inspection differences between Fed...

Welcome to the Black Box Aviation Podcast , where Tom and Mike break down the latest in aviation news, airline industry updates, pilot stories, air travel trends, and real-world flying experiences . This episode is packed with surprises, industry drama, and jaw-dropping aviation stories — including a live FedEx delivery surprise that shows up during the recording! ✈️ What we cover in this episode: • A surprise gift delivered by FedEx LIVE during the show • Flying with dogs on seats — a real JetB...

Buckle up — this week in aviation has been absolute turbulence . From major software recalls to a global cargo fleet grounding, winter runway scares, and wild stories from the road, Aviation Chaos Week breaks down everything shaking the industry. ✈️ This Episode Covers: 🔹 Airbus A320 global software recall impacting airlines worldwide — what caused it, who’s hit hardest, and how long disruptions may last 🔹 UPS MD-11 inspection crisis — why the fleet grounding now appears to be months, not weeks,...

It's Thanksgiving — aviation style. 🦃✈️ On this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom & Mike dive into the emotional, hilarious, and downright chaotic reality of spending the holidays as a pilot. We cover: 🍽 Childhood Thanksgiving traditions (and the family chaos that came with them) 🌨 New England vs Florida — the wildest Thanksgiving weather events ever recorded ⚠️ The Portland Gale tragedy: the 1898 storm that reshaped New England history 🚢 The grounded Venezuelan freighter and Palm ...

Ladies and gentlemen — welcome aboard another adrenaline-charged episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , where aviation gets real. In today’s episode, Tom and Mike break down the chilling story of Swissair Flight 111 , an MD-11 that departed New York for Geneva in September 1998… and never arrived. What began as a routine transatlantic flight quickly turned into one of the deadliest and most defining aviation emergencies in Canadian history . We walk step-by-step through: ✈️ The mysterious s...

Welcome back to The Black Box Aviation Podcast — where we dive into aviation, travel, and the wild, unbelievable stories from the world of flying that you need and want to know. Hosted by Tom & Mike , two pilots who love airplanes and aren't afraid to get technical. On March 31st, 1992, a 28-year-old Boeing 707-321C departed Luxembourg carrying 70,000 lbs of freight. What should have been a routine climb turned into one of the most incredible saves in aviation history. ⚠️ At 32,000 feet , the cr...

Welcome back to The Black Box Aviation Podcast , where Tom & Mike dive into aviation, travel, and everything you need and WANT to know about the world of flying. This week is PACKED: ✈️ Breaking News — MD-11 Grounding FAA Air Directive grounding the MD-11, DC-10 & MD-10 fleet No inspection or repair guidance released yet NTSB briefing findings — CVR captured final 2 hours of audio What this means for pilots currently flying the MD-11 Simulator concerns, schedule cancellations & pilot readiness 🚀...

In this chilling episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike take listeners back to one of the most haunting winter aviation disasters in U.S. history — Air Florida Flight 90 , the Boeing 737 that crashed into the icy Potomac River moments after takeoff from Washington National Airport in 1982. This episode explores how improper de-icing, pilot error, and misjudged procedures led to tragedy — and how brave civilians and first responders turned a day of horror into a story of heroism...

The skies are turbulent this week — literally and politically. 🛫 In this action-packed episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike welcome Heather back in studio to unpack major breaking aviation news and real-world travel chaos. ✈️ Here’s what we’re covering: UPS Flight 2976 Update: Inside the investigation of the Louisville MD-11 crash and what the NTSB found in the recovered black box. MD-11 Fleet Grounding: Why UPS and FedEx grounded all MD-11 aircraft — and what it means for gl...

In this special breaking news edition of The Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike dive deep into the tragic crash of UPS Flight 2976 , a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 that went down shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky. This episode hits close to home — Tom is currently qualified and flies the same aircraft type involved in the accident. With that insider knowledge, the hosts break down what’s known so far about the takeoff fire, engine failure, and possible uncontained engine event th...

Tom & Mike are back in the cockpit for Episode 44 of the Black Box Aviation Podcast ! We kick things off with a spooky recap of last week’s Halloween Spooktacular , featuring eerie listener stories — including one from a haunted hospital that’ll send chills down your spine. Then, we shift gears from ghosts to gusts , diving into the realities of winter flying . From the frosty ramps of Anchorage to de-icing disasters in Brunswick, we’ll break down how pilots handle snow, ice, and holdover times ...

Tom & Mike are joined by special guest Travis — an Air Force Guard pilot and major airline aviator — for a chilling flight through the paranormal side of aviation . In this spooky, story-packed episode, we share personal ghost encounters, eerie aviation legends, and real-life hauntings from the skies to the tarmac. Buckle up — this one’s got turbulence of the supernatural kind! ✈️ In this episode: Pilot Travis’s spine-tingling stories from the cockpit and beyond 👀 Personal paranormal moments fro...