Episodes

In this high-stakes episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike dive into the intensifying air power struggle in the Middle East. Tom reflects on his own harrowing experience flying a P-3 Orion in the Persian Gulf and what it’s like to be "lit up" by an Iranian Hawk missile site. The guys break down the current "air power war," the role of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups, and the combat debut of the F-35. From GPS jamming in the South China Sea to the aging fleet of Iranian F-14s, we e...

On July 25, 2000, the "flagship of the skies" met a catastrophic end. In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike break down the tragic crash of Air France Flight 4590, the fatal Concorde flight that eventually grounded supersonic air travel for decades. We dive deep into the chain of errors and the freak mechanical failure involving a DC-10 titanium strip that triggered a massive fuel tank rupture and fireball. Was it just a piece of runway debris, or did an overweight ai...

Tom and Mike explore the "silent hazard" of aviation: Cosmic Radiation. We compare pilot exposure to nuclear workers and discuss the FAA's lack of protection for crews.In this episode: Top 18 Ranking: We celebrate our Pod Ranker debut. Space Weather: How solar flares impact your health and your GPS. Flight School Truths: Should you pick a school based on their fleet? Listener Mail: We answer your questions on Part 61 vs. 141. To maximize your reach, make sure to incl...

On October 25, 1999, a luxury Learjet 35 departed Orlando with PGA legend Payne Stewart on board. Minutes later, the cockpit went silent. What followed was a four-hour "ghost flight" across America, pursued by F-16s as the world watched in horror. In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike peel back the layers of this tragic mystery. We explore how a silent, invisible killer called hypoxia turned a high-performance business jet into a flying tomb. In this episode...

Can virtual flying prepare you for a real-world Navy checkride? This week, Tom and Mike sit down with Wide-body Captain and simulation pro Jovan J. to explore the high-stakes world of online flight simulation. From the technical nuances of MSFS 2024 and VATSIM to how these tools are revolutionizing pilot training for the Navy, we’re breaking down the bridge between the desktop and the flight deck. Inside the Episode: The Pilot Code: We finally explain those shoulder boards—what do the 1, 2, ...

The "unstallable" plane fell from 35,000 feet in just 4 minutes. On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight 447 vanished over the South Atlantic. In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike analyze the official accident report to uncover how a simple technical glitch—frozen Pitot tubes—turned into a fatal catastrophe. We break down the critical factors, including: Airbus Alternate Law: What happens when the plane stops protecting the pilot? The 75 Warnings: Why the stall w...

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 s...

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 degr...

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 TCA...

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...

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....

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: ✈️ Epi...

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 cl...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 pas...

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 F...

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 ...

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 week...

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 Pal...

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 mysteriou...

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, th...