Episodes

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...

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 herois...

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 me...

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 t...

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 w...

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 paranorma...

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike dive deep into aviation emergencies, strange skies, and one of the eeriest stories in airline history — the haunting of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. We start off with a quick recap of last week’s interview with Nate Ehlers, founder of TheBackseatPilot.com. Don’t forget — you can still grab 15% off your order with code BLACKBOX at checkout! Then, it’s time for: ✈️ Shoutouts from listeners — including Will’s question about the origins ...

In this special episode, Tom & Mike welcome Nate Ehlers, founder of The Backseat Pilot (thebackseatpilot.com), to get behind the scenes of how a small reference-card idea turned into one of the most trusted training platforms for flight instructors and pilots alike. Nate walks us through: His origin story: how a simple IFR/VFR reference card spawned what’s now a full suite of products and lesson plans dedicated to helping CFIs and students succeed. What The Backseat Pilot offers to...

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike sit down with special guest Heather, a passenger on Southwest Flight 2169 — the flight that suffered a wing strike on landing in Hartford back in 2019. Heather relives that terrifying day: the violent touchdown, passengers getting sick as the plane attempted two more landings, and the final emergency diversion to Providence. It’s a firsthand story of fear, confusion, and what it’s like when a routine flight goes very wrong. We talk about...

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike share real stories from the cockpit and the road: FedEx substitution vs. industry standards Riding Delta to Anchorage, hitting Diamond Status, and getting reprimanded for recording inflight 🎥 FAA landing currency rules and what happens when your trip gets dropped McDonald’s new “value” meals vs. $18 airport Big Macs 🍔 Breaking news: The Pilot Mental Health Bill (H.R.2591) passes the House — what it means for ...

On this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike break down one of the most shocking aviation stories ever—FedEx Flight 705. In 1994, Auburn Calloway, an off-duty FedEx pilot, attempted to hijack a DC-10 using hammers, mallets, and even a speargun. His plan: crash into FedEx headquarters in Memphis. What followed was a brutal cockpit battle, a desperate fight for survival, and aerobatic maneuvers in a jumbo jet that were never meant to be possible. We also discuss the book Touchi...

In this powerful episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike reflect on September 11, 2001—walking through the timeline, sharing where they were in their own pilot training, and discussing how 9/11 reshaped aviation forever. We cover the hijackers’ path from Portland to Boston, the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the heroic stand of United Flight 93. We also discuss the long-term impact on flight training, passenger vigilance, and how “Let’s Roll” became a symbo...

This week the Black Box Aviation Podcast brings you something special — our first live guest, Air Traffic Controller Ian! Tom & Mike sit down with Ian for a candid look behind the mic at the people who keep airplanes moving safely through the skies. Ian shares his path to ATC, from school and training timelines to life inside the radar room. We talk about the stress myths vs. reality, favorite movie scenes about controllers, how clearances work over voice vs. CPDLC, and what pilots say that s...

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike cover everything from music icons to major aviation headlines. Tom visits New York, takes in the USS Intrepid Air Museum, and maybe even spots Lady Gaga — but is he really a fan? We break down the WestJet 2276 hard landing in St. Maarten that forced a passenger evacuation and shut down the airport, plus a discussion on jumpseat etiquette following news of the Alaska Airlines pilot who took mushrooms and tried to shut down the engines — n...

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike kick things off by answering listener hotline questions: What is ETOPS flying? And how do pilots use the Great Circle Route? Plus, an update on the tragic NYC helicopter crash. From there, it’s stories from the road: Mike flies his family for the very first time — only to end up deplaning them after an APU failure 😬. We also cover an unexpected sidewalk emergency in Santa Monica, a flight from LAX to Newark with six horses onboard,...

Even pro travelers make rookie mistakes — Tom forgot to pack underwear. 🧳✈️ Mike won’t let him live it down as the Black Box Aviation Podcast takes off with stories from the road. This episode dives into the world of fuel dumping: why airlines do it, FAA rules, and what happened when Delta Flight 89 dumped thousands of gallons over Los Angeles, showering neighborhoods and schools below. Tom and Mike share their own experiences with emergency fuel dumps in the P-3 and MD-11, breaking down the ...

In this Hot Topic Briefing episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike dive into the fascinating world of drones — past, present, and future. We trace drone flight from its surprising beginnings in 1849 unmanned balloons to modern military UCAVs, kamikaze drones, and modified commercial UAVs. We also look at the civilian side: FAA regulations, Part 107 licensing, and how drone pilots can turn their skills into an $80K career. But it’s not all smooth flying — we cover drone near-m...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast with Tom & Mike — where we talk about aviation, travel, and the things you NEED (and want) to know about flying. In this episode, we cover it all: 🌪️ Landing in San Juan with Hurricane Erin on the radar 🚨 A Southwest pilot arrested for DUI on the jetbridge 🌴 Hawaiian adventures — snorkeling with manta rays, golfing on lava fields, and the quirks of “island time” ✈️ Plus: lounge drama, tipping debates, and the sweaty palms of an MD-11 landing at S...

Ever had a lounge showdown over a dirty glass? Tom shares a hilarious (and slightly awkward) encounter at an airport lounge that you won’t believe. We also talk about pilot coffee obsessions, hotel breakfast rip-offs, and a flap/slat disagreement at cruise altitude—plus what really happens when a heavy MD-11 takes off from Anchorage. Mike brings us along for his family trip to Boston, including Fenway Park magic, the Freedom Trail, and why hotel breakfasts are the biggest rip-off in aviation ...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast! In this episode, Tom & Mike take you inside the cockpit to discuss layover fatigue, crazy stories from the road, and the latest aviation headlines you NEED to know about. ✈️ Topics We Cover: ✅ Layover Fatigue Reality Check: Why fatigue is more dangerous than you think OAK to ANC trip chaos and why timing matters Navy SEAL breathing tips for staying sharp ✅ Stories from the Road: Midnight street fight in NYC outside the cra...

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike take a deep dive into one of the most shocking tragedies in modern aviation: the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash. On March 24, 2015, an Airbus A320 was intentionally brought down by its first officer, killing all on board. We break down the timeline, the cockpit voice recordings, and the critical lessons learned from this heartbreaking event. But that’s not all—we also explore: ✅ The State of Mental Health in Aviation New researc...

Buckle up for an Episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast as Tom & Mike take you behind the cockpit door for an action-packed discussion on the latest in aviation. ✈️ Main Topics: ✅ GPS Jamming & Aviation Safety – How modern warfare tech is now disrupting civilian aviation and what pilots do when GPS fails. ✅ Air Rage Epidemic – Why unruly passenger incidents are skyrocketing, shocking stories from real flights (including a Halloween flight gone completely off the rails), and the jaw-droppin...

What really happens after the jet parks at the gate? In Episode 29 of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, we bring back the “Day in the Life” series — but this time we go beyond the cockpit and deep into hotel layovers, crew routines, unexpected travel perks (like free bacon!), and the realities of life on the road as an airline pilot. Tom & Mike open up about: ✈️ Navigating FAA Part 117 rest rules 🥓 Free bacon and late-night pizza 🏊 Swimming laps at Ala Moana in Hawaii 🏁 NASCAR’s ARCA Menards Se...

In Hot Topic #9 of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike dive into the haunting story of Northwest Orient Flight 2501, a DC-4 lost over Lake Michigan in 1950 during a violent storm—becoming the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history at the time. With chilling similarities to modern incidents, and a 75-year mystery that ends not with discovery, but with surrender, this episode explores low-level icing, microbursts, and the limitations of vintage aviation tech. We’ll also touch on the...