Aviation Lo Down

A mechanic tries to sabotage an airliner, why some general aviation pilots may still be reluctant to upgrade their equipment to ADS-B in time for the mandate, Hurricane Dorian wrecks havoc on the Bahamas and air traffic in that location, and an Australian flight student lands his plane in an unexpected solo flight after his instructor passes out.Instagram/YouTube: @LOaltitudeVisit my sponsors!fly8ma.com (use code: LOALT)Christopher-cloos.com (use code: LOALTITUDE)Kimsplaceokc.comCertifiedFoggles.com

How is Hurricane Dorian affecting Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL? We talk to Sarah, an air traffic control major (@wdymsarah) and learn about the overall strategy and mood of the campus, and where the students have gone!Visit my sponsors!fly8ma.com (use code: LOALT)Christopher-cloos.com (use code: LOALTITUDE)Kimsplaceokc.comCertifiedFoggles.com

Tune in tomorrow for a special edition podcast on how Hurricane Dorian is affecting aviation across the east coast of the USA and beyond. If you'd like to share your story and/or get on the podcast, please e-mail me at LO@aviationLOdown.com!

Today on Aviation LO Down, I sit down with William "Billy" Hoffman, author of 'Wings of Deceit', one of my favorite books based on aviation. Billy attended Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and is currently doing a residency in neurology. He is a private pilot, member of the U.S. Air Force, and in particular, is interested in the interface between neuroscience and aerospace. Billy is also interested in a number of studies having to do with pilot health; some of Billy's studies ask fascinating questions, such as the one that looked to see how likely pilots are to report medical concerns. The results may surprise you. Billy continues to do these sorts of studies, and asks the listeners to participate, if they wish. For more information, you can e-mail Billy Hoffman at wrh35@georgetown.edu.Don't forget to pick up a copy of Wings of Deceit, available on Amazon!

Picture getting on your flight, and then having to get off it, twice. Then picture waiting at your gate for 18 hours. This is what happened last night (into this morning) at JFK airport in NYC to Delta Flight 975, with service to Los Angeles (LAX). What do you think the airlines are responsible for? There were massive storms rolling through the area. Should the airline have helped accommodate the passengers better, or were they simply victim to weather, a random event that the airline doesn't have much control over. Send your opinion to LO@aviationLOdown.comExclusive Interview with William Hoffman, author of Wings of Deceit TOMORROW! Don't miss it.

Today, I sit down with Kyle McClung, owner of one of the most unique aviation companies I have ever seen: Certified Foggles. Kyle's company makes custom 'foggle' glasses for the training instrument (IFR) pilot. With many designs to choose from, Kyle also offers custom work, and each foggle is handmade by him himself in the USA! You don't want to miss this interview!Instagram: @kyle_mcclung and @certifiedfoggleshttps://www.certifiedfoggles.com

Today, I sit down with Zach Richards, founder of Fit to Fly Apparel (@fittoflyapparel). We discuss what got him interested in health/fitness, and what convinced him to create a fashion and fitness brand that is geared towards pilots and others in the aviation industry! You don't want to miss this one! @fittoflyapparelFittoFlyApparel.com

"Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart."Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and PunishmentThe topic of mental health in aviation has come up again on social media. From a thread that started on Facebook, I discuss some of the ideas and overall themes that have been shared on the topic recently; some of them show a disturbing trend in the fact that many do not feel that they can be transparent about their mental (or physical) health to their employers. I also discuss things like the FAA's SSRI MOU which applies to anti-depressant medication, the profound benefits of sleep that many people in shift-work related fields neglect (as referenced to Dr. Matthew Walker), and the patient/doctor relationship with respect to your aviation medical. Also, Oshkosh! I'll be reporting on the famous EAA Airventure Fly-In all week, so stay tuned!

On this episode: One of the most intense chunks of real ATC audio I have heard in a long time. We talk about why a pilot would do such a 'crazy' thing, and whether or not it should be recognized and permitted. Housing provider at the FAA Academy, Isola Bella, sends out a rather startling notification to their residents, and a Swiss air traffic controller is sentenced for his role in a 2013 operational error (or "deal") involving two airliners. Be sure to subscribe!

In the past few weeks, I have had some major changes to some of the social media pages that I was a part of. Now, I am able to finally integrate many of my social media channels, such as the one on Instagram, to Aviation LO Down! On this episode, I simply discuss some of the bigger topics that have been brought up over the past few weeks, and address the changes that my pages have gone through.Please follow my page on Instagram at @LOaltitude, and @aviationLOdown.This summer, we have some VERY exciting special guests for you. Stay tuned, you don't want to miss any of them!

Cultivating a YouTube following of over 1 MILLION subscribers, Captain Joe is without a doubt one of the most watched and influential aviators today. From his detailed oriented, friendly, and extremely informative videos, to his creative vision and world-wide travel experiences, Captain Joe is undeniably one of the most inspiring pilots within the realm of aviation. Join me, LO, as I talk to Captain Joe to learn about his story and his channel. From his first flight in a biplane, to being invited to aviation events all over the world, Joe is full of real positive and infectious energy that is hard to ignore. As someone who is well spoken and down-to-earth, Joe not only makes a perfect role model for those interested in aviation, but a role model for those looking to live all of life in a true, artistic, and authentic way.@flywithcaptainjoeYouTube: Captain Joehttps://flywithcaptainjoe.com/LOMay 2019

Ever since I was a kid, I've played flight simulators. The earliest versions of them that I remember were 256-color simulations that ran on your desktop computer, and if you're like most people who grew up in the 90s, this meant your family's only computer was completely occupied so you could fly your Cessna out of Meigs Field in Chicago. In 2019, this is no longer the case. In fact, many families don't even have desktop computers anymore. And Meigs Field is gone (for now).Today, more and more people are accessing nearly everything online via mobile devices. From communications and entertainment, to education and tools, it seems everything today is available on your smartphone or tablet. But what about flight simulation?Infinite Flight is a flight simulation app that runs on the mobile platforms. And yes, it is incredible. From detailed flight models, to breathtaking scenery and realism, not to mention multiplayer experiences, playing Infinite Flight is truly something that must be experie

As a man dedicated to not only taking to the skies, but keeping himself and others in awesome shape, Fernando Contreras, a.k.a. @fitaviatorsclub, knows a thing or two about balancing different passions in life. As someone who I would consider to be 'pretty freakin' ripped', Fernando talks to me, LO, about his theory and practice of keeping healthy and fit, despite the notoriously unhealthy lifestyles that are sometimes associated with people who are constantly traveling. From what to do when first arriving at your hotel room, to how to prep for days on the road, anyone can learn from this episode, pilot or not. For more information, visit @fitaviatorsclub on Instagram, or check out his website at http://www.fitaviatorsclub.com. Sure, you're flying a plane, and that's cool, but why not be in the best shape of your life while doing it? Fernando can help you get there. Follow him today! @fitaviatorsclub

Hello all! It's been a while since I have posted a new episode of Aviation LO Down because I recently moved! I also was just in San Diego, and had quite the interesting flying experience during that trip. In this episode, I'll explain to you what happened to me on that trip, and invite you to share your opinions of modern airline travel. From delays, to cancellations, to weather, what is an airline actually responsible for? Stay tuned, as Aviation LO Down is FINALLY back to it's normally scheduled episodes! More to come later this week! 

After a few weeks off, I'm back! Today I sit down with my friends Matt and Rob who run the aviation podcast Spread Aviation! As they put it, 'find out what happens when you cross a talk-show format with in-flight pilot training and a hefty dose of irreverence for practically everything, including gravitational forces.' I have known Matt and Rob for quite some time, and this episode features us discussing out time at SUN 'n FUN, aviation safety, what it's like to be an instructor and student duo, marketing in the modern social-media driven world, and why going to flight school in Florida might not be the worst idea. You don't want to miss this one!

Today, I sit down with one of my best friends, @newyorkskypirate. Learn about his love of aviation from an early age, how he found a mentor, and what his life is like today. We also share stories of him being a musician, making prank phone calls, and one of the most famous diners in Upstate NY. @newyorkskypirate is one of the most passionate people I have ever met in aviation, and since the early days of our teenage years plane spotting and playing in bands, he also happens to be one of my best friends. You don't want to miss this episode.

Computers can calculate huge amounts of data much more efficiently than a human brain. But, can they make decisions? Are they intelligent? Are they creative? Perhaps most intriguing, do they have a conscious? With the recent crashes of the two Boeing 737 MAX airliners, the discussion of whether or not industries like aviation have become too automated and complex has once again resurfaced. With President Donald Trump tweeting that airplanes have "become far too complex to fly" a very real debate has re-energized: is automation and complex software changing the industry for the better, or for the worse? Join me, LO, as I explore some of the basics behind why some people feel that computers and software lie at the heart of the two recent 737 MAX crashes, among others. I will also dive in to difficult, almost existential questions, such as, at what point does a computer go from being a programmable logic machine, to one that has a conscious, and is able to be aware of itself; to make intuitive decisions? While t

Radar technology has been the foundation of air traffic control for more than 80 years. However, newer technology, such as ADS-B, promises to change that. In this episode, I take a break from the interviews to expand upon a 'Instagram Live' discussion that occurred last week on @atcmemes. I talk about a brief history of radar systems, how GPS was made available to the public, and what ADS-B means for pilots. I also talk about some potential security issues related to the newer technologies, such as ADS-B. What do you think? I'd love to hear your opinion on some of these topics. E-mail me at LO@aviationLOdown.com!

From photos of Athens, Greece, to photos of the 737 Max flight deck, the Instagram account of Madina K (@madinkaclairec) is hard to ignore. As a skilled tennis player originally from Moscow, Russia and now studying in the United States, Madina takes the time to explain what it's like being obsessed with aviation in both the United States and in Russia. Join us on episode 6 of the Aviation LO Down as we discuss a cheering A380, being stuck on a plane for 20 hours, what it's like flying in aircraft with a glass nose, and how Sully wasn't really the first person to land an airliner on a river. We also discuss Russian vodka, and how you should never walk down Bourbon St, New Orleans, without beads around your head.

With an Instagram following of over 30,000 fans and growing, @pilotemilie inspires and motivates her followers from both the flight deck as well as from the gym. As a Canadian pilot with an unmistakable smile, Emilie has an eclectic taste for fitness, colorful Instagram photos, and setting her goals high, in both aviation and in life! Join me, LO, as I talk to Emilie about how she got into aviation, what challenges it presents for her fitness goals, and how being occasionally uncertain of what life has to offer can sometimes be a good thing. She also goes into some details of how Canada differs from the United States when it comes to social media and filming the flight deck. From taking her career from that of a massage therapist to one as a pilot flying in Africa, then back to Canada, Emilie is someone who sets her goals high, and makes them happen.