Search
AvTalk Logo

AvTalk Episode 204: Two tail strikes and an all stop

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss Alaska Airlines’ response to two tail strikes in Seattle within minutes of each other, debate the wisdom of Air New Zealand’s turn back to Auckland last week, and find that missing curfew isn’t just a problem for teenagers.

Alaska Airlines tail strikes halt airline operations

On 26 January, two Alaska Airlines 737s suffered tail strikes on departure within just a few minutes of each other. According to reporting by The Seattle Times, that raised alarms for Bret Peyton, Alaska’s on-duty director of operations, who ordered all Alaska flights not yet airborne to remain on the ground until the cause of the incidents was known. The problem? A bug in the take off performance software. See the data here.

New Zealand

Jason makes the case that Air New Zealand should have handled the closure of JFK’s Terminal 1 differently. Ian thinks the airline made the right call. What do you think?

Russian airlines want to extend maintenance intervals

Faced with continuing sanctions that make getting spare parts for Airbus and Boeing jets impossible, Russian airlines are asking regulators to allow for extended maintenance intervals as well as approval for alternative methods of compliance with airworthiness directives.

AF-KLM says flying around Russia is a wash

In its earnings call this week, Air France-KLM said that flying around Russia hasn’t impacted the cost of those flights because they no longer have to pay “astronomical” Russian overflight fees.

Volaris hoping for Mexican FAA upgrade

Volaris is hoping that the FAA will finally return Mexico to FAA category 1 within six months. This would allow the airline (and other Mexican airlines) to offer new and expanded routes in the US.

The New York Times discovers SAFs

The New York Times comes late to the party with an article exploring Sustainable Aviation Fuels, but what really stands out are some of the quotes in the article.

You miss curfew, you get grounded

A Japan Airlines flight found out the hard way what happens when you miss curfew in Fukuoka. The flight had to return to Tokyo, but not before stopping in Osaka for fuel and a crew change.

Qantas unveils Project Sunrise premium cabins

Qantas unveiled their First and Business class cabins for the Project Sunrise flights on the A350-1000 this week. And first impressions are… okay.

What we got wrong last time

Listener feedback on previous stories and Jason makes an apology for mixing up his props.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.


Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Share this podcast
Subscribe now
On The Radar Logo
Get weekly updates on Flightradar24 and have the latest aviation news land in your inbox.
Recent episodes

AvTalk Episode 366: An unserious proposal

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we make our annual trek to Hamburg for the Aircraft Interiors Expo where Jason is joined once again by PaxEx.aero’s Seth Miller. Buttons, buttons, and more buttons The Skynook concept American Airlines celebrates its 100th anniversary with a special flight and a new set of trading cards, while Lufthansa celebrates its 100th anniversary with a cabin crew

AvTalk Episode 365: Bag fees, bag fees, bag fees

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we make a special trip to space and await Artemis II’s return to Earth. A tenuous cease fire in Iran leads to the first airspace re-openings, but a lack of jet fuel is affecting airports in Asia and Europe. US airlines are hiking bag fees across the board and United Airlines is introducing basic premium fares. And

AvTalk Episode 364: Emergency management mode

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, airlines—and entire countries—outside of the Middle East are facing a reckoning as the high price and impending unavailability of fuel. The FAA is making changes to approaches in San Francisco, reducing the arrival rate even further than planned runway construction already will. A Delta A330 suffers an uncontained engine failure departing São Paulo. Major leadership changes are

AvTalk Episode 363: Collision on the runway

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss what we know so far about the collision between flight AC8646 and an airport fire truck at New York’s La Guardia Airport. We walk through the sequence of events provided by the NTSB and analyze some of the initial areas where investigators are focusing their efforts. In Los Angeles, Jason is joined by Ned Russell

AvTalk Episode 362: Beware tall elk and low flying hog hunters

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, more updates on the war in the Middle East, including the mid-air collision between two US Air Force KC-135s and an Iranian drone attack on a fuel facility next to Dubai International Airport. We take a gander at some wildlife related accidents and Atlas Air places the largest A350F order so far. A Tunisian appeals court increases

AvTalk Episode 361: When saving money costs lives

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, updates on the war in the Middle East and the widening effects on the aviation industry. We cover the new airspace restrictions in Azerbaijan, additional rescue flights by airlines in the region, and the pressing problem of skyrocketing fuels costs around the world. Also on this week’s episode, Air India Express loses a nose wheel in Phuket,
Download the most trusted flight tracker app

Use your camera to scan the QR code below to download the Flightradar24 app.

On The Radar Logo

Flightradar24 aviation newsletter

Every week we’ll bring you some of the stories you may have missed, new or special flights to track, the best aviation photography, and tips for getting the most out of Flightradar24.