About this episode
Thoughts on one-pilot cockpits, Frontier drops its customer service line, pigeons on an aircraft carrier, get ready for Real ID, an A-10 pilot gets a flying award, the A-1H Skyraider joins the Museum of the US Air Force, a Mooney crashes into a transmission tower, and America’s best airports. Aviation News One-pilot cockpits? Here’s what QF32 hero and ‘Sully’ Sullenberger think On November 4, 2010, Flight QF32 from Singapore to Sydney experienced a massive engine failure on the A380. Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny describes the explosion, the subsequent systems damage, the resulting cockpit chaos, and how the crew worked together to save all aboard. Sully said, “Those who propose single-pilot airline operations are wrong, dead wrong.” In-flight uncontained engine failure Airbus A380-842, VH-OQA. Courtesy Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Frontier Airlines drops its customer service line Customers can no longer call Frontier airlines on the phone and speak with a live agent. Instead, customer service options are a chatbot Frontier’s website, 24/7 live chat, and social media channels including WhatsApp. The airline said, “[this] enables us to ensure our customers get the information they need as expeditiously and efficiently as possible.” Also, most customers prefer communicating through online channels. Why the US Navy’s First Aircraft Carrier Also Carried a Pigeoneer USS Langley underway, 1927. U.S. Navy photo. The USS Langley, America’s first aircraft carrier and the US Navy’s first turbo-electric-powered ship, was launched on August 14, 1912. A pigeon house was built on the stern for food storage, nesting, training, and trapping areas. Carrier pigeons were used extensively in the past for military communications. States begin final push for compliance as Real ID deadline nears Real ID is an enhanced verification process for State-issued IDs, such as driver’s licenses. The Real ID Act was passed by the U.S. Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and requires that driver’s licenses or state-issued IDs must meet the federal Real ID requirements to be accepted for boarding commercial flights. This takes effect on May 3, 2023. A-10C pilot earns top flying award for combat successes in Afghanistan Maj. Kyle Adkison accepted the Distinguished Flying Cross at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, for his combat achievements in Afghanistan. The Major is a test pilot with the 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron. In 2019, Adkison and his wingman, Capt. Erin Fullam, drove away enemy forces, protected the positions of friendly forces, and kept members of the U.S.-led military coalition alive, the Air Force said in a release. A-1H Skyraider now on display at AF museum The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force now has an A-1H Skyraider on display in the museum’s Southeast Asia War Gallery. This radial engine aircraft preceded the A-10 in an attack role and was in service from 1946 to the early 1970s in the U.S. and elsewhere to the 1980s. Douglas A-1E Skyraider. Courtesy National Museum of the United States Air Force. Pilot, passenger rescued from plane after crash into power lines that caused widespread outages in Montgomery County [Maryland] Small Plane Crashes Into Transmission Tower in Maryland The single-engine Mooney M20J crashed into a transmission tower. It took almost seven hours to extricate the pilot and passenger. Both individuals were injured and ambulances transported them to area trauma centers. How SFO ended up ranked as America’s best airport The Wall Street Journal says that San Francisco International is the best among the 20 busiest airports based on passenger numbers. Sacramento International is No.1 among 30 midsize facilities. In its ranking, the WSJ considered 19 factors, including airline on-time performance, average ticket prices, security line wait time, and airport concession costs. Also, the results of J.D. Power’s annual survey of passenger satisfaction and more. Mentioned 21st Century Aerospace Writers Facebook group. Mastodon – Decentralized social media. Explained: What is Post.news, the emerging easy-to-use Twitter alternative . Link to sign up . Western Museum of Flight Hosts this Episode Max Flight, David Vanderhoof, Rob Mark, and Max Trescott.