About this episode
We look at the North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco with a former combat aircraft pilot. In the news, Van’s Aircraft is experiencing financial issues, the U.S. Government is getting involved in the Schiphol airport move to reduce flights, and a Federal Flight Deck Officer allegedly threatens to shoot another pilot. Guest Tim Plaehn in 1985 Tim Plaehn is a former combat aircraft pilot who attended the Air Force Academy, graduating in 1979. Tim attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Williams AFB and his first assignment ran from 1980 to 1984, flying the North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco. He spent one year at Osan AB in South Korea, and two years as an OV-10 instructor at Patrick AFB. Tim received his F-16 training at Luke AFB in 1985 and served as a frontline F-16 pilot at Nellis AFB through 1987 when he separated from the Air Force. Tim describes the very interesting OV-10 aircraft, and its design, armament, and acrobatic qualities. We hear some stories about his experiences training pilots to fly the OV-10 including several student-induced spins. NASA OV-10 After major maintenance was performed on an Air Force aircraft, a follow-up flight called a functional check flight (FCF) would be required. A squadron would have two pilots qualified to fly FCFs. Tim was fortunate to be an FCF pilot for both the OV-10 and the F-16. Since his Air Force career, Tim has spent most of his working life in the investment world. For the past 10 years, he’s been the researcher and writer of newsletters focusing on the stock market. He also writes about his experiences at landflyordie.substack.com . Video: Brilliant OV-10 Bronco Display – Abingdon 2023 https://youtu.be/vqd1AgR12B4?si=XFsR3spdnx-TIYfz Museums with the North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco on display: Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB . OV-10D+ Bureau Number 155493, restored by OV-10 Squadron. Fort Worth Aviation Museum . A production mockup of the OV-10A on display (c/n NAA-001) along with two other OV-10s. National Museum of the United States Air Force . An OV-10A on display that is painted as it appeared when it served in Southeast Asia. Hill Aerospace Museum . An OV-10A on display that was developed under a United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps tri-service program. The Bronco Is Back! A Fleet Of OV-10s Will Help Train Air Force Forward Air Controllers The OV-10 Squadron is an organization that received seven OV-10D Broncos at Chino Airport in Southern California (KCNO). Blue Air Training Acquires Seven OV-10 Broncos Aviation News Van’s Aircraft reports cash crunch, prompts concern In a vi deo posted on YouTube, Dick VanGrunsven, founder and CEO of kit plane maker Van’s Aircraft, said, “Van’s is facing serious cash flow issues that must be addressed for ongoing operation.” Van also stated, “We are confident we can work through the situation, but some changes are required. Candidly, since early September, Van’s has only been able to continue operating through loans of operating capital made by my wife and me.” Video: Van’s Aircraft Business Announcement from Dick VanGrunsven https://youtu.be/3Qsfw6pmHe4?si=mNN7t4LMoupe9osq Van was our guest in Airplane Geeks Episode 376 . United States Retaliates Against Netherlands Flight Cap In previous episodes, we talked about Amsterdam Schiphol reducing the number of flights in 2024 by about 10%, and how newcomer JetBlue asked the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to take some action to protect its interests. The DOT now says the Netherlands is violating the United States and European Union Air Transport Agreement. As a consequence, The Department orders KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NV; Martinair Holland NV; and TUI Airlines Nederland, BV to file with the Department, within seven days of the service date of this order, any and all of their existing schedules for air transportation services, including codeshare, common branding, and extra sections, between any point or points in the United States and any point or points not in the United States. US DOT The claimed violation falls under the balanced approach philosophy. According to the IATA factsheet The Balanced Approach to aircraft noise management : The Balanced Approach requires that all available options be evaluated to identify the most cost-effective measure or combination of measures to mitigate a specific noise problem. Each new generation of aircraft is quieter than the previous one and the noise footprint surrounding airports has reduced, but increased flight operations have counteracted some of these benefits. These factors are driving some local authorities to impose noise operating restrictions at airports, either in terms of annual movement reductions, aircraft type bans, or night operations bans. Most of these restrictions are being implemented without ICAO’s Balanced Approach, which requires that the noise concerns of local residents be balanced with protecting the huge social and economic benefits of the airport’s connectivity for the whole country. IATA and its member airlines fully support the implementation of the Balanced Approach when it comes to noise management. IATA The Balanced Approach principle was adopted in 2001. It is included in Annex 16, Volume I of the ICAO Chicago Convention. It is enshrined in the EU regulation 598/2014, and it is also stipulated in the USA-EU Air Transport Agreement. Pilot accused of threatening to shoot captain who tried to divert flight for a medical emergency, officials say A commercial first officer has been indicted by a Utah grand jury for an August 2022 incident when he allegedly threatened to shoot the captain if the flight was diverted for a passenger medical event. The pilot had been charged with interference with a flight crew. The first officer “told the Captain they would be shot multiple times” after a disagreement regarding a possible flight diversion for a passenger medical event, the Office of Inspector General said. The pilot was authorized to carry a gun on board the plane under to the Transportation Security Administration’s Federal Flight Deck Officer program. Such officers are “deputized as a federal law enforcement officer and issued a TSA-approved firearm and federal flight deck officer credentials,” according to the TSA. Federal Flight Deck Officer Program (FFDO) How do I become a federal flight deck officer? Fact Sheet on The Federal Flight Deck Officer Program, A Model of Effectiveness and Efficiency in a Government/Industry Partnership [PDF] Online questionnaire form Federal Flight Deck Officer Record System (FFDORS) Mentioned Marshall Blythe stunning airplane models on Flickr. Shocker: Math proves boarding planes is actually really efficient Hosts this Episode Max Flight, Max Trescott, Rob Mark, and our Main(e) Man Micah.