The Black Box Aviation Podcast

What is it really like to live the airline pilot lifestyle during the hectic summer travel peak? In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike dive deep into the raw, unscripted realities of aviation commuting, crash pad living, and the chaos of getting called out on reserve. From navigating the gamesmanship of jumpseating through major hubs like Chicago O'Hare and Atlanta to surviving a bizarre, four-hour "fartmobile" limo ride across Florida, the guys share hilarious and stre

What really happened to Colgan Air Flight 3407? On February 12, 2009, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 operating as a Continental Connection flight crashed during an instrument approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, resulting in 50 tragic fatalities. In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, hosts Tom and Mike break down the complex chain of events that led to the devastating crash in Clarence Center, New York. We peel back the layers of the NTSB investigation to analyze how severe

Welcome back to another episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast with your hosts Tom and Mike! In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most incredible survival stories in modern aviation history: the crash of Air France Flight 358 at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). On August 2, 2005, an Airbus A340 flying from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris battled severe thunderstorms, rapidly shifting winds, and a contaminated runway. What followed was a terrifying runway excursion that

On June 1st, 2009, Air France Flight 447 tragically crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Now, nearly 17 years later, a French court has handed down a massive corporate manslaughter verdict against Air France and Airbus. In this episode, Tom and Mike break down the timeline of this historic aviation lawsuit and what it means for airline liability. Plus, we dive deep into the mechanics of pilot braking action reports. How do commercial pilots safely stop an aircraft on a contaminated runway? We dissec

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the challenges professional pilots face—from the technical demands of transitioning to wide-body aircraft to the high-stakes reality of FAA medical certification. Tom kicks things off with an update on his latest travels and the start of his Boeing 777 (B777) ground school and systems training. He shares the logistical hurdles of the transition, including the realities of frequent commuting, adjusting back to crash pad life, and the intense study requ

Ever wonder how commercial airline pilots actually get their monthly flight schedules? In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike pull back the curtain on the complicated, high-stakes world of airline pilot bidding, PBS (Preferential Bidding System), and line bidding. If you've ever asked a commercial pilot, "What's your route?", the answer is far more complex than you think. From long-haul international Boeing 777 flights to ETOPS transatlantic routes on the A321, your favo