Stay ConnectedAn Aviation Podcast. Stories of aviation as told from West Coast Delta Tower!
I’m Brandon Gonzales, Air Traffic Controller, Pilot, CFI, Plane Crash Survivor, former Aircraft Salesman, and now Aviation Podcaster…
On this show, we cover aviation from as many angles as possible, but always including the narrative back story of those who share their experiences.
Copyright: © Brandon Gonzales
As I look back on my flying career, I often think about some of the quotes I've heard along the way. Aviate, Navigate, Commumnicate, Monitor the freq. before you speak. Speed is life, altitude is insurance. And, I'll never not be able to hear Martha King say "Please, stay out of the trees." But, there's one quote that seems to keep coming up time and time again. It's written on the walls of flight schools, seen on plaques and awards, quoted in films, and used in just about every piece of learn to fly marketing material I've ever seen.
And that's because it's so beautiful. So expressive of the sentiment we all feel when aviation's running through your veins, and spoken by one of the all time great artists, scientists, and thinkers of the last thousand years.
Are you ready?
"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo DaVinci
There's just one problem… DaVinci never said that!
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In the old school where print magazines were all we had, letters were pretty much how content creators (also before they were called that too) would interact with the readership. But now, I think it's so cool that we have the ability to actually talk with the content creators we like, and one of my favorite parts of doing this podcast is talking with those of you that listen, and then come up with really good feedback and questions.
And as we kiss good-bye they worst year on record in my lifetime, and start in to 202 with a healthy amount of cautions optimism, I can't say that I'll be changing the show fundamentally. But, if there are any resolution-style changes I'd like, it'd be to get you all on it more, be it through voice feedback, emails, or whatever.
And to that end, I've got quite a bit of it today, questions, comments, a little something for everyone, so let's get to it. Oh, and we're going to talk about that little 2.5 Billion dollar payout Boeing owes too...
Current state of Boeing & deliveries
Was MCAS even needed? (Thank you Russ Irwin for passing this one along)
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Music by: Damma Beatz
Part 1 was such a hit, that I'm proud to bring you another Episode with Rich.
Straight up, what it's like to fall ill with COVID-19, nearly die in a coma, and recover to fly another day. A fascinating look at the reality of this horrible disease.
BG
Follow Rich: PersonalWings @personalwings
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Have you ever met one of those people where, it seems like every sentence out of their mouth gives you déjà vu? It doesn't happen very often, but maybe that's why you remember... It happened to me last year at an MMOPA safety stand down. I walked in, sat down. And I started listening to the guy teaching the class (his name is Rich by the way). He talked about icing encounters in Colorado and some other stuff you might find relevant next time you're doing something you probably shouldn't be in a meridian or an eclipse.
But after the lecture ended he took us all out to lunch at the fantastic Mexican restaurant Cosa Machado if you've ever been to Montgomery Field (KMYF). He started talking about the things he done, the places he had been, crazy stuff actually. I think it started with flying in airplane in the thunderstorms or something. But then we got to becoming a police officer in Colorado and not just anywhere Colorado; Telluride Colorado (KTEX). The very same place I grew up. The same place I did a radio show with my dad. And, guess we talked about next. Broadcasting. Then, Working a more or less first job throwing bags for continental airlines at Stapleton, Which they also let me do back at Telluride as my first aviation job. I mean. CO Express, but hey, who's counting. And plus, the flights went to Denver anyway. So there.
But I can't help feeling that so many things that I did, it's like he had done the same thing only a few decades earlier.
Something I've said, or at least implied, is that aviation can be just so many different things to so many different people. And I'm not here to judge. Quite the opposite, I'm happy for you however you choose to integrate it into your daily life.
And while I wouldn't change much about my journey, there's a little part of me that has a dream about how, in a different time and place, maybe I'd have taken a different path. One where I stuck with broadcasting. Or whatever, and took aviation into my life in a different way.
That's probably why I gel with our guest today so well. Because that's exactly what he did!
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A lot came together for this Episode...
Special Thanks to Elliott Cox, Ron Horton, Daniel Switkin, Daniel Sternbergh, and Russ Irwin for sharing some wonderful stories and questions!
I want to do more like this, so keep 'em coming!
GOOOOOOD DAY!
-BG
P.S. The audiophiles among you may notice that I recorded this on an alternate recording setup, so it sounds a little different than normal. I'll be back to the usual one for Ep. 87.
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Music by: SINY
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I was starting to think the day would never come.
The FAA has (more or less) cleared the 737 MAX to fly again! ...But at what cost?
-BG
Articles narrated in the Episode:
https://www.aerotime.aero/rytis.beresnevicius/26438-faa-un-grounds-the-boeing-737-max
https://www.aerotime.aero/rytis.beresnevicius/26380-boeing-737-max-fleet
https://www.aerotime.aero/rytis.beresnevicius/26452-transport-canada-737-max-statement
https://www.aerotime.aero/rytis.beresnevicius/25834-faa-global-status-leader
Narrated Articles are the property of their respective Authors and Media Outlets as appropriate. Please Like, Subscribe, and follow them for more wonderful content!
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Music by: Danijel Zambo
Make sure to use good equipment!
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If you've been around for a while, you'll probably remember at least one aviation downturn. Maybe two or three. In fact, we could probably figure out how long you've been in the industry, in decades, based on how many you've seen. This'll be my third...
In case you haven't noticed, we're in one again. Sure, it looks a lot different than downturns of years passed. But the big question, right after you figure out what the heck you're going to do while things are down, is how you're going to position yourself for the upswing. And yes, as bleak as things often look, there WILL be an upside. We just never exactly know when.
I don't have a crystal ball. Nobody does. Not even the old guy with the expensive suit you saw on CNBC. I mean, sure, he sounds like he does, but he doesn't. The one thing that guy does have though, is some pretty good market research to go off of. But that takes armies of people who make it their business to collect and analyze data, and we don't often get to see it raw, and even if we did, I'm not sure we'd really know how to interpret it.
But… What if there was a really user friendly place to get industry news that covers things like:
ATC, dispatch, data analysis, aircraft and interior design and engineering, IT and cybersecurity.
And what about if the source made a solid effort to connect different parts of industry to each other in ways not covered before.
And what if this source made an effort to inform you about specific actionable things that can be done at all levels to raise the visibility of the opportunities existing in aviation and aerospace for well-paid, challenging and critical jobs? Jobs that can give Silicon Valley and others a run for their money any day. Cool stuff that kids might want to do like: unmanned systems, advanced air mobility, aviation innovation incubators, commercial space, environmental issues, changing powerplant technology and connected aircraft.
I'd read it.
And I'd definitely do a podcast about it too…
So here it is!
-Brandon
Future Aviation Aerospace Workforce
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Music by: Danijel Zambo
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Remember back probably in middle school when we learned all about Venn diagrams? You know, the circles. Each one represents a characteristic, and where they overlap, you have the thing that the marketing department is probably looking for…
But when it comes to aviation one that always keeps coming up is men, women, and pilots. Not all men are pilots, not all pilots are men. Not all women are pilots, not all pilots are women, and where the overlap part comes in, there's the individuals who are women and pilots.
Stay with me, I'm going somewhere with this.
There's another Venn diagram that keeps coming up too. And it's where the pilot circle overlaps with the controller circle. There's this tiny little sliver where I find myself, along with a few others who play both sides of the mic. It's cozy in here, and if you want to hang out, you'll find Me, Clay Taylor from Airways Magazine, RH and AG from Opposing Bases, and maybe a few others. And the little sliver gets reeeeealy small when you talk about controllers who are CURRENT pilots. Not "were" or "was in a different life."
Today's guest is pretty noteworthy as she's got a little of every circle I've mentioned thus far. And is generally known as one of the best controllers around. Or was at least, and we'll get to that. But she comes from a tower pretty similar to mine, and form what I've heard, knows how to rock a mic on either side.
This is gonna be a fun day…
Welcome to Podcasting on a Plane, I'm Brandon Gonzales, Tower Controller, CFI, Former Aircraft salesman, Aviation podcaster, and connoisseur of the Venn diagram… broadcasting as always from the Tower at mythical, yet oh so real West Coast Delta, and this is the podcast where we talk about the backstories behind all that we do in air world.
Sometimes on the flying side, sometimes on the ATC side, and sometimes both. And from what your feedback tells me, those are the favorites, so be glad you listened today because that's what's about to happen.
Now I mentioned Venn diagrams earlier. And we found ourselves in a really tiny overlap, but I've got just one more circle to add. What about not only controllers who are pilots, but those who actually CARE. People who don't just hold certificates and go to work, but people who go to work because it's their purpose. It isn't just a job.
In this little sliver of the Venn diagram, everybody knows each others' names. So today, let me introduce you to Pam…
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Music by: Damma Beatz
Make sure to use good equipment!
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As the music promises, you know who's here. The one, the only Chad Fortenberry, but with a twist!
A few thoughtful listeners, all Patrons in this case, sent in some stuff, and instead of just hearing my thoughts, you get Chad's too, and between the two of us, you might just get an answer!
Special thanks to Glen Towler, Evan Schoo, Russ Irwin, and Brooks Dorroh for their questions and support of the show!
PlaneEnglish ATC Simulator - Get 10% off with code: "delta"
Support: https://www.patreon.com/podcastingonaplane
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcastingonaplane/
Twitter: podcastonaplane
Website: www.podcastingonaplane.com
Music by: Danijel Zambo
Make sure to use good equipment!
Bose Headset: https://amzn.to/2FFaKjN
Bose ProFlight: https://amzn.to/2VZAJrP
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Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset: https://amzn.to/2RPGg5i
David Clark: https://amzn.to/2FE3y7r
What's Narrative?
No, honestly what is it. And why the heck are we talking about it on an aviation podcast?! Well, because I'm repurposing content from another thing I do. No, I'm kidding… Sort of. Narrative affects everything we hear. It's that thing news outlets have that affects how they're going to spin a story. And if you ask me, it's a bummer that has to be a thing at all.
Today's a really cool episode, because we're stepping a little outside the usual mold (as if there was one here), and pulling back the curtain a little bit. And for those in the business of making content, it's something we struggle with sometimes.
Now, this is an aviation podcast, one in which I often promise the back story in all that we do in air world, and since aviation journalism is how we spread the word about pretty much all that happens in it, I figured an Episode like this is fair game. If you're new here, this one's a little different. Regular listeners will know that I'm an administrator at the 21st century aerospace communicators group, along with many notable aviation writers you've actually heard of, and if you're curious, make sure to get on Facebook and request to be in the group too. Oh, and don't forget to go back and listen to Episode 52 for more about us.
The group is led by Rob Mark, and no matter where you fall in the spectrum of civil aviation, you'll probably be familiar with his work. He's the Senior Editor at FLYING Magazine and the publisher of JetWhine.com, long time Airplane Geek over at the Airplane Geeks Podcast, Graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern, but most importantly of all, frequent guest on this show….
Ok maybe that's not the most important part, but he's back today because we really wanted to tackle a topic that's an underlying part of just about everything we read, hear, and watch in the news, aviation or not: Narrative
It's a simple word, and it's defined by (Dictionary.com): a representation of a particular situation or process in such a way as to reflect or conform to an overarching set of aims or values.
But the implications of it are huge. It's part of the entire brand of a news outlet. And, if you ask me, or anybody really, it often gets taken too far. To the point that things are straight up twisted to make a story pan out a certain way. And then twisted a little further to get more re-tweets…
21st Century Aerospace Communicators Group
Has Twitter ruined Journalism?
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Music by: Danijel Zambo
Make sure to use good equipment!
Bose Headset: https://amzn.to/2FFaKjN
Bose ProFlight: https://amzn.to/2VZAJrP
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