5 chapters across the catalog
The hosts express skepticism regarding the viability of drone bikes and electric air taxis. They argue that current battery technology and power-to-weight ratios make these vehicles impractical for long-distance travel. Adam Curry, a pilot, notes the safety risks of aircraft that cannot perform auto-rotation during a power failure.
China and Ukraine have signed an agreement to restart production of the Antonov 225, the world's largest cargo aircraft. Analysts suggest the deal is a move by China to acquire Soviet-era aviation technology and establish its own assembly lines for massive transport planes.
The Boeing 747, which first flew in 1969, remains one of the most reliable aircraft in service despite its aging technology. The hosts reminisce about the early days of budget travel on People Express and the lack of significant advancement in commercial aviation since the 1970s.
Airbus Self-Awareness, Mountain Avoidance Systems, Investigation Skepticism
The Airbus A320 features sophisticated terrain avoidance systems that are designed to prevent the aircraft from flying into mountains. The hosts express deep skepticism regarding the official narrative of the Germanwings crash, calling the leaked details "a big pot of bullshit." They demand the release of the actual cockpit voice recorder audio rather than relying on anonymous summaries provided to the New York Times.
Richard Deacon, Internet-Based Aviation Systems
NATS CEO Richard Deacon addressed the London air traffic failure, citing a software problem within 4 million lines of code written in the 1990s. He announced a 575 million pound investment to transition to "internet-based systems" for greater resilience. Critics warn that moving critical aviation infrastructure to the internet increases vulnerability to hacking and cyberattacks.
