Episode 581 - Secured Slots, AI Chats and New Campsites

In this week's show: Alaska Airlines secures slots for Heathrow launch; someone experiments whether ChatGPT can land an Airbus A320 after telling it both pilots are missing; and KLM retires its first Boeing 737 aircraft after 25 years of operations.   In the military: There are massive new campsite plans for RIAT 2026 near RAF Fairford and a Damaged B-2 stealth bomber returns to frontline duty after a four-year repair from landing gear collapse.   We'll have the usual Retro Airline Ad of the Week as well as a reminder of the excellent competition that Allan Whyte has set for you all.   Nev will also give us an update on the plans for the 600th show in May of next year. Spaces are running out quickly, so be sure to let us know if you would like to attend. More news on how to do that later in the show.  

A whole lot of aviation news from the UK and from around the world to get through tonight. Join the hosts as they discuss the latest industry events and news. Have your say and shape the conversation of the show through our LIVE chatroom.  In this week's show its one problem after another for Airbus, Broughton is the place to be for whale hunting & we look at bag tracking & no its nothing to do with apple. In the military its cool to be 101 and still flying and its all drone with the Blackhawks. You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email [email protected] or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

In this week's show: A Boeing 737 flies at 37,000 feet with a door handle sticking out;  8 passengers on an SAS flight were taken to hospital after a fire in the cabin (not a lithium-ion battery surely!) and we take a look at the UK's latest Government proposals to finally build a third runway at Heathrow.     In the military: Boeing secures a $877m MH-47G helicopter order from the US Special Operations Command; and the New Zealand Air Force signs a contract for 2 A321XLR strategic transport aircraft.    We'll have the results of our competition as well as the latest news of our 600th show preparations for May of next year.    And of course, no show would be complete without a Retro Airline Ad of the Week video to play you. This week we travel back to the 1980's with good old BA.   You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email [email protected]

In this week's show: The UK and Channel Islands regional operator Blue Islands ceases trading and cancels flights; Jet2 is to offer flights from Gatwick for the first time; and a maintenance error led to the overrun of an American 737 at Dallas/Fort Worth last year.    In the military segment: The U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff confirms the F-47 next-generation fighter jet will take its first flight in 2028.    We'll also give you some more details about our 600th show which is going to take place in May 2026. Spaces are running out quickly so be sure to let us know if you plan on coming. Nev will give us an update later.    We are extending the competition for another week with a fantastic prize to give away – Nik will tell you all about that later in the show.    And we have another cracking Retro Airline Ad Of The Week segment which will take us all back down memory lane.   You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email [email protected] or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

In this week's show: British Airways signs a major deal with Starlink to provide every customer in every cabin free Wi-Fi;  Qantas Airways' 1st Airbus A350‑1000ULR for Project Sunrise takes shape in Toulouse; and the FAA grounds all MD-11 and MD-11F fleets pending inspections in wake of Louisville crash. It is also easyJet's 30th birthday this week and we'll talk about little about that too.   In the military: Airbus Defence has delivered the first A400M tactical transport aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force and sadly there has been an accident to a Turkish Air Force C-130 which occurred after departure from Azerbaijan.   On the lighter side of things, we have a highly amusing caption competition this week, that features Captain Al as the most mentioned person in the comments. I can't imagine why...   We'll also give you some more details about our 600th show which is going to take place in May 2026.  You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email [email protected] or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

Join Carlos, Nev and John for an evening of aviation fun with all the latest international commercial and military aviation news. In this week's show: 'No more turbulence' as Emirates makes a major change to reduce risk of bumpy flights; Ryanair begin hiring pilots for their 737 MAX-10 deliveries and we'll be discussing the tragic accident of the UPS MD-11 that crashed in Louisville yesterday. In the military: The US Air Force says it needs 1500 more fighters to meet future threats . We'll have the usual retro airline ad of the week segment and we will have more details of our 600th show which is taking place on Friday 22nd May next year. Don't forget you can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +44 757 22 491 66  Email [email protected]  or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

In this week's show: The regional operator Eastern Airways ceases flying as they appoint an administrator;  US airports report over 20 air traffic controller shortage incidents in just one day; and Ryanair issues an urgent warning to all passengers over new boarding pass rules from November.   In the military: Turkey finalises a deal to acquire 12 ex-Royal Air Force C-130J tactical transport aircraft; and 'bad fuel" may have caused recent back-to-back Nimitz aircraft crashes.   We have the last part of the interview with Alan Munro – this is a really good one we have to say and we think you'll enjoy more of Alan's anecdotes from when he was in the RAF and then into the world of civilian flying.    We also have an exciting announcement to make regarding where and when our 600th show is going to be. That's going to be coming up at the end of the show, so stay tuned!  

In this week's show: An ACT Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter on behalf of Emirates has a runway excursion at Hong Kong; British Airways Faces $450K Lawsuit From Sabre Over UK Tax Dispute; and a Nottinghamshire man is given access to 50 Ryanair boarding passes in a major booking site data breach.    In the military news: The UK MOD seeks industry partners for new drone testing framework; and Eight Su-30s and four Jaguars faced six F-35Bs during a carrier defence scenario as part of the HMS Prince of Wales' participation in Exercise Konkan    In the penultimate part of the interview with Alan Munro, Alan talks with Nick about his adventures at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, his exploits during his flying in Germany and some of his challenges whilst he was instructing on the Phantom. Take part in our chatroom to help shape the conversation of the show. You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email [email protected] or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

In this week's show: Turkish Airlines may shift their large B737 MAX of 150 aircraft order to Airbus; DHL Airbus A300 suffers tail strike during landing at London Heathrow; and Ryanair a flight lands with 6 minutes of fuel left following a storm and subsequent diversions.    In the military: An RAF A400M conducts a historic landing on a remote arctic Island in a NATO mission; and  he National Museum of the USAF is Dayton, Ohio is to Display the MiG-25 'Foxbat' aircraft.    Also joining us on the show this week is Ian Parrott from Flight Zone 320 (more about Ian in a second) and we have Part 5 of the Alan Munro interview that Captain Nick did for us. Take part in our chatroom to help shape the conversation of the show. You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email [email protected] or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

In this week's show: Liverpool's John Lennon airport has new check-in rules gives budget airline passengers 'more time to relax'; KLM introduces their first Airbus A350 simulator in the Netherlands ahead of crew training; and the Airbus A320 flies past the Boeing 737 as most-delivered jetliner in history.    In the military:  The RAF Reaper flies its final operational mission marking the end of 18 years of service; and Top Gun-style tests see US Air Force pilots train alongside AI-piloted drones.    We also have Part 4 of the fascinating interview that Captain Nick took part in with Alan Munro and in this week's episode Alan talks about the tragic accident of a Vulcan that he witnesed at RAF Luqa in Malta in 1975. Take part in our chatroom to help shape the conversation of the show. You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +447446975214 Email [email protected] or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.