Carrying on about carry-ons
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
We’ve all danced the airport suitcase shuffle, moving item after item back and forth between our cabin bags and our checked bags in a desperate hope to get in under those pesky weight limits. Now, Jetstar says it’s offering a solution – no more scales, no more luggage Tetris, just bring an under-seat bag for free. Simple, right? The only catch: overhead bin space will now cost you extra. So, is Jetstar’s new policy convenience, cash grab, or a little bit of both? On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David weigh in on the pros and cons of Jetstar’s new cabin baggage...
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Flying in the line of fire
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
As Australian helicopters head north to help with wildfires in Europe, a deadly crash in Greece – and new regulations following a crash in WA two years ago – have once again put the spotlight on how dangerous it can be to fight fires from the air. While national standard operating procedures are cutting down on confusion, and unmanned drones are taking surveillance crews off the front lines, it’s clear that there will always be some danger for those who fly out to battle the increasingly common mega-blazes around the world. On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David...
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Cargo (but plane go faster)
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
We don’t talk about it too often on the podcast, but cargo is a huge sector of the aviation industry – and with big news out of both Western Sydney and Avalon Airports this week, it found itself unexpectedly in the spotlight. WSI has at last opened its doors to freight ahead of its passenger launch in October, while Avalon Airport is seeing its first direct cargo services to Saudi Arabia –good news for both the Western Sydney and Geelong areas. On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David unpack the crate expectations being placed on Australia’s secondary airports as...
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Qantas in the clear
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
Qantas has frequently found itself in the news for all the wrong reasons over the past few years – but it got a much-needed win when the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) found last year’s data breach wasn’t caused by the Flying Kangaroo’s own negligence. With high marks for its swift response to the fiasco, and no need determined for any further investigation, Qantas can take the OAIC’s findings as a sign that the fallout of the cyberattack is mostly behind it – but can it recover from the PR hit it suffered? On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast,...
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The future of pilot training, with UNSW
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
As the aviation industry grapples with ongoing talent shortages, the question becomes: are current training methods the right model for creating skilled pilots at the rate the sector needs? Cockpits are becoming increasingly automated, while next-generation training technologies such as VR, XR, AR, and advanced simulation are potentially able to boost safety without increasing risk exposure – so are current competency-based models keeping up with the new reality? In this special Australian Aviation Podcast, UNSW and the Honourable Company of Air Pilots present a thought-provoking panel...
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A red card for the yellow card
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
If you’ve ever found yourself scrambling for a pen on the plane to fill out one of those pesky paper cards before you reach Customs, fear not – after a two-year trial and much lobbying by the tourism industry, there will soon be a digital alternative to the Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). Rolling out over the next 12 to 18 months, the Australia Travel Declaration will make the bane of every groggy passenger’s tray table a thing of the past, streamlining the border process and bringing Australia in line with other countries in the region and around the world. On this week’s Australian...
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Good morning, Vietjet?
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
When it rains, it pours – after the collapses of Bonza and Rex left Australia once more in thrall to the domestic airline duopoly, now no fewer than three new contenders, including Koala, Zinc, and another new kid on the block, seem to be planning to step up and take on the big boys. The latest player? Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet, which has sparked rumours of a new Australian subsidiary with reports of an AOC application with CASA as well as a pile of slot allocations at Sydney Airport. Is a Vietjet entry really on the cards … and can it exorcise the ghost of Tigerair? On this...
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The hidden danger of stress
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
When we think of safety concerns in aviation, it’s easy to become fixated on the mechanical issues – but the human factor is also a major issue, and stress and burnout in such a high-pressure industry can only make it worse. It’s easy to ignore the early warning signs of stress and try to push through, but according to neuroscientist Annett Koenig, that can only compound the issue, leading to neurological issues that can even mirror the symptoms of epilepsy. As engineering-related incidents continue to improve, the human factor is still lagging behind – so what kind of safety issues...
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Robinson’s helicopter revolution
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
For 50 years it’s been one of the most popular civil helicopter companies in the world, with more than 15,000 aircraft delivered around the globe – and Robinson is a household name among Australian buyers, too, thanks to their use in agricultural applications like cattle mustering. The R22 and R44 are now being joined in Australia by the new R88, showcased by Robinson at Rotortech on the Gold Coast in May, and with an unmanned division having recently launched, the company is set to bring even more new products to the Australian market. On this Australian Aviation Podcast, we talk to...
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Here comes the (Project) Sun(rise)
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
After much anticipation, Qantas has revealed the first destination for Project Sunrise – and in case there was any doubt, it’s London, with flights from Sydney to start next October in the next evolution of the 80-year-old “Kangaroo Route”. With Sydney-New York to follow by Christmas 2027, and Qantas sharing more details of the ultra-long-haul planes’ cabin configuration, it seems the non-stop flights are closer than ever, despite all the delays – but how popular will they be, and when will Melbourne see them? On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David prepare to...
info_outlineThe government has rolled out its 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program, and there’s plenty to dissect for aviation – an early sunset for Tiger helicopters, the retirement of the C-27J Spartan, and a $7 billion boost to counter-drone defences, just to start with.
While the RAAF alone is slated to get between $34-41 billion over the next 10 years, as the world becomes more unstable and traditional alliances get shakier, is Australia doing enough to bolster its own air defences?
On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David are joined by aerospace and defence lead Stephen Kuper to discuss what Australia is doing – and could be doing – to safeguard its skies.
Plus, the Iran conflict has driven Australian traffic to the Middle East off a cliff – which hubs are picking up the slack, and what’s happening to our domestic capacity?