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370 Citabria Theft, Beach Landing and Recovery with Rachael Webster & DC Midair Update + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Release Date: 02/20/2025

382 Best Garmin G1000, G3000, G5000 and Cirrus Perspective Settings to Fly Safer and Smarter show art 382 Best Garmin G1000, G3000, G5000 and Cirrus Perspective Settings to Fly Safer and Smarter

Aviation News Talk podcast

Max Trescott shares his top recommended settings for Garmin avionics systems, specifically the G1000, G1000 NXi, G3000, G5000, and the Cirrus Perspective and Perspective+ systems. These configuration tips enhance situational awareness, flight safety, and pilot efficiency—and many also apply to Garmin standalone navigators like the GTN 650 and 750. The episode begins with a critical safety upgrade: switching the Traffic Page vectors from Absolute to Relative. Unlike absolute vectors (which only show heading), relative vectors display a target aircraft’s flight path in relation to your...

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381 STEM to the Skies: How Aviation Inspires Rural Students with Dr. Victor Vogel show art 381 STEM to the Skies: How Aviation Inspires Rural Students with Dr. Victor Vogel

Aviation News Talk podcast

Dr. Victor Vogel, a former oncologist turned flight instructor, founded the nonprofit Susquehanna STEM to the Skies to improve STEM education in rural Pennsylvania. The aviation-based STEM program was launched to address declining science and math scores among students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. By combining aviation concepts with hands-on learning, the program offers a powerful way to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in real-world contexts. Victor discovered that aviation offers rich, practical applications for STEM—such as flight navigation,...

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380 Max Trescott on Aviation Safety, Judgment, and Human Performance on Dr. Tony Kern’s podcast + ForeFlight News show art 380 Max Trescott on Aviation Safety, Judgment, and Human Performance on Dr. Tony Kern’s podcast + ForeFlight News

Aviation News Talk podcast

In this special crossover episode, Max Trescott, host of the Aviation News Talk podcast, appears as a guest on Dr. Tony Kern’s Only Human podcast. The two aviation safety advocates engage in a candid, insightful conversation that bridges their shared backgrounds in aviation, safety culture, and leadership. The episode begins with a segment called “This Week in Safety Land,” spotlighting a tragic helicopter crash involving tourists over the Hudson River. The Director of Operations (DO) at the company involved chose to cease operations pending investigation, only to be overruled and...

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379 Ferry Pilot Flying, Everything Explained with Sarah Rovner + GA News show art 379 Ferry Pilot Flying, Everything Explained with Sarah Rovner + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Max talks with ferry pilot Sarah Rovner, founder of Full Throttle Aviation, about her adventures and challenges flying planes across continents. Sarah stumbled into ferry flying when she helped deliver a plane and quickly found herself flying everything from gliders to agricultural aircraft across Central America and even the Atlantic. Her unique edge wasn’t just piloting—it was handling the complex international paperwork required for cross-border flights. Sarah explains the nuances of flying foreign-registered aircraft, using handlers, and dealing with customs and regulatory...

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378 More on Best Glide + Bad Pilots and ATC in the News show art 378 More on Best Glide + Bad Pilots and ATC in the News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Max discusses engine-out scenarios and best glide strategies, prompted by listener feedback on Episode 372, which analyzed the crash of a Bonanza B35B (N2UZ) that suffered engine failure at 7,500 feet near Charlottesville, VA. Although the pilot did many things correctly, he overshot a long field and crashed. Max highlights choices that might have improved the outcome, such as flight following and alternate route planning. Listener emails, read by Aviation News Talk intern Kelly, offer insights and experiences. Karen Larson shares how a conversation about the episode helped her husband...

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377 Why Good Pilots Crash with Dr. Tony Kern + GA News show art 377 Why Good Pilots Crash with Dr. Tony Kern + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Max talks with Dr. Tony Kern about human error, airmanship, and the hidden threats pilots pose to themselves. Tony shares how his passion for understanding error began with the tragic loss of two of his former B-1 bomber students in 1992. The crash, attributed to "a failure of airmanship," prompted him to research the elusive meaning of that term—work that eventually led to his book Redefining Airmanship. Beyond medical transport, they assist military veterans by flying them to camps designed for rehabilitation, as well as special events like Major League Baseball games. They also...

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376 PALS Skyhope Volunteer Flying of Medical Patients and Veterans with Adam Broun + GA News show art 376 PALS Skyhope Volunteer Flying of Medical Patients and Veterans with Adam Broun + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Max talks with Adam Broun of PALS SkyHope, a volunteer pilot organization that provides free air transportation for medical patients, veterans, and others in need. Founded in 2010 by three pilots in the Northeast, PALS SkyHope has conducted over 34,000 flights, serving more than 4,000 families. Beyond medical transport, they assist military veterans by flying them to camps designed for rehabilitation, as well as special events like Major League Baseball games. They also provide commercial airline tickets, through partnerships with JetBlue and Southwest, as backup transportation. ...

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375 Final NTSB Report on Night Crash that Killed a ND Senator and family + GA News show art 375 Final NTSB Report on Night Crash that Killed a ND Senator and family + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Max talks about the NTSB’s final report on the fatal crash of a Piper PA-28-140 in Moab, Utah, in October 2023. The crash killed a North Dakota State Senator, his wife, and their two children. The probable cause was spatial disorientation due to somatogravic illusion, leading to controlled flight into terrain. Despite being an experienced military helicopter pilot with over 2,000 flight hours, the pilot had limited fixed-wing and night-flying experience. The crash occurred on a dark night with no moon, conditions that significantly increase accident risk. ADS-B data shows the aircraft...

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374 NTSB Preliminary Report Out for Reagan National Midair Collision over Potomac River show art 374 NTSB Preliminary Report Out for Reagan National Midair Collision over Potomac River

Aviation News Talk podcast

The NTSB held a press conference to provide preliminary findings from the flight Max talks about new findings from the NTSB Preliminary Report on the midair collision over the Potomac River involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines regional jet near Reagan National Airport (DCA). The episode features audio from NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, highlighting the systemic risks in the airspace. The report reveals a history of frequent near-midair collisions at DCA, with 85 close encounters (under 200 feet vertical, 1,500 feet lateral...

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373 How to Fly a Small Plane to Mexico and other Countries + GA News show art 373 How to Fly a Small Plane to Mexico and other Countries + GA News

Aviation News Talk podcast

Max talks with Ranferi Denova about what pilots need to know about flying small planes to Mexico, though the advice applies broadly to international flights from the U.S., including to Canada and the Caribbean. Ranferi assures pilots that flying to Mexico is safe and rewarding, provided they plan ahead and follow proper procedures. He details aircraft and pilot documentation requirements, such as an airworthiness certificate, insurance, and an FCC radio license. He also explains essential paperwork, like the Mexican flight permit (A IU) and the newly required LOPA (Layout of Passenger...

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Rachael Webster recounts the surreal experience of having her airplane stolen from Palo Alto Airport. Initially mistaking the tampered aircraft for a kind gesture, she later received a call from the club informing her that her Citabria had been stolen and flown toward San Carlos with its transponder off. The aircraft was eventually discovered, nose-down but largely intact, on a beach south of Half Moon Bay. The thief, a man calling himself “Sun Rock,” had allegedly sought to expose airport security flaws. After landing, he went for tacos and was promptly arrested.

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The recovery process was complex, requiring approvals from multiple agencies, delaying removal and worsening damage due to saltwater exposure. Although insurance nearly totaled the plane, it was instead repaired after months of delays due to maintenance backlogs.

Despite the ordeal, Rachael remains positive, humorously considering marketing her aircraft as the only tailwheel trainer with "real beach landing experience." She has since launched a specialized tailwheel flight school, Next Level Tailwheel, incorporating Citabrias and Kitfox aircraft. Reflecting on the experience, she emphasizes patience in aircraft repairs, valuing skilled trades, and accepting that determined thieves will find a way—bike locks and all.

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