Pilot Hiring Heats Up, EU Saves Your Delay Rights, and United's Historic Aircraft Order
Release Date: 01/23/2026
Pilot Hiring Heats Up, EU Saves Your Delay Rights, and United's Historic Aircraft Order
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast, your weekly dose of real aviation talk. No PR polish. No corporate spin. Just pilots breaking down the stories shaping the skies: airline chaos, crew culture, decision-making, flight deck leadership, and the conversations you only hear at 38,000 ft. The pilot hiring market just shifted from emergency mode to sustainable growth—if you've been waiting for your shot, this is it. Meanwhile, the EU Parliament just voted to keep your flight delay compensation at three hours (airlines wanted four), and United's about to take delivery...
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Why We’re Picking Boeing: A320 “Solar” Glitches, Toxic Fumes & The $70M MH370 Bet
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast your weekly dose of real aviation talk. No PR polish. No corporate spin. Just pilots breaking down the stories shaping the skies: airline chaos, crew culture, decision-making, sport banter, and the conversations you only hear at 38 000 ft. We’re closing the hangar doors on 2025 with the ultimate cockpit debate: If the pay is the same, do you fly Boeing or Airbus? While the media hates on Seattle, we’re taking a hard look at the A320’s recent "solar radiation" nose-dive, toxic fume lawsuits, and why real...
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#252 Are PILOTS in Short Supply Because of This ONE Thing?
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT Bryan and Ryan dissect the massive aircraft orders from the Dubai Air Show and the looming talent drain to the Gulf. We analyze the controversial claim that the global "pilot shortage" is a farce, debating why lifestyle stability and rosters are becoming more valuable than a paycheck. Plus, we cover why expats are returning to South Africa despite the pay cut, the final days of the MD-11 fleet, and why crew strikes are threatening to grind global carriers to a halt. Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast your weekly dose of real aviation talk. No PR polish. No corporate...
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#251 The $38 Billion Emirates Order: What It Means For YOUR Pilot Career Progression
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast your weekly dose of real aviation talk. No PR polish. No corporate spin. Just pilots breaking down the stories shaping the skies: airline chaos, crew culture, decision-making, sport banter, and the conversations you only hear at 38 000 ft. The Dubai Air Show just triggered a global talent drain with a massive $38 billion Emirates order for new aircraft, and we're breaking down the direct impact on your cockpit and paycheck. Bryan analyzes the 10,300 new pilot demand in the Middle East and asks the critical question: is your...
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#250 SA Aviation on the Brink: 12-Year Engine Rule Chaos & Global MD-11 Shutdowns
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast come for the cockpit chatter, stay for the galley banter… and as always, we’re holding short of Taxiway Serious. In Episode 250, Bryan and Ryan unpack the biggest stories shaking aviation right now: the fallout from the 12-year engine rule in South Africa, the MD-11 cargo crisis, SAA’s regional push, FlySafair labour tension, and the never-ending ATC chaos. Plus: a hard-hitting Captain’s Announcement with real travel hacks, and a full round of rugby, F1 and UFC cockpit chatter. Straight talk, sharp...
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Alien Mothership Panic, AI Deepfakes & Major Aviation Shake-Ups | Bryan Air Podcast
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT In Episode 248, Bryan and Ryan break down the viral rumors of the “3I Atlas” alien mothership, exposing how AI-generated deepfakes fuel panic online. They link the hype to bigger risks of misinformation while delivering crucial aviation updates: Lufthansa’s job cuts, Boeing’s certification changes, new E-Jets in South Africa, and Emirates’ power bank ban. The hosts also weigh in on SA Express legacy battles, Airlink’s expansion, and the latest on global sports from Springboks rugby dominance to UFC fireworks. This is your weekly flight plan...
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Airlink’s New Embraer E195-E2 Lands in SA: Why This Jet Fits Africa
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT This week we break down Airlink’s fleet upgrade as the Embraer E195-E2 makes its South African debut. Bryan and Ryan unpack why the E2 is such a strong fit for Africa’s operating reality, how it stacks up against the Airbus A220, and what it means for Airlink’s future. Plus, we cover major global aviation stories, from cyberattacks on European airports to drone disruptions and regulatory chaos. ⏱️ TIME-STAMPED FLIGHT PLAN 00:00 - Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast 00:49 - Discussing Airlink's New E2 Aircraft 01:34 - Embraer's...
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Investigating Durban Airshow Crash What REALLY Happened
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT This week, the Bryan Air Podcast takes a hard look at the preliminary accident report into the tragic Extra 300 crash at the Durban Airshow — breaking down key findings, safety gaps, and lessons for the aviation community. We also dig into the bizarre case of a South African-registered Sling 4 shot down in South America, and debate the global push to raise the pilot retirement age. Plus, we round up major aviation headlines from engine failures to eVTOL progress, airline policies, and the world’s longest direct flight. ⏱️ TIME-STAMPED...
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#245 Assassination Shock, Pilot Scandals & Boeing’s Latest Crisis
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT This week’s Bryan Air Podcast hits hard with breaking news and aviation industry shake-ups. From the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk to Alaska Airlines’ off-duty pilot scandal, we unpack the headlines shaping aviation safety, regulation, and trust. Expect insights on Qantas’ cyber attack fallout, Lufthansa’s pension strikes, Boeing’s union battles, and FAA production limits. We also spotlight American Airlines’ bizarre “empty” transatlantic flights, the retirement of Rolls Royce’s iconic 747 test bed, and Swiss’ new fine-dining...
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Should Pilots Fly Past 65? IATA’s Retirement Age Push Explained
Bryan Air
🎙️ EPISODE SNAPSHOT IATA’s proposal to raise the pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 takes centre stage this week. We unpack the safety, staffing, and mentorship implications then cover key industry moves, a Colorado mid-air, Boeing/WestJet orders, 787 engine returns, Joby’s stock surge, and what pilots really carry in their flight bags. We close with rugby and F1. ⏱️ TIME-STAMPED FLIGHT PLAN 00:00 - Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast 01:13 - Community Spotlight: Fly Africa 03:40 - Debate: Raising pilot retirement age (65 → 67) 07:19 - Africa’s aviation outlook...
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Welcome to the Bryan Air Podcast, your weekly dose of real aviation talk. No PR polish. No corporate spin. Just pilots breaking down the stories shaping the skies: airline chaos, crew culture, decision-making, flight deck leadership, and the conversations you only hear at 38,000 ft.
The pilot hiring market just shifted from emergency mode to sustainable growth—if you've been waiting for your shot, this is it. Meanwhile, the EU Parliament just voted to keep your flight delay compensation at three hours (airlines wanted four), and United's about to take delivery of more wide bodies than any US carrier since 1988. Plus: a nose wheel departure in Orlando, a wifi hotspot bomb hoax, and the fake pilot who perfected the art of the jump seat con. Are you positioned for what's coming next?
⏱️ TIME-STAMPED FLIGHT PLAN
00:00 Last Week's Misstep: The ATNS Apology That Needed to Be Made
00:54 Pilot Hiring 2026: From Post-COVID Chaos to Sustainable Growth
03:51 EU Flight Delay Compensation: Why Three Hours Still Matters
05:57 5G vs. Radio Altimeters: Who Pays the $4.5 Billion Bill?
08:05 United's 20 Boeing 787s: The Biggest Wide-Body Delivery Since 1988
10:03 A321 Neo Loses Nose Wheel at Orlando—Hard Landing or Structural Failure?
12:24 "I Have a Bomb" WiFi Hotspot Forces Emergency Landing in Barcelona
13:19 ForeFlight Layoffs: What Pilot Job Cuts Mean for App Quality
15:27 Indonesian ATR 42 Crash: First Fatal Accident of 2026
17:26 Elon vs. Mark O'Leary: The Ryanair Starlink Standoff Gets Personal
20:02 Ryanair's Marketing Team Fires Back—Social Media Gold
20:25 Kaizen and the Art of Command: Decision-Making Systems They Never Taught You
21:39 US Seizes Anti-Submarine Trainers Bound from South Africa to China
23:41 Riyadh Cargo's Bold Move: 122 Wide-Bodies to Challenge the Gulf Giants
24:52 The Fake Pilot Who Perfected Jump-Seating—Lessons from Frank Abagnale Jr.
27:45 AI Video Production: Why McDonald's Experiment Took Longer Than Just Filming
29:28 Changi Airport Hits 70 Million Passengers—China's the Fastest-Growing Market
31:03 Cargo vs. Passengers: Why Flying Freight Might Be the Better Gig
32:03 UFC at the White House and Formula One Super Bru Returns
35:02 Leave a Review, Help the Algorithm, Support the Show
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