Talking Flight

Alaska Airlines Captain Mike Swanigan interviews the interesting people he has met during his flying career.

Episode 68: Captain Tad Santino 03/03/2025

Episode 68: Captain Tad Santino Retired Captain Tad Santino joins us on this episode of Talking Flight. He shares the story of his journey from being a gate agent for a regional airline to becomming a Captain for Alaska Airlines. Tad had many adventures along the way and tells us how hard work, solid relationships, and a positive attitude provided the fuel for a fantastic career. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/35519085

Episode 67: USAF Academy Cadet Jaylen Palmer 10/18/2024

Episode 67: USAF Academy Cadet Jaylen Palmer We're excited to have US Air Force Academy Cadet Jaylen Palmer on Talking Flight to share his journey to earning admission to the prestigious Service Academy. At just 20 years old, Jaylen is our youngest guest yet. His aviation career started early—before even graduating high school, he had already earned his Private Pilot’s License, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot’s License. Jaylen’s story is a testament to what a motivated and focused young person can achieve, with the added support of an amazing family! If you are a student who is interested in attending the Academy, Jaylen gives us some great advice on how to make it happen. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/33508122

Episode 66: Podcaster and Corporate Pilot Captain Rick Jones 09/23/2024

Episode 66: Podcaster and Corporate Pilot Captain Rick Jones Mike Swanigan interviews Corporate Pilot and Podcaster Captain Rick Jones. Rick pilots a Dassault 7X jet for a private owner and is also the host of "The RMFJ Podcast", currently trending on Spotify and other podcast platforms. Rick was a guest on a previous episode of Talking Flight. If you missed it, check out episode 27, where we dive deep into the early days of his career. In today’s episode, Rick shares his journey toward his dream of flying for Alaska Airlines and the dedication it took to get there. However, the economic downturn of 2008 shifted his path, leading him to a second career, flying a private jet to destinations all over the world. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/33162257

Episode 65: Mr. Dexter Cox, Author of "Dancing With The Devil, Memoirs of a Pilot" 06/29/2024

Episode 65: Mr. Dexter Cox, Author of "Dancing With The Devil, Memoirs of a Pilot" Dexter Cox is the author of one of my favorite aviation books. Dancing with the Devil is a wild ride chronicling Dexter’s long career as a general aviation pilot. As a teenager entering the world of aviation, Dexter quickly realized the importance of learning from other people’s and his own mistakes. That mentality helped him to survive several close calls in the air and on the ground. We shared a few great stories from his book, but there is much more to discover within its pages. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/31942382

Episode 64: Captain Michael Rinehart 06/01/2024

Episode 64: Captain Michael Rinehart Retired Alaska Airlines Captain Michael Rinehart is our guest on today's edition of Talking Flight. We have a great conversation about his childhood as an “Airline Brat,” including summers spent traveling with his dad, a Captain for Braniff International Airlines. Mike started college at UNLV on a golf scholarship but later transferred to Arizona State University to enroll in their aviation degree program. Michael shares his story of his rapid progression as a young pilot with Braniff Airlines, which unfortunately went out of business due to financial problems. After Braniff's collapse, Michael found a new opportunity with Alaska Airlines. At Alaska, Mike became well known for his efforts in the late 1980s to launch the airline’s groundbreaking Crew Resource Management Program, helping it develop into a model that remains respected today throughout the industry. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/31562652

Episode 63: Captain Joe Kohler 04/27/2024

Episode 63: Captain Joe Kohler Captain Joe Kohler is a former Naval Aviator who went to work for Northwest Airlines after leaving the U.S. Navy. Northwest Airlines later merged with Delta Airlines, where he finished his amazing flying career. We have a wide-ranging conversation with Joe where he tells us about Navy Aircraft Carrier Operations and his experiences as a commercial airline pilot flying both Boeing and Airbus Airliners. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/31013533

Episode 62: US Army Chief Warrant Officer Ron Warren (retired) 03/11/2024

Episode 62: US Army Chief Warrant Officer Ron Warren (retired) Welcome to Season 2 of Talking Flight. Our guest today is Chief Warrant Officer Ron Warren. He is a distinguished Army veteran with a career that has taken him from the Utah Army National Guard where he served as a Military Policeman, and later, he transferred to the Regular Army where he became a Dog Handler. Ron and his dog were later assigned to a Special Forces team performing combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The team was transported and protected by superbly skilled and battle-hardened Army helicopter crews. Ron was impressed by the skill and coolness of these pilots, and he had no idea that he would later join that elite group of aviators and lead other helicopter pilots into battle. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/30324178

Episode 61: Alaska Airlines Captain Gary Ellington 05/25/2023

Episode 61: Alaska Airlines Captain Gary Ellington Captain Gary "Duke" Ellington is a veteran Captain for Alaska Airlines. Gary went from being a high school football player to a pilot for the US Navy. After the Navy, Gary was hired by Alaska Airlines and has been there for over 20 years. Duke describes how he overcame some of his college and Naval Flight Training struggles. Captain Ellington is the recipient of the prestigious Alaska Airlines Legend Award in recognition of his exceptional service to his passengers and his fellow employees. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/26953977

Episode 60. Mr. Paul Salerno, CEO of OmniSMS 12/01/2022

Episode 60. Mr. Paul Salerno, CEO of OmniSMS Paul Salerno and his brother Bruce started SalAir, a cargo airline in 1980 that served the salmon industry in Alaska. The company grew into to regional cargo airline that provided feeder air service to the major cargo airlines during the 1980s and 1990s. They began by building a fleet of the iconic DC-3 aircraft and later added several Convair 440s to the airline. Mr. Salerno served as the airline's owner and chief pilot, and they went 15 years without a major accident. Unfortunately, in 1995 the carrier had three major accidents that resulted in four fatalities. After the tragic losses at SalAir, Paul took the lessons from those crashes and leaned into the discipline of Aviation Safety. He built a new company, OmniSMS, that develops safety systems and certification programs for companies serving the aerospace industry. The website is www.omnisms.aero /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/25192842

Episode 59: Frontier Airlines Captain Michael Pittman 06/30/2022

Episode 59: Frontier Airlines Captain Michael Pittman Michael Pittman is a Captain for Frontier Airlines. He is presently serving the company as a Line Check Airman and he lives in Mesa, Arizona. Captain Pittman graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Aviation Management, where he also obtained all of his flight ratings as part of his college education. Michael's first job as a high school student was being a baseball umpire. At the time, He had no idea that the skills that he learned running an officiating crew would later be helpful in his aviation career. Captain Pittman tells us what it takes to work your way into a successful career in aviation. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/23594450

Episode 58: Captain Mike Baumgartner 06/06/2022

Episode 58: Captain Mike Baumgartner We sit down with my long-time friend, Captain Mike Baumgartner. We met as classmates while attending Alaska Airlines 737-200 initial training in 1984. Captain Baumgartner's dream of becoming a pilot began when he was a young child traveling from Seattle to Switzerland to visit his grandparents. Mike used hard work to achieve his dream of becoming an airline pilot. He tells us about flying the DC3 and making landings and take-offs on several beaches in Alaska to haul loads of fish to market. Captain Mike flew his last flight for Alaska on the same route where his flying career started. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/23345216

Episode 57: Mr. Ross Belfiore, Aviation Maintenance Instructor 03/05/2022

Episode 57: Mr. Ross Belfiore, Aviation Maintenance Instructor Ross Belfiore is a 20-year veteran Aircraft Maintenance Technician at Alaska Airlines. He tells us what it takes to earn the proper FAA credentials to enter the Aircraft Maintenance Field and how he was able to achieve early seniority at Alaska Airlines. Whenever I had a maintenance problem in San Francisco, Ross was often the Technician who responded to fix the problem. If Ross says that your jet is fixed and ready to fly, you know that one of the best people in the business has solved your problem. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/22345760

Episode 55: Flight to Russia 02/18/2022

Episode 55: Flight to Russia Captain Mike Swanigan tells us the story of the most memorable trip of his career. In June of 1991, Alaska Airlines started service from Anchorage, Alaska to the former USSR (Russia) flying a specially-equipped Boeing 727-200. Mike was selected to be on the crew of the inaugural flight, and he learned that flying in the former Soviet Union (Russia) presented some unique challenges. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/22186064

Episode 55: Alaska Airlines First Officer Chazmin Peters 02/07/2022

Episode 55: Alaska Airlines First Officer Chazmin Peters Chazmin "Chaz" Peters joins us on the podcast to tell about her transformation from a very shy little girl in elementary school to her present status as an experienced Airline Pilot. We recorded this interview just a couple of days before Chaz gave birth to her first child, a beautiful baby girl. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/22042799

Episode 54: Captain David Glick 12/29/2021

Episode 54: Captain David Glick Captain David Glick is one of the most respected pilots at Alaska Airlines. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/21628439

Episode 53: Horizon Seattle Base Chief Pilot Captain Kisa Wiley 09/02/2021

Episode 53: Horizon Seattle Base Chief Pilot Captain Kisa Wiley Mike Swanigan interviews Captain Kisa Wiley. She is the Seattle Base Chief Pilot at Horizon Air, which is a subsidiary of the Alaska Air Group. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/20342477

Episode 52: Pilot Hiring Boards 07/26/2021

Episode 52: Pilot Hiring Boards Getting hired by a major or Regional Airline is often a difficult and drawn-out process. The most intimidating part is facing a Pilot Hiring Board (Sometimes called a Captains Board). /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/19937945

Episode 51: Alaska Airlines Captain Millison "Mill" Fambles 06/21/2021

Episode 51: Alaska Airlines Captain Millison "Mill" Fambles Captain Millison Fambles is from Longview, Texas and he was awarded a college scholarship from The Lady Bird Johnson foundation. Lady Bird was the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and she served as the first lady of the United States from 1963 until January of 1969. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/19556915

Episode 50: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain David "D.R." Smith 04/24/2021

Episode 50: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain David "D.R." Smith Captain David “D.R.” Smith is the second guest on our podcast named David Smith. There were two pilots named David Smith at Alaska Airlines, so we called this particular David Smith “D.R.” to minimize the confusion of which David Smith that we were referring to. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/18846170

Episode 9: Alaska Airlines Captain Blake Gibson 04/08/2021

Episode 9: Alaska Airlines Captain Blake Gibson This is one of my favorite Talking Flight Episodes. It was originally released in 2013. Blake Gibson is one of the most respected pilots at Alaska Airlines. He is a Check Airman and an FAA Aircrew Program Designee. Blake tells us how he achieved his childhood dream of becoming an Airline Pilot. He shares some exciting stories of his "Freight Dog" days flying around thunderstorms in the southern US. He also talks about how he got himself out of trouble at the Chicago O'Hare Airport. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/18658133

Episode 49: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain Michael DiBello 02/11/2021

Episode 49: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain Michael DiBello Mike DiBello is a former Navy Squadron Commander, and he later served as the Boeing 737 Fleet Captain at Alaska Airlines. His first exposure to aviation came when his father took him to Boston's Logan International Airport to watch airplanes take off and land. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/17919224

Episode 48: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain David J. Smith 12/03/2020

Episode 48: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain David J. Smith David J Smith was hired by Braniff Airlines in the late 1970s . At that time, more than 70 percent of the pilots hired by US Airlines had a Military background. A few years after David joined Braniff Airlines, the company fell into financial hardship and David's job went away. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/17043119

Episode 47: Captain Michael Hendrix Returns to Talking Flight 11/14/2020

Episode 47: Captain Michael Hendrix Returns to Talking Flight Captain Michael Hendrix joins us on this edition of Talking Flight. He was our very first guest when we started the podcast. At the time, he was a First Officer at Alaska Airlines. He subsequently upgraded to Captain on the Boeing 737 and he retired in January of 2020. Michael tells us about the various training events that he went through during his career. When he upgraded to Captain at Alaska Airlines, he was shocked at how it differed from the world of being a First Officer. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/16809311

Episode 46: Air Wisconsin First Officer Hunter Bevis 06/17/2020

Episode 46: Air Wisconsin First Officer Hunter Bevis Our guest today is Air Wisconsin First Officer Hunter Bevis. Hunter is the son of one of our previous guests, Mr. Bob Bonjukian, who was a Director of Flight Control for Alaska Airlines. Even though he grew up in an Airline family, Hunter did not start flight training until he was 35 years old. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/14853089

Episode 45: Mr. Stefan Holt, WNBC Anchor and Private Pilot 04/16/2020

Episode 45: Mr. Stefan Holt, WNBC Anchor and Private Pilot Stefan Holt is one of the News Anchors at WNBC Television in New York City. He is also a Private Pilot with an Instrument Rating. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/14017631

Episode 44: Alaska Airlines Captain Elliot Wilson 02/06/2020

Episode 44: Alaska Airlines Captain Elliot Wilson Our guest on this show is my long time friend, Alaska Airlines Captain Elliot Wilson. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/13050011

Episode 43: Mr. Tom Clark, General Aviation Pilot 02/02/2020

Episode 43: Mr. Tom Clark, General Aviation Pilot Mike sits down with his long time friend, Tom Clark, to talk about his passion for flying airplanes. Tom has had an amazing broadcast career and he is presently working as the Film Commissioner for the State of South Carolina. He has a Commercial Pilot Certificate and a Certified Flight Instructor License. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/12984593

Episode 42: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain Mike Swanigan 12/31/2019

Episode 42: Retired Alaska Airlines Captain Mike Swanigan Mike Swanigan is his own guest on Talking Flight. His longtime friend, Tom Clark, interviews him on this podcast. Tom is a veteran broadcaster and he is the voice on the intro to Talking Flight. He is presently serving as the Commissioner of the South Carolina Film Commission. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/12576557

Episode 41: Alaska Airlines Captain Kevin Kay 11/07/2019

Episode 41: Alaska Airlines Captain Kevin Kay Captain Kevin Kay is the first former Fighter Pilot to join us on Talking Flight. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/11947757

Episode 40: Beth Ruggiero York Tells Us About Her Book, Flying Alone 09/30/2019

Episode 40: Beth Ruggiero York Tells Us About Her Book, Flying Alone We sit down with Aviation Author Beth Ruggiero York and talk about her new book Flying Alone, a memoir. /episode/index/show/talkingflight/id/11454617

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