🎙️ 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 2026 aviation year kicked off with a brutal reality check for South African operators: a single sick call at OR Tambo was enough to push the entire ATC system over the edge. But this isn't just about delays; it's about a system running on margins so thin they no longer exist. In this episode, we break down the operational risks of the ATC crisis, why maintenance test flights are becoming a lethal blind spot, and the truth about Kenya Airways' massive expansion plan. Plus, we look at why the FAA is terrified of passengers grabbing their bags during evacuations and why a poster at the gate won't stop them.

⏱️ TIME-STAMPED FLIGHT PLAN

00:00 Welcome Back: The 2026 Reality Check

01:57 South Africa's ATC Crisis: How ONE Sick Call Triggered Chaos

06:43 Floods and Mudstrips: The Lowveld Charter Nightmare

10:26 Amsterdam's De-Icing Meltdown & The €600 Compensation Reality

12:47 Why Maintenance Test Flights Are More Dangerous Than You Think

16:42 Kenya Airways' Bold Plan: 59 Aircraft by 2032—Can They Do It?

19:23 Tech Update: Starlink's Expansion & Nvidia's Role in Aviation

20:48 AI in the Flight Deck: Decision Support or Dangerous Dependency?

21:37 The Reality of AI for Complex vs. Simple Pilot Tasks

22:31 How AI Will Change Operational Decision Making by 2028

23:32 Leveraging Tech Without Losing Your Command Instincts

27:37 Boeing Delivered 600 Aircraft in 2025—Here's What It Means

32:44 FAA's New Evacuation Rule: Why Passengers Will Still Grab Their Bags

37:27 The US Ban on DJI Drones: What It Means for Pilots

39:05 Off-Duty: Rugby, UFC, and F1 Predictions

40:44 Final Approach & What's Coming This Season

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Leadership under pressure. Clear thinking. Calm execution. A practical framework for pilots and professionals who want to sharpen judgment and improve their command presence. The full product suite includes the Kaizen and the Art of Command course, micro-lessons, downloadable briefings, and the Kaizen Command AI Mentor.

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