Australian Aviation Podcast Network

The COVID crisis may have receded, but with soaring inflation and war in Eastern Europe, aviation professionals are gearing up for more challenging years to come.

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation podcast, MGD Wealth's Alec Berry and Richard Marsden discuss what they're hearing from their clients working in frontline aviation roles.

They talk through how it's easier than you think to plan for unplanned events and why it's important to set short and long term goals for your finances.

Finally, the pair consider how young professionals entering the industry and even older hands can be prepared for future events that inevitably lead to disruption in the aviation industry.

The information in this podcast is current as at the date of the recording. Please note that past performance is not an indication of future performance. Any advice included in this podcast is general and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. As such, you should consider its appropriateness having regard to these factors before acting on it. Any tax information refers to current laws, is not based on your unique circumstances and should not be relied on as tax advice. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain financial product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.

Australians are finally getting back in the air, as seen during scenes of chaos at Australia's airports this week. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss the ins and outs of travelling overseas in a post-COVID world, in light of Hannah's recent trip to Bali. Plus, the team discusses the outrageous hours-long lines seen at Australia's major airports ahead of the Easter holiday season, and questions if the industry should accept any blame following two years of stand downs and redundancies. Finally, New Zealand's borders are set to open this week to Australians and visa holders, in what should be another major win for Oceania's airlines.

More than two years since our Black Summer, Australia is beginning to rethink how we fight bushfires in the air. On this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks to Wayne Coulson, the CEO of one of the world's leading aerial fighting companies. He talks about why we should be fighting fires at night; why companies, not governments, should lead innovation; and how technology is already helping us predict how fires will spread. Finally, the pair describes how seasons are becoming more intense and longer, and why we can't count on other countries for help.

How do big Australian primes work with smaller businesses in the supply chain? In this special podcast, host Adam Thorn interviews Chris Hess, Head of Industrial Development at Lockheed Martin Australia and Gavin New, the general manager of Ronson Gears. The pair have been working together on a range of projects across defence and aerospace and reveal the secrets behind making the relationship work, as well as dispelling some myths behind supply chain collaboration. Finally, Chris discusses the importance of Australia boosting its sovereign industry capability as industries emerge from the pandemic.

In this bonus episode of the Australian Aviation podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and MAJGEN (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson discuss the importance of Australian business, including the aviation sector, preparing for possible cyber threats. The pair begin by discussing MAJGEN (Ret'd) Thompson's recent opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review, which dives into Russia's history of cyber and information warfare, and the threat of Russian cyber-attacks being weaponised in reprisal against Australia for supporting Ukraine during the recent conflict. Both hosts continue by discussing the impact of cyber warfare on Australian businesses, and how many malicious actors work in concert with state-sponsored groups to exploit the cyber domain. The pair wraps up the podcast by analysing how cyber remains an integral part in both hybrid and greyzone warfare, and that foreign actors will continue to use cyber as an essential attack vector in future conflicts.

After missing out on our usual news-loaded podcasts for a few weeks, the team sure had plenty to catch up on this week. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling give you the run-down, spanning everything from flash floods, tensions in Europe and financial results. Plus, Bonza has seen turbulent times this week with the shock departure of its chief operating officer just months ahead of its planned launch and increasing scepticism from across the industry. Finally, learn more about how Australian Aviation is gearing up for its inaugural awards ceremony in what is going to be the industry's post-pandemic "night of nights".

In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Air Vice Marshall (Ret'd) John Quaife, AM, sit down to discuss John's new book Viking Boys. A former Air Commander Australia, John spent nearly three decades in the Royal Australian Air Force as a fighter pilot. After retiring from the force, he became a member of the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal, where he learnt incredible stories of untold and remarkable bravery and honour from Australian forces. Viking Boys tells the story of Beaufighter pilot James Hakewill and his navigator Fred Sides, who died on 5 December 1944 when their aircraft slammed into a German gunboat in a fjord in Norway. While official records contain no mention of the aircraft hitting the ship, John reveals what truly happened on 5 December 1944.

This week, start-up budget carrier Bonza lifted the lid on its initial route offerings, which includes 25 routes to 16 destinations, with base operations split between the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne. In this special bonus episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Hannah Dowling sits down with Bonza CEO Tim Jordan to talk through the airline's initial network, and learn more about the processes behind those tough decisions. Plus, Jordan shares insight into the negotiation process with airports, and where Bonza intends to go next. Finally, the CEO eases fears that some Bonza destinations aren't built for the 737 MAX, and reveals what he's most excited to see come launch day.

This week, the industry responded to the massive news that Australia will reopen its borders to tourists from 21 February, with airlines ramping up Australian schedules, and Tourism Australia dropping $40 million on a new campaign to drum up tourism interest. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss where we stand in terms of the mass return of international airlines to Australian shores, and which carriers are acting with caution. Plus, the "David versus Goliath"-esque network battle between Rex and Qantas is back in the headlines over the Flying Kangaroo's new Sydney-Broken Hill route. Finally, learn a little more about the newest job opening right here at Australian Aviation, and a feel-good story about a man who saved Victoria Police's first helicopter.