Australian Aviation Podcast Network

Queensland has opened its borders and Australia is planning to further lift international restrictions. But with Omicron lurking around the corner, could our progress be held back?

In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk about what all this means for our aviation industry.

Plus, new airline Bonza sprung a major surprise last week when it announced it was to quadruple its fleet of 737 MAXs. Should Qantas, Virgin and Rex be worried?

Finally, the team discusses the surprising return of the Albatross, which will be built in the NT.

Australia has recently accepted its latest delivery of F-35s – the fifth-generation fighter that represents the biggest upgrade in RAAF's capability in a generation. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Lockheed Martin Australia's Andy Doyle tells host Adam Thorn how they onboarded the platform to the country. The pair discuss what makes the aircraft so special, the scale of the program globally and how pilots, engineers and support staff were selected and trained to help with the transition. Finally, they also chat about keeping the F-35 program going during two challenging years of COVID.

This weekend's Wings Over Illawarra was probably the biggest gathering of fans of flight in two years, as attendees bid goodbye to the retiring Classic Hornet and welcomed its replacement, the F-35. Australian Aviation's Adam Thorn was there to interview some of the key industry figures in attendance. In this special episode, Adam records our podcast onboard a C-130 Hercules with one of its pilots, Flight Lieutenant Brendan Smith, who talks us through how this evergreen aircraft has adapted to the times.

Australia's unique geography arguably makes it more reliant on parapublic aviation services than most countries in the world. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn talks to Bell Flight's Dan McQuestin about how these services have evolved over the years. A helicopter pilot himself, McQuestin talks through the modern uses and advances in both police and search and rescue aircraft. Finally, he explains how the business is embracing and transitioning into the future, with remotely piloted and electric aircraft on the horizon.

The last fortnight has seen Qantas return the first of 10 Airbus A380s due to return to service for the airline by 2023, while Rex threw ice water on Bonza's fiery launch plans. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss the triumphant return of Qantas A380 VH-OQB, a move predicted by Hannah long before the news was made public. Plus, the team talks about comments made by Rex's John Sharp about upcoming budget competitor Bonza, and debates whether or not Bonza will take off. Finally, the crew reveals where we now stand on borders reopening, and what to expect from the latest edition of the Australian Aviation magazine.

Australia and New Zealand's aviation industries are nearly at the end of our COVID nightmare. But now what? In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Adam Thorn and Oceania Aviation's Dwayne McCalman discuss the challenges of the last 12 months and how we can work together to conquer them. They discuss difficulties over supply chains, freight shortages and border closures, and McCalman explains how Oceania has found ways to mitigate those issues to keep essential aircraft in the air. Plus, insight into how the industry should work harder to encourage the next generation to take up careers in engineering, as we battle tough skill shortages.

Where were we? Oh yes, COVID, border closures, lockdowns, thousands upon thousands of redundancies, lawsuits and the worst two years in aviation since World War II. But on the Australian Aviation podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Adam Thorn celebrate, if not the very end of the pandemic, certainly the moment the corner has been turned. On today's episode, the team discusses just what the opening of international borders means for a weary nation, as Qantas operates its iconic QF1 flight from Sydney to London once again. Plus, we ask, can new airline Bonza really find lucrative new routes in a market already dominated by three main players?

Earlier this month, startup airline Bonza broke cover to reveal a plan to fly "point-to-point" leisure routes not serviced by Qantas, Virgin and Rex with a fleet of two to three new 737 MAXs. Now founder Tim Jordan tells the Australian Aviation Podcast host Adam Thorn how he plans to find a niche for his business against stiff competition. The pair also talk about why Bonza has chosen the MAX, what he'll do if rivals decide to compete on their routes, when it will launch and how the industry will recover from COVID. Plus, ex-Virgin Blue executive Jordan reveals why he's passionate about budget travel.

This week saw huge announcements out of NSW and Queensland confirming their plans to reopen international borders before the end of this year. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn and reporters Hannah Dowling and Bella Richards discuss the NSW Premier's bombshell announcement to drop all quarantine requirements for returning overseas travellers. Plus, the team ponders all the remaining unanswered questions surrounding exactly how Australia will emerge from its 18-month hibernation from the rest of the world. Finally, the crew unveils CASA's new mandate for Upset Prevention and Recovery Training and what this means for the industry.

Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Aimee Heal is the second-ever female member of the RAAF's aerobatic display team The Roulettes, currently serving as Roulette Seven. In this episode of Sky's The Limit, hosts Anna Grbas and Hannah Dowling sit down with Aimee to hear about her adrenaline-fuelled days piloting Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, and her role as the only full-time Roulette. Plus, Aimee shares her experience rising through the ranks of the RAAF after first enrolling in the Australian Defence Force Academy straight out of high school. Finally, she shares the best advice she'd give to her younger self, and to younger women looking to take on a future career in the RAAF and aviation.