Australian Aviation Podcast Network

It's been a long, 18-month COVID pandemic, but it looks like commercial international flights to Australia could return sooner than we would have thought. This week, a returning Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk through what a restart could mean for our industry. Will the announcement of a firm date spark more carriers into joining Qantas from 14 November? Plus, the pair talk about the other big topics, including NSW's new Premier, the RAAF replacing its damaged Growler and a record 17-hour repatriation flight. Finally, what are the ramifications from Google's announcement that it is sending delivery drones from a shopping mall roof direct to people's homes?

It seems like an age ago now, but pre-COVID, Australia was battling another crisis with its 'Black Summer' bushfires – the worst in living memory. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, former NSW fire commissioner Greg Mullins explains why climate change means bigger fires will soon be a regular reality. He also talks to host Adam Thorn about the state of play with our aerial firefighting fleet and why the federal government must do more to prevent another disaster. Finally, Mullins speaks about the reality of fighting fires on the front line, and why it runs in his blood.

This week, debate continued to wage over the state of Australia's domestic and international borders, as Queensland and Western Australia stand strong on their hard borders.

In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn and reporter Hannah Dowling discuss where we stand in our journey towards the re-opening of state and international borders.

Plus, the team reveals NSW's roadmap out of lockdown, and how this will impact the aviation sector.

Finally, the crew discusses Qantas' major move away from Perth, as the state's borders cause the airline to reconsider its flagship London-Perth route.

As Victoria and NSW's long lockdowns linger on, the aviation industry is quietly readying itself for the quicker-than-thought return of international travel. In this week's episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling ask if the industry is prepared to get planes flying again, with confusion over how COVID-safe protocols will work. And with foreign airlines circling to snap up locked-down Aussie aviation workers, does the industry have a plan to keep hold of its best people? Finally, the pair discuss the future of vaccine passports as Rex opts in as the UK opts out.

As chief remote pilot at the CSIRO, Amanda Meys has trailblazed through a very impressive career in risk management, drone piloting, maintenance and military aviation, just to name a few In this episode of Sky's The Limit, hosts Anna Grbas and Hannah Dowling sit down with Amanda to discuss her early career in military aviation, and her sheer determination to pursue avionics engineering. Plus, Amanda shares her insight to the next generation of drone pilots hoping to find their way in the RPAS space. Finally, she unveils why Australia has played such a critical role in the development of drone technologies, and become a global leader in the RPAS space.

Australian states are gearing up to end lockdowns and we're being told we'll soon have to learn to live with the virus. But are we ready to? In this episode, Phil and Adam discuss what needs to be done for airports to be ready to open borders domestically and, crucially, internationally. The pair also ask why major foreign airlines are so keen to hire Aussie pilots, and whether we'll be left short in a post-COVID world? Finally, what actually goes on in desert boneyards, and why is the work so secret?

This year's R U OK? Day serves as an important reminder to open up the conversation on mental health, both in the workplace and at home, according to David Coleman, member for Banks and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

In this special episode, join Momentum Media director Alex Whitlock as he speaks to Mr Coleman.

Together, the pair discuss the importance of shining a spotlight on mental health issues, share why the consequences of stigmatising mental health are significant, and reveal how you can make a difference to your workplace, community, family and friends.

While COVID has generated headlines for grounding commercial airlines, it's also forced those in the MRO sector to quickly innovate to keep their clients airborne. In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks to the CEO of Salus Aviation, Greg Edmonds. He talks about the group's New Zealand owned and operated business Oceania Aviation, which offers nose-to-tail MRO support for rotary and fixed-wing operators. The pair discuss the challenges of the past year, closed borders, expanding across the Tasman, and sourcing the best talent globally. Plus, with hybrid aircraft and eVTOLS on the brink of breaking through, what's next for the industry as a whole?

After two months in a COVID slumber, Qantas finally poked its head up to reveal its full-year financial results.

And while the loss was predictable, far more interesting was its ambitious plan to get flying again this year, and bring its A380s back earlier than expected.

In this episode, Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss the politics behind the story, and which of its A380s will be the first to leave the desert to return.

Plus, why has Qatar's Hamad airport been named the best in world despite the invasive search of Australian women returning home last year?

This week, the RAAF's attempts to evacuate thousands of Australians from Kabul Airport in Afghanistan became mainstream news.

In this episode, Phil and Adam talk about the latest updates and discuss whether the war in Afghanistan was always unwinnable.

Plus, COVID and aviation stories intertwine again as state premiers appear to diverge on when the country should open up.

Finally, the pair talk through the latest issue of the Australian Aviation print magazine.