Australian Aviation Podcast Network

If the last year was stressful, then spare a thought for the one man directly involved in every twist and turn, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine.

In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Adam Thorn speaks to one of the industry's most influential figures about the biggest stories of the last few months.

The pair discuss the union's rocky relationship with Qantas and its chief executive, Alan Joyce, whether Virgin really is genuine about its promises to become a mid-market carrier, and Rex's entry into the Golden Triangle.

Finally, the pair talk about JobKeeper and what will happen if it doesn't continue for aviation at the end of next month.

In this episode of Australian Aviation Podcast, Mark Burgess, managing director and CEO of Quickstep, joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss his firm's growing contribution to Australian Industry Capability.

Burgess explains how Quickstep has transformed in recent years to become one of Australia's most promising defence and aerospace companies, supporting key Defence projects, including the Joint Strike Fighter program.

The CEO also discusses the importance of building Australia's sovereign industrial capability, noting how Quickstep is working to foster greater local participation in the defence industry supply chain.

Finally, Burgess unveils how the ASX-listed company plans to leverage its recent acquisition of a Boeing subsidiary to support Quickstep's growth ambitions.

As the industry starts to – haphazardly, maybe – emerge from COVID crisis, there are worries as to whether we're going to have enough skilled professionals left when normality returns.

This week, host Phil Tarrant and guests Christian "Boo" Boucousis and Adam "Brains" Thorn talk about how a perfect storm of factors, from stand-downs to retirements and young people looking elsewhere, could damage the recovery.

Plus, the team discusses the upcoming centenary of the RAAF and why it matters, and a new ticket war between Qantas, Virgin and Rex.

Finally, the boys chat about whether the border crisis will ever end, and how the Victoria lockdown affects the industry.

From age seven, Damien Toohey dreamed of becoming a pilot but took up law instead, before retraining to fulfil his true aviation ambitions in 1999.

But when COVID hit, he combined the two: working in law as a barrister but on aviation-related matters.

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant speaks to a man who thought on his feet to survive as the industry went through the most difficult period in its history.

He talks his final flight from Australia to London, getting back up after being knocked down and fighting off imposter syndrome.

While 2020 was a challenging year for traditional aviation, COVID encouraged many airline pilots to transfer to flying drones, while governments began to embrace the burgeoning UAV revolution.

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks to Ross Anderson and Rowan Kimber from leading drone training centre Aviassist.

The panel discusses the raw skills required to make the transition, the unique challenge of flying beyond the line of sight and how the space is evolving.

Finally, the team debates how the world of manned and remotely piloted aircraft will co-exist and amalgamate in future – can we really remove the people in the cockpit?

After Victoria welcomed thousands of tennis players and coaches into the country for the Australian Open, a fuming Alan Joyce returned serve to point out its hypocrisy.

Why, he asked, was Victoria allowing people to enter from where "the virus was raging" but not from Sydney, where case numbers are some of the lowest in the world?

This week, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn take to their soapboxes to go through the issue in detail and ask what a better response could have been.

Plus, the team chats about the change to the top team at Virgin, a surge in domestic passengers in December and the arrival of another Antonov An-124-100 at Avalon Airport.

As the domestic aviation industry entered Christmas, it looked like COVID was beat with almost all borders open. Australia was united again.

But the celebration quickly became a nightmare as an outbreak in Sydney's Northern Beaches sent the area into lockdown and spooked state leaders into reimposing restrictions.

In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and Adam Thorn discuss how the next few months will pan out, and how big a setback this is.

Plus, the team ask why Qantas started selling international flights for winter, and whether Deputy PM Michael McCormack was right to launch an angry rebuke.

Australia, relatively speaking, seemed to have won COVID and performed well. But how and when the country opens poses a huge challenge.

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn talk about how politics, science and aviation will collide in 2021.

Will hotel quarantine remain? Will we need to be vaccinated to travel? Are airlines sticking or twisting in bringing planes and staff back?

Finally, the pair predict the date the New Zealand travel bubble will open.

After the year from hell comes the year of change. 2021 will see airlines scramble to regain market share and stake their claim in the post-COVID world.

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn run through what are likely to be the biggest stories of the new year.

Will Rex muscle their way into the Golden Triangle? Can Virgin win the mid-market war? And how will the industry cope when financial aid comes to an end?

Finally, the pair discuss the upcoming drone revolution that will surely take place. Does the technology have the potential to disrupt traditional aviation?

Where were we again? Oh, yes. Border closures, stand-downs, union rows, arrival caps, parked planes, hotel isolation and lockdowns.

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Phil Tarrant and guest Adam Thorn run through the biggest-rated stories of the year.

They talk about the moments that made the headlines, as well as the context behind it.

Plus, the team reflects on the amazing achievement that is Qantas reaching its centenary.