Larry Chappell knows more about classic Airbus helicopters than perhaps anyone alive today. 

Having started with the company in 1983 — before MBB merged with Areospatiale to create Eurocopter — Larry has a remarkable amount of insight about helicopters, and how they work. 

In this episode, Larry will give us an overview of his extraordinary career, from flying in the the deserts of Iran to the Amazon rainforest. 

We’ll take a look at the early history and development of the BK117, and why that specific airframe has stood the test of time. 

Then, later in the episode, Larry will recount a harrowing experience of his that occurred while flying in Peru…a story that — when I first heard it — shaped my outlook on safety…and may have saved my life. 

As aviation propels into the second quarter of this century, we’re learning more than ever that the best aircraft designs consider the humanity of aviators — their strengths, their shortcomings…their very nature. 

Raphael Paquin and Fabien Bernard are experts in human factors engineering. They work together at Airbus in France, where they find new ways to bring flying closer to the human experience. 

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Raphael and Fabien about their work. We’ll look at all things human factors, from the emerging use of augmented reality in maintenance, to the century-old method Japanese metro workers use to increase safety by 84%. And much more. 

Seth Buttner has investigated over 400 accidents in a career spanning 30 years. Formerly with Cessna, Seth works today as the senior investigator for Airbus Helicopters.

In this conversation, Seth will trace his career back to the start. How did a boy piecing together a model airplane in his father’s office go on to work accident cases in Chile, Russia, and beyond? Also, we'll talk about the surreal nature of accident sites, what it takes to be a successful investigator, and much more. 

In this solo episode, I'm looking back in history to the first fatal heavier-than-air accident, and the insights we can draw from Orville Wright and the death of Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge. Along the way, I’ll look at a few other historical accidents, and how they might apply to those of us flying today. 

Perhaps you’ve been here before — flying, not long after takeoff, when you encounter low ceilings. Before departure, your weather app indicated everything was clear...You may have just become a a victim of Green Dot Syndrome, according to our guest today. 

Matt Johnson flies for Metro Aviation, at an air ambulance program based in Southwestern Ohio. An accomplished pilot and pilot examiner, Matt is one of the industry’s most forward-thinkers when it comes to our working relationship with weather. 

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Matt about Green Dot Syndrome, and the steps we can take to prevent it. Also, Matt will tell us about his work as an examiner, and how the recently adopted airman’s certification standards are changing testing in the US. 

Lindsay Cunningham is a former accident investigator for Airbus. Today, she works as Managing Director for Helisim in the United States, where she facilitates the cutting-edge of simulation training. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Lindsey about the psychology of accident investigation; how to avoid false starts and misleading conclusions.

Rusty Sloane is a lecturer at Baylor University’s aviation program, where he prepares student pilots for careers in the airlines. A former coast guard helicopter pilot, Rusty spent several years flying with me here at Airbus. 

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Rusty about finding one's place as a pilot, a student, a leader, and everything in-between. We’ll look at the truth behind the pilot shortage, the importance of camaraderie, and much more.

Chris Baur (US Helicopter Safety Team) returns to the show to speak about the power of volunteer work in aviation — how we can take the lessons we’ve learned at any level of experience, use them to enrich the lives of others, and, in doing so, enrich our own lives as well. 

Perhaps nothing today exemplifies the strides our industry is making more than the Airbus RACER , an experimental compound helicopter that made its first flight in April of this year. With reported ability to reach unprecedented speeds while maintaining groundbreaking efficiency, RACER is changing aviation as we know it.

As the chief test pilot for Airbus, Herve Jammyrac is front and center in the development of the RACER. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Herve about his work as a test pilot, his experience on the RACER program, and the exciting things just around the corner of our industry. 

Jeff Trang is a lifelong test pilot. His flying played a part in certificating some of the most widely-flown airframes today. For several years, Jeff was my boss here at Airbus; today, he’s the head of the National Test Pilot School, a civilian test pilot training institute in the Mojave desert. 

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Jeff about his life, his work, and what it means to serve as a link between those who develop aircraft, and the pilots who fly them day-to-day.