Nick Sinopoli is the creator ICARUS, a smart view limiting device that is revolutionizing IFR training. With a screen visor mounted to a hat or helmet, ICARUS allows its user to seamlessly move between levels of visibility, with a peripheral range not possible with earlier training tools.

I spoke with Nick about ICARUS, and why it’s making such an impact in the industry…but I was just as interested in his story — how a pilot at his lowest point channeled frustration into innovation. 

Unintended flight into IMC is one of the most severe risks we face as pilots. If you haven't been there, it's a hard thing to fathom — flying into the clouds, quickly losing all orientation. 

Our guest today is John Roberts. John is the Senior Training Manager at the Transportation Safety Institute. In a previous career, John flew helicopters in the army, where he retired with the rank of CW 5. 

In this episode, John will tell the story of a UIMC event he survived while flying in the army. What was his thought process as he entered the clouds? And what decisions were key to his survival? 

Also — we'll speak with John about his current work at TSI, the evolution of UIMC training equipment, and much more. 

This is the fourth and final episode of our mini-series on Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow. In it, we focus on his insights into human behavior and how we can apply them to aviation. We'll discuss anchoring and "the possibility effect" — how we undervalue likely outcomes while overvaluing unlikely ones.

This is the third part of our series exploring the work of psychologist Daniel Kahneman, and how it relates to aviation. In this episode, we’re looking at cognitive ease and our tendency to mistake correlation for causation.

This is the second part of our series exploring the work of psychologist Daniel Kahneman, and how it relates to aviation. In Episode 1, we laid the groundwork by introducing our two modes of thought: System 1 — the fast, instinctive system — and System 2 — the slow, logical one. Today, we’re looking at heuristics; the mental shortcuts our minds use to make quick decisions.

There has been perhaps no greater influence on my views of human behavior than Daniel Kahneman’s 2011 book, Thinking Fast And Slow. In the book, Kahneman — a psychologist — makes the case that human behavior is driven by the interplay of two differing modes of thought: System 1 — the fast, instinctive system — and System 2 — the slow, logical one.

If you’ve listened to this podcast, you’ve almost certainly heard me reference this book. I believe that understanding Kahneman will help us better diagnose the problems we face as pilots. 

And so, for the next four episodes, released each Thursday over the next four weeks, I’m going straight to the source — exploring Kahneman’s book and directly relating his ideas to aviation. 

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.