In this episode of Runway Life, Craig sits down with Andrew Barton, a legacy airline First Officer soon upgrading to Captain, to talk honestly about what airline pilot work-life balance is really like.

We cover the topics pilots and their families care about most:

• What airline schedules look like early vs later in your career
• How seniority directly affects quality of life
• The reality of marriage and family life as an airline pilot
• Flying on holidays, weekends, and birthdays
• How upgrading to Captain changes schedule flexibility
• What aspiring airline pilots don’t realize about long-term lifestyle

This is a candid conversation for:

• Pilots considering the airline career path
• Spouses and families wanting to understand the lifestyle
• CFIs and commercial pilots thinking long-term about quality of life

If you’ve ever wondered whether the airline job is “worth it” beyond the paycheck, this episode gives you a real-world look from someone living it.

In this episode of Runway Life, Craig sits down with Alyshia of the AeroStar Training Services team to break down what pilots really need to know about ATP CTP courses, type ratings, and the current airline hiring environment.

We discuss:

• What ATP CTP is and who actually needs it
• The ATP CTP courses AeroStar offers and how they differ
• Aircraft type ratings available through AeroStar
• Why some pilots are choosing to complete ATP CTP or a type rating before an airline interview
• How today’s pilot hiring market is influencing training decisions
• Common misconceptions about getting typed early
• What recruiters are actually looking for right now

Whether you’re a commercial pilot building time, preparing for your ATP, or deciding if additional training makes sense before an interview, this episode gives you real-world insight straight from a training provider working directly with today’s airline pipeline.

In this episode of Runway Life, Craig sits down with Chief Pilot Jim Williams for a deep dive into one of the most debated topics in aviation: the 1500 Hour Rule.

We break down where the rule came from, how the Colgan Air 3407 crash directly influenced the legislation, and how today’s airline industry applies (and debates) the rule when hiring and training new pilots.

Whether you’re a student pilot, a flight instructor, or an aspiring airline pilot, this conversation gives you the real history, the facts behind the safety changes, and how the rule impacts pilot training, hour-building, regional airlines, and the pilot shortage.

In this episode of Runway Life, host Craig Butterworth sits down with First Landings Aviation Chief Pilot James Williams to break down the recent WestJet incident at St. Maarten (SXM).

A viral video led many to believe it was a “hard landing,” but the truth is far more complex. James explains what actually happened on short final, why the aircraft reacted the way it did, and how a specific equipment failure caused the dramatic touchdown seen across social media.

Whether you’re a student pilot, a commercial pilot, or an aviation enthusiast, this episode will help you better understand real-world aircraft systems failures, pilot decision-making, and how media often mischaracterizes aviation events.

www.firstlandingsaviation.com
James Williams – Chief Pilot, First Landings Aviation

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes of Runway Life featuring real pilots, mechanics, and flight school experts.

#pilot #aviation #westjet #stmaarten #SXM #planespotting #runwaylife #aviationsafety #pilotpodcast #firstlandingsaviation

Craig sits down with pilot Adam Barney to hear his unbelievable survival story after experiencing dual engine failure and being forced to ditch his aircraft in the ocean off Key West. What started as a routine flight quickly turned into a fight for survival as Adam lost both engines and had no choice but to attempt a water landing.

From the moment he called Mayday to the dramatic rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard, local police, and the involvement of the FAA and NTSB, Adam recounts the harrowing details of what it’s like to face the unthinkable — a forced ocean landing.

This episode of Runway Life takes you inside the cockpit during one of aviation’s most feared emergencies and shows how preparation, training, and sheer willpower can make the difference between life and death.

✈️ If you’re a pilot, aviation enthusiast, or just love survival stories, you won’t want to miss this one.

#Aviation #PilotStory #ForcedLanding #KeyWest #RunwayLifePodcast #EngineFailure #SurvivalStory #AviationPodcast #FlightTraining #GeneralAviation

In this episode of Runway Life, Adam Barney shares the unforgettable night when his airplane lost power over a dark runway. With his wife in the back seat and a flight instructor beside him, Adam had to circle over a grass strip with no margin for error. Hear what went through his mind, how training prepared him for the moment, and what every pilot can learn from this real-life emergency.

Whether you’re a student pilot, a seasoned aviator, or just curious about what happens when an engine quits in flight, this is a must-watch story of quick decision-making, teamwork, and survival in the cockpit.

#Aviation, #PilotStory, #EmergencyLanding, #EngineFailure, #RunwayLife, #FlightTraining, #GeneralAviation, #FlyingStories, #PilotLife, #AviationPodcast

In this episode of Runway Life, Craig Butterworth sits down with flight school owner and president Adam Valencic to break down everything you need to know about aircraft leasebacks.

They dive into the positives and negatives, what to consider if you’re thinking about a leaseback to offset the cost of flight training, the different styles of leasebacks, and all the details on how the process actually works.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a leaseback could be the right financial strategy for you as a pilot or aircraft owner, this is a must-watch conversation packed with real-world insights from the flight school side of the business.

🎥 A great watch for student pilots, aircraft owners, and anyone curious about the economics of aviation!

#Aviation #FlightTraining #Leaseback #RunwayLifePodcast #AircraftOwnership #PilotLife #FlightSchool

In this episode of Runway Life, host Craig Butterworth sits down with Alex Howell — a former U.S. Navy F/A-18 Top Gun pilot who transitioned to the airlines and is now stepping into an instructor role on the Airbus A350 at a major legacy carrier.

Alex opens up about his path from flying fighters off carriers to life as an airline pilot, what the transition really looked like, and how he built a successful career without coming from a “legacy” aviation background. He also shares valuable advice for aspiring pilots who are working toward their own aviation goals.

Whether you’re aiming for the airlines, curious about the military-to-civilian transition, or just want to hear firsthand lessons from someone who’s flown at the top levels of both military and airline aviation, this episode delivers insights you won’t want to miss.

#Aviation, #TopGun, #AirlinePilot, #PilotLife, #FighterPilot, #RunwayLifePodcast, #FuturePilots, #FlightTraining, #AirbusA350, #PilotAdvice

In this episode of Runway Life, host Craig Butterworth sits down with Adam Valencic, president and owner of First Landings Aviation, to break down the FAA’s new MOSAIC rules and what they mean for light sport aviation. Together, they explore how the updated regulations could reshape pilot training, expand opportunities for aspiring aviators, and potentially re-open the sport pilot pathway for those looking for a more affordable entry into aviation. If you’ve ever considered becoming a pilot or want to understand how these changes impact the future of flight training, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

#Aviation #PilotTraining #SportPilot #LightSport #MOSAIC #FAARules #FlightSchool #FuturePilots #FirstLandingsAviation #RunwayLifePodcast #LearnToFly #FlightTraining #GeneralAviation #AviationPodcast #PrivatePilot #AviationNews

In this episode of Runway Life, Craig sits down with James Williams — former A-10 pilot, United Airlines captain, and Boeing 787 instructor — to break down the preliminary report on the recent Air India 787 crash.

James brings his unique perspective as both a combat veteran and current airline instructor to explain what we know so far, highlight the complexities of the 787, and share insights from his own training that shed light on the accident.

Whether you’re a pilot, an aviation enthusiast, or just curious about how modern airliners operate, this conversation offers a rare insider’s look at the aircraft, the procedures, and the human factors involved.

#AirIndia787Crash #AirIndiaDreamlinerCrash #Boeing787CrashReport #Boeing787Training #AirlineAccidentAnalysis #PreliminaryCrashReport #AirIndia787Investigation #JamesWilliamsPilot #A10Pilot #UnitedAirlinesPilot #RunwayLifePodcast #AviationAccidentAnalysis #DreamlinerCrashExplained #AviationNews #AviationPodcast