The point of an accident investigation is “to find out what happened, so that we can prevent it from happening again,” says longtime airline pilot and former NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. He shares what he's learned after decades of working this process, including: how pilots should read an NTSB report, why flight path monitoring matters, what professionalism means for GA pilots, and how flight data monitoring can improve safety. In the Ready to Copy segment, Robert talks about landmark accidents, why NOTAMs are often useless, and his favorite food from South Carolina.
SHOW LINKS: 
- Robert's article at Aviation Week: https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/safety-ops-regulation/time-refocus-get-back-basics
- Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety: https://erau.edu/research/industry-collaboration/center-for-aviation-and-aerospace-safety
- Sporty's Pilot Training+ Membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html

64. Safety lessons learned at the NTSB, with Robert Sumwalt

Pilot's Discretion brings you authentic conversations with some of aviation's most interesting people. From honest discussions about flight training to fascinating stories from airshow pilots, this podcast is for anyone who loves to fly. Stay tuned for our rapid-fire "ready to copy" segment at the end of every episode, where we go beyond the cliches to find out what each guest really thinks. Brought to you by Sporty's Pilot Shop, training and equipping pilots worldwide since 1961. Have a comment? Email us: podcast@sportys.com

Aviation

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

Are the latest headlines about slowing airline pilot hiring just a temporary pause or the start of a downward trend? In this episode, aviation career mentors Mike Martin and Sean Richey explain what the real state of the industry is. They also talk about the right approach to flight training, how to build time, and whether airline interviews still matter. Mike and Sean have lots of experience as corporate pilots, so they share tips from the world of private jets, including the different skills required for that type of job. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear about tough checkrides, how to be a good copilot, and the best airports in America.
SHOW LINKS:

 Pro-Pilot Playbook: https://www.propilotplaybook.com
 Boeing Pilot Outlook: https://www.boeing.com/commercial/market/pilot-technician-outlook
  Pilot Training+ Membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html



76. Pilot hiring trends and corporate jets, with Mike Martin and Sean Richey

Having flown everything from aerobatic airplanes to airliners to seaplanes, Patrick Carter loves to apply the lessons from one part of aviation to another. In this episode, he takes us inside the world of Alaskan bush pilots to explain the skills they need to stay safe, how to evaluate off-airport landing sites, and how to manage changing weather. Patrick also talks about handling emergencies far from airports, as he learned first hand on a recent flight in a Super Cub. Patrick is an advocate for flying with video cameras, so he shares practical advice for mounting cameras externally and capturing audio. In the Ready to Copy segment, Patrick shares a helpful airline travel tip, his favorite aerobatic maneuver, and what he looks for on test flights after maintenance.
LINKS:

 Patrick’s article on Air Facts: https://airfactsjournal.com/2024/04/quick-land-to-quicksand/
 NFlight camera gear: https://www.nflightcam.com
  Pilot Training+ membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html


75. Bush flying in Alaska, with Patrick Carter

New aerospace businesses seem to be launching every month, including electric ultralights, eVTOL air taxis, drone delivery services, and private space flight. As a longtime pilot and venture capitalist, Ben Marcus is the perfect person to sort through the hype. He explains which business models will work first, why Walmart is finding success with drone delivery, and what benefits GA pilots might see as a result of this investment boom. Ben also founded JetAviva, a popular airplane broker, so he talks about the light jet boom of the last 25 years and what it takes to transition from a piston airplane to a single pilot turbine. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear about common charging standards for eVTOLs, the best light jet on the market, and Ben’s favorite backcountry strip in Arkansas.
SHOW LINKS:

 The Moving World Report: https://up.partners/movingworld/
 The GameBird: https://youtu.be/pnFFyjkvDEg
 Pilot Training+ membership: https://www.sportys.com/sportys-pilot-training-plus.html


74. Electric airplanes, drone delivery, and personal jets, with Ben Marcus

A spur-of-the-moment airplane purchase presented David Tulis with the adventure of a lifetime: flying a 1953 Tri-Pacer across the country. He tells the story of this fun and challenging trip in this episode, including what it was like to cross the Rockies with a 135-horsepower engine, the value of mentors, and the appeal of vintage airplanes. David is also a highly accomplished photographer, so he explains why photos still matter in a world of videos and offers some practical tips for taking better in-flight photos. In the Ready to Copy segment, David tells us his favorite photo of all time, his best best tip for podcasters, and his opinion about famous Atlanta drinks.
SHOW LINKS:

 Tri-Pacer story
 Flying with reluctant passengers
  Pilot Training+ membership


73. Flying a vintage airplane across the country, with David Tulis

Airports are missing out on $35 billion in economic impact because they're not well run - that's according to pilot and airport management expert Michael Jones. He explains the cause of this underperformance and why the structure of an airport management team is so important. Mike is also a longtime Cessna 210 owner, so he shares stories about this do-everything piston single, including the time he took one to 27,000 feet. In the Ready to Copy segment you'll hear tips for successful Young Eagles flights, what skills Mike learned as an air traffic controller in Vietnam, and the best golf course in the Carolinas.
SHOW LINKS:
- Mike's article at Air Facts: https://airfactsjournal.com/2023/12/g-a-airports-suffer-from-costly-mismanagement/
- PilotWorkshops at Sporty's: https://sportys.com/pilotworkshops

64. Safety lessons learned at the NTSB, with Robert Sumwalt

Download our free app to listen on your phone