Article about the crash: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/pentagon-identifies-airmen-iraq-kc-135/

If you have extra, here are the GoFundMe links:

Dave Jesurun founded High Country Air Service in 2016, following a distinguished 24-year military career, spent primarily in Special Operations. He began his military career at the United States Air Force Academy in 1992, graduated in 1996 and was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force. After completing pilot training in the T-34C and T-44A (King Air C90) in 1998, Dave spent the next 4 years flying the C-130H. With experience in North/Central/South America, Europe, and the Middle East, Dave then transferred to Air Force Special Operations Command where he flew the AC-130H for nearly 7 years. A veteran of deployments to South America and Afghanistan, Dave was selected to attend the United States Air Force Weapons School, the Air Force's version of Top Gun. Upon graduation, he was then selected to return as a Weapons Instructor, teaching the best flight instructors and leaders in the Air Force to be more effective, more efficient, and more lethal.

Connect with Dave:

Join the Private TPN Community today: https://community.thepilotnetwork.org/

Links:

Useful Skill links:

What if the smartest pilots are the ones willing to admit their dumbest mistakes? In this eye-opening episode of The Pilot Network Podcast, airline pilot and author Jeffrey James Madison shares how overconfidence, complacency, and fatigue often sneak into even the sharpest flight decks. From being inspired by Tuskegee Airmen at 35, to nearly running out of fuel for a friend’s dream plane, Jeffrey explains why learning from others’ mistakes can be just as powerful as your own experience. His book Yikes! captures 100 real pilot stories that could save lives—and funds the Victor Kilo Fund to help the next generation take flight.

Madison’s humor, humility, and honesty make this episode a must-listen for anyone serious about flying safer and smarter.

About Jeffrey

Jeffrey is an airline pilot, aviation human factors safety SME, mentor pilot, and award-winning media professional with a reputation for making every team stronger. With over 25 years of experience in aviation—as an airline pilot, flight instructor, safety subject matter expert, and author—he combines technical skill with deep storytelling instincts.

Beyond the cockpit, Jeffrey is an award-winning creative director, producer, and writer. He’s also a veteran science journalist, prolific climate change reporter, and recognized thought leader in the climate space. As a trained Climate Reality Leader, he brings clarity and urgency to one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Whether hosting a podcast, moderating panels, anchoring coverage, or mentoring future professionals, Jeffrey is known for his empathy, collaborative spirit, and ability to explain complex ideas in a way that resonates. Simply put: he plays well with others—and helps others play even better.

Explore more about Jeffrey and his work at: https://www.jeffreymadison.com/

Connect with Jeffrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-madison-writer/

What’s the one thing pilots consistently overlook that could make or break their dream job interview? In this episode, Adam talks with Bill Sims from Spitfire Elite about why communication is the core skill that impacts everything, from interviews to cockpit culture and even home life. They break down how real confidence comes from preparation, not performance, and how authenticity is far more powerful than a perfectly polished script. You’ll learn why relationships matter more than resumes, how to approach interviews like a pro athlete, and why some pilots unknowingly sabotage their chances by focusing on the wrong prep.

Guest information:

After 2 years with PWC, Bill served in the Marines Corps for 12 years flying the F/A-18 Hornet. After receiving CJOs from 3 major airlines in 2014, he began teaching his techniques and sharing them with fellow pilots on the base. Bill has several years of experience teaching interviewing at live seminars, virtual webinars and 1 on 1 environments. He has individually helped thousands of job seekers land their dream jobs. In addition, he has trained dozens of others to teach the art of interviewing.\

Explore more about Bill and his team’s work at: https://spitfireelite.com/

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamsims4/

This group intends to expand our pilot network and help us all in future endeavors; to “pay it forward’ as it were. With the aviation career field comes the unknown, and a good network is often the difference in sitting on the sidelines or getting into the game. Some of us have the job we want; many of us don’t yet. The Pilot Network gives us the chance to reconnect to old aviation colleagues, seek out new avenues within this great career, or just give a helping hand to those coming up in this vocation. We have grown to over 30,000 members and add more every day! We need to branch out: Facebook is only the beginning of the TPN platform. Stay tuned for big things! Whether you are a seasoned veteran with 10,000 hours or a newbie starting out, the right network can help you find your last job. Thank you and tailwinds!

Join the Private TPN Community today: https://community.thepilotnetwork.org/

In this episode, Adam reflects on the January theme of change and shares why most people don't fail at change; they fail at evaluating it. He breaks down how personal and career shifts often feel uncomfortable not because they’re wrong, but because they reveal hidden gaps in our skills, systems, or habits. Using his own experiences of being the “new guy” multiple times throughout his career, Adam explains how waiting long enough to evaluate a change can lead to growth, clarity, and better decisions. He introduces a simple framework with three key questions to help determine whether a change is just painful or truly off course. Plus, Adam gives a preview of February’s theme, committing with intention, and how upgrading your skills fits into that next chapter. If you’re second-guessing your last big decision, this episode will help you reset, track progress, and stay the course.

This group intends to expand our pilot network and help us all in future endeavors; to “pay it forward’ as it were. With the aviation career field comes the unknown, and a good network is often the difference in sitting on the sidelines or getting into the game. Some of us have the job we want; many of us don’t yet. The Pilot Network gives us the chance to reconnect to old aviation colleagues, seek out new avenues within this great career, or just give a helping hand to those coming up in this vocation. We have grown to over 30,000 members and add more every day! We need to branch out: Facebook is only the beginning of the TPN platform. Stay tuned for big things! Whether you are a seasoned veteran with 10,000 hours or a newbie starting out, the right network can help you find your last job. Thank you and tailwinds!

Join the Private TPN Community today: https://community.thepilotnetwork.org/