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Why Schedulers Are Aviation's Unsung Heroes | Don Chupp on Safety & Resilience
✈️ Behind every safe flight, there’s a scheduler making it happen.
In this powerful episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Don Chupp, CEO of Fireside Partners, to uncover the often-overlooked but critical role of schedulers in aviation safety and emergency response.
From real-life crisis stories to practical strategies for improving resilience, Don shares nearly two decades of insight on what it really takes to keep flight operations safe, calm, and coordinated.
🔥 Key Topics in This Episode: Discover the story behind the founding of Fireside Partners, why schedulers are the first line of defense during a crisis, practical strategies to identify and address gaps in safety planning, the critical role of mental health and resilience in aviation safety, and the case for establishing a scheduler certification program.
Chapter Breakdown
00:00 - Intro: The Role of Schedulers in Aviation
01:50 - Don Chupp’s Daily Discipline & Focus Habits
03:10 - Don’s Journey: From Air Force to Emergency Response
06:08 - Founding of Fireside Partners & Vision
08:10 - Why Schedulers Are Often Left Out of Safety Planning
10:29 - Real Impact of Schedulers in Emergency Scenarios
13:00 - Situational Awareness & Thinking Beyond the Checklist
15:42 - Human Factors & Fatigue Risk in Scheduling
18:05 - The Truth: Industry Hasn’t Progressed As Much As We Think
21:54 - Listening to the Emerging Aviation Workforce
24:12 - Empowering Schedulers During Drills & Training
26:03 - Real Story: Schedulers Leading Emergency Communication
28:12 - What Emergencies Look Like from a Scheduler’s POV
30:34 - Why Schedulers Notice Safety Red Flags First
32:26 - Signs Frontline Voices Are Being Ignored
34:26 - The Need for Professional Scheduler Certification
35:13 - Fireside’s Approach to Resilience & Mental Health
39:35 - How Schedulers Can Be Part of Emergency Solutions
41:38 - Advocating for Better Data & Passenger Awareness
44:00 - The Case for Emergency Contact Protocols
46:11 - Vetting Supplemental Lift Providers
48:37 - Why In-Person Site Visits Build Trust
50:48 - Final Thoughts: Elevating Scheduler Roles in Aviation
52:47 - Outro: Behind Every Great Flight is a Great Scheduler
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
View all episodes
By The Frequency Network: The Wave✈️ Behind every safe flight, there’s a scheduler making it happen.
In this powerful episode of the LD Aviation Podcast, host Lindsay Dyer sits down with Don Chupp, CEO of Fireside Partners, to uncover the often-overlooked but critical role of schedulers in aviation safety and emergency response.
From real-life crisis stories to practical strategies for improving resilience, Don shares nearly two decades of insight on what it really takes to keep flight operations safe, calm, and coordinated.
🔥 Key Topics in This Episode: Discover the story behind the founding of Fireside Partners, why schedulers are the first line of defense during a crisis, practical strategies to identify and address gaps in safety planning, the critical role of mental health and resilience in aviation safety, and the case for establishing a scheduler certification program.
Chapter Breakdown
00:00 - Intro: The Role of Schedulers in Aviation
01:50 - Don Chupp’s Daily Discipline & Focus Habits
03:10 - Don’s Journey: From Air Force to Emergency Response
06:08 - Founding of Fireside Partners & Vision
08:10 - Why Schedulers Are Often Left Out of Safety Planning
10:29 - Real Impact of Schedulers in Emergency Scenarios
13:00 - Situational Awareness & Thinking Beyond the Checklist
15:42 - Human Factors & Fatigue Risk in Scheduling
18:05 - The Truth: Industry Hasn’t Progressed As Much As We Think
21:54 - Listening to the Emerging Aviation Workforce
24:12 - Empowering Schedulers During Drills & Training
26:03 - Real Story: Schedulers Leading Emergency Communication
28:12 - What Emergencies Look Like from a Scheduler’s POV
30:34 - Why Schedulers Notice Safety Red Flags First
32:26 - Signs Frontline Voices Are Being Ignored
34:26 - The Need for Professional Scheduler Certification
35:13 - Fireside’s Approach to Resilience & Mental Health
39:35 - How Schedulers Can Be Part of Emergency Solutions
41:38 - Advocating for Better Data & Passenger Awareness
44:00 - The Case for Emergency Contact Protocols
46:11 - Vetting Supplemental Lift Providers
48:37 - Why In-Person Site Visits Build Trust
50:48 - Final Thoughts: Elevating Scheduler Roles in Aviation
52:47 - Outro: Behind Every Great Flight is a Great Scheduler
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices