Dr. Ivan Pupulidy is an expert on safety in complex systems and high risk environments. He’s been a featured speaker for TEDx, and his new book “Human Organization And Potential” has been called “a roadmap toward a new era in workplace safety.” In this conversation, I’ll speak with Dr. Pupulidy about aviation safety reform; how we can can discard the ideas that have been holding us back, and empower pilots with the skills to think on their feet.
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr
Carl Ockier is the senior expert for flight test engineering at Airbus. Over the last 25 years, Carl has been instrumental in developing some of the most iconic Airbus helicopters, including the H145 and H135. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Carl about his work engineering aircraft; from the nitty-gritty technical details, to his larger ideas about humans and our relationship to the machines we fly.
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 5 min
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....
May 22, 2025•50 min
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 wa...
May 08, 2025•1 hr
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.
Apr 17, 2025•41 min
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.
Apr 10, 2025•40 min
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.
Apr 03, 2025•46 min
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 di...
Mar 27, 2025•56 min
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 spec...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 12 min
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 thing...
Jan 30, 2025•54 min
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....
Jan 16, 2025•52 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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.
Dec 19, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Perhaps you’ve been here before — flying, not long after takeoff, when you encounter low ceilings. Before departure, your weather app indicated everything was clear...You may have just become a a victim of Green Dot Syndrome, according to our guest today. Matt Johnson flies for Metro Aviation, at an air ambulance program based in Southwestern Ohio. An accomplished pilot and pilot examiner, Matt is one of the industry’s most forward-thinkers when it comes to our working relationship with weather....
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Lindsay Cunningham is a former accident investigator for Airbus. Today, she works as Managing Director for Helisim in the United States, where she facilitates the cutting-edge of simulation training. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Lindsey about the psychology of accident investigation; how to avoid false starts and misleading conclusions.
Nov 07, 2024•45 min
Rusty Sloane is a lecturer at Baylor University’s aviation program, where he prepares student pilots for careers in the airlines. A former coast guard helicopter pilot, Rusty spent several years flying with me here at Airbus. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Rusty about finding one's place as a pilot, a student, a leader, and everything in-between. We’ll look at the truth behind the pilot shortage, the importance of camaraderie, and much more.
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Chris Baur (US Helicopter Safety Team) returns to the show to speak about the power of volunteer work in aviation — how we can take the lessons we’ve learned at any level of experience, use them to enrich the lives of others, and, in doing so, enrich our own lives as well.
Sep 26, 2024•49 min
Perhaps nothing today exemplifies the strides our industry is making more than the Airbus RACER , an experimental compound helicopter that made its first flight in April of this year. With reported ability to reach unprecedented speeds while maintaining groundbreaking efficiency, RACER is changing aviation as we know it. As the chief test pilot for Airbus, Herve Jammyrac is front and center in the development of the RACER. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Herve about his work as a test pilo...
Sep 12, 2024•28 min
Jeff Trang is a lifelong test pilot. His flying played a part in certificating some of the most widely-flown airframes today. For several years, Jeff was my boss here at Airbus; today, he’s the head of the National Test Pilot School, a civilian test pilot training institute in the Mojave desert. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Jeff about his life, his work, and what it means to serve as a link between those who develop aircraft, and the pilots who fly them day-to-day....
Aug 29, 2024•55 min
Krista Haugen is the director of patient safety for Global Medical Response. While working as a flight nurse in 2005, Krista survived a helicopter crash; an experience that emboldened her to speak up. Today, Krista is a fierce advocate for all things human; from accident prevention, to stress management and trauma recovery, her compassionate insight is key in moving the air medical industry forward.
Aug 15, 2024•1 hr 13 min
1. Act safely, even when no one is watching. 2. Accept that it could happen to you 3. Always follow the rules 4. Abide by personal minimums 5. Always steady, never impulsive 6. Own the outcome and speak up 7. Never cut corners 8. Never say "Hey, watch this!" 9. Regularly use simulated training environments 10. Believe that zero fatal accidents is achievable Nick Mayhew is a pilot and instructor of nearly five decades. From serving as an officer in the UK’s Royal Navy, to managing training progra...
Jul 25, 2024•55 min
Eleonora Avi is an aviation psychologist based in Italy. The same year Eleanora earned her degree in psychology, her mother was rescued by a Helicopter Air Ambulance — an event that inspired Eleonora to give back to the industry by helping pilots understand the inner-workings of their minds. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Eleanora about her unique and fascinating field; how can we recognize what drives our bodies to act, and use it to be more conscious aviators?...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Frank Kanauka is a helicopter pilot and former army aviator. In this conversation, Frank and I will discuss his early training in the Warrant Officer program during the Vietnam War, and the events leading up to his survival of a mid-air collision in Cambodia.
Jun 27, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Personal and private flights account for the largest percentage of helicopter accidents — despite making up just 3% of hours flown. So how can we fix this? Our guests today are Scott Tyrell — a former FAA accident investigator — and Arvid Albanese — a business owner and private pilot. As co-sponsors of the personal/private segment of the US Helicopter Safety Team, Scott and Arvid promote safety ideas for those pilots who might not have easy access to the learning resources other sectors of the i...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Chris Hill is the senior director of safety for Vertical Aviation International — formerly, HAI. In his role, Chris seeks out new ways to promote and adhere to safety culture. In this conversation, Chris and I will examine the importance of open dialogue in safety; why we should feel motivated to share the lessons we’ve learned from our shortcomings, and withhold judgement from others doing the same.
May 30, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 9
Chris Baur of Hughes Aerospace returns to the show to tell us about The Hughes App, a new all-in-one flight aid, complete with maps, charts, camera feeds, weather data, risk assessment functions, and many more flight supplements.
May 16, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 8
Alida Soemawinata is a helicopter pilot from Australia. In her current position, Alida flies medical services in Borneo, delivering doctors, supplies, and other aid to remote villages across the island. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Alida about her career and outlook on aviation. She’ll talk about her operations in Borneo, including her experience flying the the Bo 105. We’ll look at the rich history of that airframe, and why it’s endured so many years. Then, we’ll speak about the role v...
Apr 25, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Marcus Bauer is a pioneer of accident reconstruction — using a painstaking process, Marcus builds virtual recreations of accidents, down to the most crucial details. His work has helped international authorities, manufacturers, and operators, identify the root cause of accidents, so they might prevent similar ones in the future In this conversation, I’ll speak with Marcus about his unique line of work. We’ll delve into his process, from gathering eyewitnesses testimony, to analyzing video, and b...
Apr 11, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 6
With the increased popularity of drones and UAVs, our airspace is only getting busier. Knowing this, how can pilots keep the highest level of awareness in a more crowded environment? Our guest today is Mike O’Donoghue. Mike is an aviation consultant based in the UK. With decades of experience as a pilot and examiner, Mike studies how emerging technologies can support the human element of aviation. In this conversation, I’ll speak with Mike about his research into electronic conspicuity — using n...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this special episode of Push to Talk, I’m speaking with three remarkable women from across the helicopter industry as part of Women in Aviation Worldwide week. 1) Stephanie Bell is the director of key accounts at Collins Aerospace. Raised by a father who built and flew experimental helicopters, Stephanie developed a love for engineering that she carries with her today. I’ll speak with Stephanie about the latest innovations at Collins, and the spirit of invention that has guided her life and c...
Mar 07, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Those of us who have enjoyed a life in aviation need to face a simple truth; that all the safety knowledge in the world is useless if we don’t successfully pass it down. Our guest today is J Heffernan. J is a lifelong aviator with a wide variety of experience, from flying in presidential unit HMX-1, to working in safety roles at HAI, Sikorsky, and Air Evac Lifeteam. Since 2018, he’s helped run Helicopter Safety Alliance, an organization devoted to bringing SMS knowledge to small operators. In th...
Feb 22, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 3
