Send us a text Drew is back from LAX Dorkfest and Doug turns a wor trip into his own spotting getaway at SFO. Also on this episode Study finds PCR tests are almost 100% accurate US lifts travel restrictions on several countries Criminal indictment for Boeing technical pilot AA/JetBlue alliance Emirates hiring 3,000 cabin crew Does visiting an airport count as visiting that city? https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Sep 27, 2021•50 min•Ep. 96
Send us a text On this episode Doug and Drew discuss: Doug getting his 737 certification Drew caters HNL with schnitzel and strudel? Drew's routing to Dorkfest LAX traffic volumes rising Sustainable fuels are coming JFK or LAX, what's better for spotting Join the conversation at: https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Sep 20, 2021•55 min•Ep. 95
Send us a text On this episode we discuss: Doug getting his 737 type rating Neeleman and his non-737 airline Breeze 787 deliveries delayed due to FAA inspections Ryanair walks away from 737 Max order American and Alaska end pay protections for unvaxed staff Next Trip air travel volume predictions https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Sep 13, 2021•59 min•Ep. 94
Send us a text On this episode, Doug and Drew discuss the following: Upset recoveries AvGeek bubble baths in Burlingame, CA Airports named after a city they're not located in (or near) Cargo CRJ-200 Philippine Airlines bankruptcy Gulfstream's new G700 Grounded PW4000 powered 777s are getting new paint - hopefully flying soon Would you rather fly the first 777 delivered or a swanky new 787-10 Remembering the crews lost on September 11, 2001 https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.n...
Sep 06, 2021•46 min•Ep. 93
Send us a text In this episode we discuss: Afghanistan CRAF charters Will holograms replace travel? Escape Lounges opening Southwest running it hard Ryanair traffic and leaving Belfast https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Aug 30, 2021•43 min•Ep. 92
Send us a text Topics discussed on this episode: ACARS air to ground communications ITA replaces Alitalia CRAF is activated to move US citizens and Afghans out of Kabul Doug and Drew on how to get into an aviation career You know you work for an airline when... https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 91
Send us a text Drew continues to run the operation hard this week while Doug flies the 737 simulator and takes a 777 joy ride to visit Houston which was voted the top US airport. Topics discussed: Load factors are decreasing to more sustainable/manageable levels 737 landings More jumpseating and more chicken orzo Delta variant is hurting Southwest's bookings Business travel slowly rebounding Potential 737 MAX deal for Indian startup JetBlue launches London service Skytrax list of top airpor...
Aug 16, 2021•59 min•Ep. 90
Send us a text On this episode, Doug and Drew discuss the following: Doug's jumpseat observation rides Newark, NJ as a destination Nonrev troubles Spirit and American cancel thousands of flights United to require vaccinations for all employees GE CF-6 engine celebrates 50 years Listener feedback Join the conversation https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 89
Send us a text On this episode, Doug and Drew discuss the following topics: Managerial training (Drew lets someone else drive the bus for a few days) Doug is leaving the 737 aka Guppy/FLUF/Whistling Sh!tcan already?! Checking to see if you were listening Ironman is back at LAX Western U.S. fuel shortage Condor replaces its aging 767s Airbus launches the A350 freighter Would you take a middle seat "upgrade?" Which plane looks better - the 757 or the A220? Checking to see if you were lis...
Aug 02, 2021•57 min•Ep. 88
Send us a text Doug jumps out of a plane (or a mockup of one) and Drew avgeeks with previous Next Trip guest Matt this weekend. A commemorative coin from Matt celebrating Piedmont Airlines is an inspiration for our topics today. On this episode, Doug and Drew discuss: Experiencing an airplane escape slide Cocktails, Thai food, and A319s Billionaires in Space World airline rankings Positive quarterly financial results in the U.S. Charlotte, NC is now the 5th busiest airport in the world? Remember...
Jul 26, 2021•47 min•Ep. 87
Send us a text On this episode, Doug and Drew discuss the following: Why the episode is late (and why it might continue to be late in the future now) Pilot shortage and why it matters Doug's new job and why that relates to late episodes (and possibly extra sections - BONUS eps!) Listener engagement Airlines need LOTS of new employees Electric regional props? Airlines now turning a profit...get used to it 737 appreciation week (and month or year?) Be sure to check out www.nexttripnetwork.com...
Jul 20, 2021•39 min•Ep. 86
Send us a text On this episode, Doug and Drew discuss the following: Doug's last week as a "civilian" Drew's flights to PHX Listener Ian's multiple "round the world" flights Airliners International trade show Lufthansa brings back all of its routes Singapore positions itself for regional dominance Flying into a sandstorm Be sure to check out www.nexttripnetwork.com for more information! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Jul 12, 2021•34 min•Ep. 85
Send us a text Jailbreak? Yes, from COVID19 and cabin fever. Americans are well into revenge travel with TSA numbers higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels last week. Europe joined the exodus recently and international flights are resuming with heavy passenger bookings. Doug and Drew will be doing their own trips with Doug going to training in Denver for his new pilot job and Drew heading to Phoenix for the Airliners International Conference . Other topics on this episode: United places the larges...
Jul 05, 2021•36 min•Ep. 84
Send us a text Doug and Drew’s AvGeek credentials are vetted on this episode as we welcome card-carrying AvGeek Chris Slimmer. Chris organizes the upcoming Airliners International Conference, the largest airline collectibles show in the country! He regales us with his stories of jumpseating on the Concorde and many other amazing aviation stories over the last several decades. Plus he gives us his overview of flying on upstart airlines Breeze and Avelo. We also discuss how airlines are "runn...
Jun 28, 2021•58 min•Ep. 83
Send us a text Are you ready for single pilot flightdecks? Cathay Pacific and Airbus are working on a project that may make it a reality. Doug describes pilot workload on a long range flight and if this may be feasible. We discuss your thoughts and ours from a spreadsheet and human perspective. Other topics on this episode: Happy 50th birthday Southwest! The Boeing 737 Max10 takes flight Emirates and Lufthansa face a slow recovery with global traffic still at half of pre-pandemic levels Boeing a...
Jun 21, 2021•43 min•Ep. 82
Send us a text We welcome Drew’s buddy and coworker Steven, who’s worked as a photographer, bartender, electrician, etc…, before choosing Aviation as his career. We talk about Steven’s path to the airlines and how he’s worked his way from customer service agent to operations manager and to now developing tools to help us run the airline better. Steven is also an avid traveler and gives us some great advice. Other topics on this episode: American and Virgin invest in eVTOL aircraft Delta gets the...
Jun 14, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 81
Send us a text On this episode, Doug and Drew begin by laughing about turbulence definitions. Have you ever felt "definite strain" against your seatbelt? If so, you've experienced moderate "chop!" They also discuss the following topics: U.S. downgrades Mexico's safety rating Airbus eyes quicker recovery than analysts predict United places order for supersonic airliner Pilots find note in cockpit of plane parked for 435 days FAA creates database of bad pilots Pilot h...
Jun 07, 2021•42 min•Ep. 80
Send us a text Our fringe AvGeek buddy and airline brat, Matt, joins us again to rant (and rave) about Milk Runs of yore, airplane nicknames, and cabin etiquette. Doug is getting ready for his last flight at his current job and we hope touch and go’s in Reno are on the flight plan. Drew and Matt talk about the crazy busy airports this week and how it seems like a normal start to the summer travel season. Topics discussed: Planemaker Aerion shuts down but Boom may get orders. Will we ever see sup...
May 31, 2021•55 min•Ep. 79
Send us a text We’ve been saying for over a year that we are “one week closer to this crisis being over,” and here we are - at least in the US. Passenger volumes are back with a vengeance as Americans crowd airports and head to leisure destinations after enduring COVID cabin fever. Doug regales us with his fabulous last business trip at his current job. Spoiler alert, he won’t get miles at his new job... Other topics discussed Traffic is up at the airports and in the air as we start seeing ATC p...
May 24, 2021•53 min•Ep. 78
Send us a text Cathay Pacific Senior VP Americas, Chris van den Hooven, joins us to talk about how his airline is managing through the pandemic. Travel to Hong Kong, Cathay’s base, is still depressed due to international travel restrictions. Chris explains how the the airline is leaning on cargo, mainland China flights, and a few international routes in the interim. Doug and Drew confirm Chris’ avgeek status as he regales us about landing at Kai Tak airport and spending hours spotting there. Oth...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 77
Send us a text Doug and Drew and over a dozen of our AMAZING listeners attended the first Northern fLights event in Anchorage! Listen to our recap of the Alaska Airlines milk run (flight 65) from Seattle to Anchorage via Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Juneau. Plus, we talk about the main event - spotting late into the night at one of the busiest cargo hubs in the world. https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
May 13, 2021•39 min
Send us a text Aired on May 10, 2021 Doug and Drew are on the way to Alaska and their Northern fLights listener meet-up. We stop at an LAX lounge to tape this week's episode. Sorry not sorry for the ambient airport noises and both of us interrupting the taping when a 777 lands. Topics discussed Passenger volume increases The age of premium economy? Airlines refer unruly passengers to the FAA Zoom fatigue and cabin fever Join the conversation at https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.n...
May 10, 2021•33 min•Ep. 76
Send us a text Aired on May 3, 2021 Doug and Drew are joined by Andy, a former airline employee and lifelong fringe avgeek who also makes a mean Aviation (the drink). Will our Old Fashioned’s be replaced by Aviations as our signature Next Trip cocktail? Andy and Drew reminisce about their final 747 flight and then Doug regales us with his white knuckle touch and go landings in the DC10 simulator this week! Other topics discussed: Andy remembers his favorite aviation moment when he watched a 747 ...
May 03, 2021•45 min•Ep. 75
Send us a text Aired on April 25, 2021 Doug and Drew looked into our Avgeek cyrstal ball a year ago and forecast that we’d be at 75% of 2019 capacity by the summer of 2020. American Airlines announced that they would be at 80% this summer so we were close! Not so much on our forecast of travel bubbles which look to be overtaken by “Green” destinations. Topics covered: EVA Air repaints its Hello Kitty 777-300 back to normal Aer Lingus flew leased 757’s which were another casualty of COVID19 Would...
Apr 26, 2021•45 min•Ep. 74
Send us a text Doug is on his way home from DC where he met Drew at work for the first time. We talk about the visit as well as Doug flying Southwest and experiencing a “violent” go-around in Denver. We get way too AvGeeky on tail strikes and tail skids and we have some details on our trip to Alaska in May. Other topics on this episode: Is Southwest an LCC (low cost carrier)? The continued rise of domestic widebodies Australia and New Zealand created an aviation bubble American honors our vetera...
Apr 20, 2021•52 min•Ep. 73
Send us a text Aired on April 12, 2021 Will Norse Atlantic succeed where Norwegian didn’t with the same planes and leadership? Doug and Drew discuss low cost long haul and ideas to create a succeesful business model with a product attractive to business travelers. Doug is on a another business trip of his own on the episode but we take a moment to talk about how we would use expiring frequent flight miles for leisure travel. (cough) JFK-SIN on Singapore Airlines! Other topics discussed on the ep...
Apr 12, 2021•42 min•Ep. 72
Send us a text John, a flight instructor and long time listener tells us about surviviing during the pandemic. We discuss how cyclical the industry is and how we need to stay resilient and have an irregular ops plan. John talks about his path to becoming a flight instructor and gives some great advice to anyone interested in being a pilot. He also explains how he’s teaching Asian pilot cadets how to fly as well as speak English. Find John on Instagram at @jdebrey . Other topics discussed: New ai...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 71
Send us a text Doug and Drew are circling back on our week with a look at Doug's work on his DC-10 simulator. How does it simulate acceleration, turbulence, and the G forces of flight? Spoiler alert - Drew learns you can't replicate rolling the DC-10 in the simulator. We also discuss the new routes airlines are launching and which ones we think are more than darts thrown at a board. Other topics discussed: Southwest resumes pre-pandemic boarding - is it too soon? Airlines lobby the Whi...
Mar 29, 2021•54 min•Ep. 70
Send us a text Yes! Amelia Rose Earhart is our VIP Guest who completed the round-the-world flight that her namesake inspired her to do. She tells us all about how she flew a Pilatus PC-12 on the eastward journey, stopping in Brazil, Africa, the Maldives, and Australia along with a high-drama stay in Papua New Guinea. Amelia also started Fly with Amelia , a foundation to help get more girls into aviation and she is an artist and soon-to-be author. In this episode we also cover: Air travel optimis...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 69
Send us a text Surprise! Southwest goes with the 737 for an order for up to 300 planes. This time they choose the 737-7Max over the Airbus A220. Doug and Drew start the transition from Winter Ops talk to Summer and thunderstorms preparation. We take time to think about what we, including our listeners, have been through over the last year, and our ups and downs with COVID19 ravaging the aviation world. Other topics in this episode: Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr shuts down the A380 New York lifts t...
Mar 15, 2021•48 min•Ep. 68
