Doug Morris has been an Air Canada pilot for 26 years, and currently flies 787s. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because we ran extracts from his fantastic new book — called This is Your Captain Speaking — in our last issue of Australian Aviation’s print magazine. In it, he spills the trade secrets of flying long haul — everything you wanted to know, but were too afraid to ask. In this episode, Morris talks to host Adam Thorn about his passion for flying, navigating COVID, and what’s in store for the industry in a post-pandemic world.
Merren McArthur has certainly made her mark on Australia’s aviation sector as the former CEO of Virgin Australia Regional Airlines and Tigerair who was dedicated to improving female engagement in aviation. In this episode of Sky’s The Limit, hosts Hannah Dowling and Anna Grbas sit down with Merren to discuss how she navigated her own career progression out of in-house counsel to the C-suite level in the competitive, male-dominated aviation space. Merren also shares how she was able to improve female participation not only in her pilot cohort, but also in her senior management teams at Tiger — a plan she intends to use again in her new role. Finally, Merren reveals the details of her new venture with Canadian startup budget carrier LynxAir, and the number one piece of advice she would offer to her younger self.
This week, Bonza unveiled its new ‘wear it your way’ uniforms, while the ACCC revealed that Australia’s domestic passenger capacity reached 89 per cent of pre-COVID levels in April. In this episode of the Australian Aviation podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss how aviation’s recovery continues to catch the industry off guard. Plus, the team reveals Bonza’s plan for its crew to don shorts, blazers, and sneakers aboard its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX jets. Finally, the crew discuss the newest developments in Rex and Qantas's ongoing feud over network decisions.
On Thursday, 26 May, a Chinese-built J-16 fighter jet “cut across the nose” of a RAAF P-8 Poseidon, getting so close that the fighter’s chaff was “ingested” into the aircraft’s engine. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling reveal whattheyknow so far about the incident, the aircraft, and the message being sent by China. Plus, the team discusses Virgin’s latest move to show support and recognition towards its workforce after two years of hardship. Finally, Adam shares the very exciting story of Qantas’lastBoeing 747 being finally moved out of theCaliforniadesert and a possible future return to Australianshores.
This week, Rex and Qantasareback to their old tricks, resorting to name-calling and finger-pointing over key network decisions. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling give you the run-down of what’s going on, and why two of the country’s major airlines continue to battle it out in the media. Plus, the team discusses where we stand in our domestic and international travel recovery, and what to expect over the coming months. Finally, the crew discusses Bonza’s latestupdate andwhat to expect from Australian Aviation’s newest digital magazine.
In April, aerospace compositebusiness andMRO providerQuickstepsigned a pioneering $30 million long-term maintenance contract with Jetstar. It was hugely significant for our industry because it was the first time a deal of this nature had been awarded to a local, independent MRO provider after an extensive global tendering process. In this special episode of the Australian AviationPodcast, the business’executive general manager of aftermarket services, Tim Gent, talks about thedeal’simportance. He also chats with host Adam Thorn about how the country competes to secure global deals, how to fix engineering skill shortagesandQuickstep’s investment in unmanned aircraft.
As aviation awakens from its COVID hibernation, it’s facing a huge shortage of skilled workers across multiple professions. In this special podcast episode, host Adam Thorn speaks to William Horrocks and Leif Mawson from training organisation Aviation Australia. Their business knows all about the industry’s issues first-hand, as they work nurturing up-and-coming pilots, cabin crew, drone operators and aircraft maintenance engineers. The pair discuss why enthusiasm for the industry has never been higher among new recruits, why aviation companies need to invest more in developing talent and how Aviation Australia has evolved over its 20-year history.
After sitting in storage for over two years, a Virgin-branded Boeing 777 has taken to the skies again, being ferried from Wellcamp to Brisbane. In this episode of the Australian Aviation podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling are back in thestudio todiscuss the possible explanations behind this curious move. Plus, the crewrevealsthe details of a new lawsuit taken against Virgin’s pre-administration managementteam byangry,“gypped”bondholders. Finally, the teamdivesinto international aviation’s recovery trajectory, and what to expect in the next edition of the Australian Aviation magazine.
The Flying Kangaroo dominatedtheheadlines again this week in the aftermath of its Project Sunrise A350 order, as well as a major bid totake overAlliance Aviation, and a loss in court. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss Qantas’ moves this week, and the possibility of a more sinister story bubbling underneath. Plus, the teamfleshesout the details of Qantas’ lost bid to overturn a Federal Court ruling that states its decision to outsource2,000workers was illegal, Finally, the crewdiscussesthe next edition of the Australian Aviation magazine, including a mammoth feature into the upcoming launch of budgetstart-upBonza.
Qantas this week announced a record-breaking order for aircraft, after firming up an order for 12 Airbus A350-1000s, alongside up to 134 A321XLR and A220s to replace its domestic fleet. In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, hosts Adam Thorn and Hannah Dowling discuss Qantas’ major Project Sunrise milestone and what this means for future passengers. Plus, the crewtalksthrough the current state of domestic aviation,Virgin’snew 737 MAX order, and Qantas’ Project Winton deliveries. Finally, the teamrevealsnew insights into the slow recovery of the international travel sector andsharestheir predictions for what to expect next.