The Air Up There Podcast

The Air Up There

Curious about aerospace? This podcast is for you! Tune in to hear inspiring stories from professionals in the field. Learn new concepts and more about the FAA's role in keeping our airspace safe. Find out about careers, programs, and organizations that can help you in your journey. We hope this podcast ignites your enthusiasm – because aerospace is for everyone!

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Remix: Flying Feet First

Season 7, Episode 10
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Podcast Cover: Flying Feet First

Meet Jessica Cox, a sport pilot born without arms who mastered flying an airplane with her feet. In this inspiring re-released episode, Jessica shares the journey that led to her Guinness World Record, the safety measures taken during her certification, and her ongoing mission to design a custom, foot-controlled airplane. She encourages everyone, especially those with disabilities, to consider the limitless...

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Remix: Flying Feet First
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Fan Favorite Remix: Ready, Set, Drone Racing!

Season 7, Episode 9
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Fan Favorite Remix: Ready, Set, Drone Racing!

Original air date: December 13, 2023

Elite drone pilots, custom-built high-speed drones, and groundbreaking technology come together in this fan-favorite episode featuring the Drone Racing League (DRL). Discover how DRL has revolutionized drone racing—transforming the sport into an immersive, high-stakes experience that seamlessly blends the...

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Fan Favorite Remix: Ready, Set, Drone Racing!
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Bonus: 3 Stories of Aviation’s Trailblazing Women at EAA AirVenture

Season 7, Episode 8
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Bonus: 3 Stories of Aviation’s Trailblazing Women at EAA AirVenture

Each year, hundreds of thousands of aviation enthusiasts come together for EAA AirVenture, a world-renowned annual airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. FAA air traffic controllers play a critical role at this event helping thousands of planes fly safely in and out of Wittman Regional Airport. Additionally,...

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Bonus: 3 Stories of Aviation’s Trailblazing Women at EAA AirVenture
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Be ATC REMIX: A Fulfilling Career in Air Traffic Control

Season 7, Episode 7
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Be ATC REMIX: A Fulfilling Career in Air Traffic Control

Original air date: April 17, 2024

Flying safely to our destination is something we don’t take for granted, but have you ever thought about the intricate logistics that make it all possible? Air traffic controllers are among the unsung heroes behind the scenes, ensuring the safety and efficiency of our airspace, and we need more of them!

Air traffic control is a challenging career, but for those...

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Be ATC REMIX: A Fulfilling Career in Air Traffic Control
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Habitat for Aviation’s All-Women Airplane Build

Season 7, Episode 6
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Habitat for Aviation’s All-Women Airplane Build

When you think of women working with rivet guns, you might picture a woman with her hair wrapped up in a red polka-dot bandana, flexed muscles and the famous words, “We Can Do It.” Just as Rosie the Riveter inspired countless women to take on roles in industries traditionally dominated by men during World War II, Habitat for Aviation aims to ignite the same spirit...

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Habitat for Aviation’s All-Women Airplane Build
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Kamora Freeland: One of the Youngest African American Female Pilots in the U.S.

Season 7, Episode 5
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Kamora Freeland

Meet Kamora Freeland, an FAA-certificated private pilot who, at the age of 17, became one of the youngest African American female pilots in the United States. Hear how Kamora—who had never even seen a pilot who looked like her—achieved her dream at no cost to her family. Kamora’s advice? “Look into scholarships, because there are a lot of them out there that people do not know about,” she says. To get started,...

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Kamora Freeland: One of the Youngest African American Female Pilots in the U.S.
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How Do You Become a Hot Air Balloon Pilot?

Season 7, Episode 4
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How Do You Become a Hot Air Balloon Pilot?

Did you know Ben Franklin witnessed the first human flight? No, he wasn't with the Wright Brothers in Kitty Hawk. In fact, it was 120 years earlier in 1783 when two aeronauts floated over Paris in a hot air balloon. Franklin described watching the balloon's majestic ascent in his journal.

In the early days of ballooning, experiments with balloon fuels and designs occasionally had catastrophic results....

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How Do You Become a Hot Air Balloon Pilot?
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Tom and Erik Lake: Father-Son Commercial Co-Pilots

Season 7, Episode 3
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Tom and Erik Lake

For Tom and Erik Lake, the passion for aviation runs in the family. This extraordinary father and son team has logged almost 500 hours together on the flight deck. Tom was his son’s Captain when he took his first flight as a commercial airline pilot, and Erik was his dad’s First Officer on Tom’s last commercial flight. The experiences in between their career milestones created a captivating narrative of a real...

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Tom and Erik Lake: Father-Son Commercial Co-Pilots
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Captain Theresa Claiborne: The First Black Woman Pilot in the Air Force

Season 7, Episode 2
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Captain Theresa Claiborne: The First Black Woman Pilot in the Air Force

Imagine following your dreams and then one day waking up to realize you’ve unknowingly made history. That’s the story of Captain Theresa Claiborne, a trailblazer in aviation history and a living legend. 

Captain Claiborne's journey from a media communications student to becoming the first Black woman pilot in the U.S. Air Force is a story of resilience, determination, and breaking barriers. She...

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Captain Theresa Claiborne: The First Black Woman Pilot in the Air Force
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Emily Calandrelli ‘The Space Gal’

Season 7, Episode 1
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The Air Up There Podcast: Emily Calandrelli ‘The Space Gal’

Have you ever felt intimidated by science, technology, engineering, or math concepts? Well, you are not alone. Emily Calandrelli, aka ‘The Space Gal,’ is on a mission to make STEM easier to understand and fun for everyone!

In this episode, Emily shares how she went from shying away from science to excelling in it, the experience of a lifetime that kicked off her love for aerospace, and how she is making...

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Emily Calandrelli ‘The Space Gal’
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