The Air Up There Podcast

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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Wildfires and Aviation
Season 1,
Episode 5
Published:

Wildfires have become more intense over the past few years, and we're getting used to seeing firefighting aircraft in action. But, that's only part of our story. Aircraft are also used to direct ground operations, protect firefighters and provide a birds-eye view of the action. In this episode, we'll meet the pilots and ground crews who give us an inside look at how aircraft help fight wildfires.
In this...
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How Air Traffic Works
Season 1,
Episode 4
Published:

The FAA keeps 5,000 airplanes on average moving safely through the sky every hour. How is this possible? Listen to hear it from our experts.
In this episode, you will learn how the puzzle pieces fit together in a cross-country flight — from takeoff to cruising altitude and back down — and how an orchestra of more than 14,000 air traffic controllers, in unison with pilots and airport personnel,...
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General Aviation and COVID-19
Season 1,
Episode 3
Published:

The COVID-19 public health emergency has affected nearly every industry, and companies are trying to navigate the new normal of operating. General aviation is no exception. New businesses have cropped up to meet the demand for alternative forms of transportation. Innovations in pilot training have moved at lightning speed to provide quality, technical training solutions. Listen now to hear how private pilots are...
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Operation Supplies Over Skies
Season 1,
Episode 2
Published:

When the COVID-19 public health emergency cancelled everything, 16-year-old student pilot TJ Kim started flying PPE and other medical supplies to rural hospitals in his state of Virginia. He's calling it Operation SOS: Supplies Over Skies. We'll talk with TJ about why he started "Operation SOS," his flight instructor, a representative from EAA's Young Eagles program...
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Air Traffic Amid a Public Health Emergency
Season 1,
Episode 1
Published:

The COVID-19 public health emergency has dramatically reduced the number of passengers flying in our airspace, but the National Airspace System remains a critical part of our nation's response. From keeping flights carrying PPE on track to mitigating risk inside the tower cab, here's how the FAA's air traffic control team keeps the system running. Hear from Air Traffic Controllers and supervisors...
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