Last year, there were nearly 7,000 reported laser strikes against pilots — and those are just the ones that were reported. In fact, laser strikes increased during 2020 despite a lower number of air traffic operations. Laser lights can pose a serious safety risk to pilots flying aircraft, and pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime.

Learn what a laser strike is, what impact they have on pilots,...

Although our host, Dominique Gebru, doesn't know much about drones, she really wants to get one! Lucky for her, FAA has everything she needs to become a certified drone pilot. In this episode, she speaks with an FAA drone expert, Danielle Corbett, and learns the dos and don'ts of drone flying. Don't have access to your own personal FAA Drone Expert? Feel free to contact the ...

Flight attendants serve a critical safety function in the cabin (no, they aren't just there to hand out snacks). But after years of decline, incidents of unruly passengers spiked in 2018 and from 2020–2021, they've hit record numbers — largely because passengers fail to listen to flight attendant directions about the new mask policy. In this episode we spoke with Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of...

Inclement weather conditions are, by far, the largest cause of flight delays in the United States. In an average year, inclement weather — including convection — is the reason for nearly 70 percent of all delays.

In this episode, we'll hear from two professionals on convective weather, flight delays, and the work that FAA does to get ahead of severe weather and minimize delays.

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Simulators — they're sort of like video games for training, research and skill enhancement. Flight and other types of aviation simulators help pilots, air traffic controllers, drone operators and more to gain proficiency and get certified faster, all in a virtual environment.

In this episode, we'll hear from multiple aviation professionals about the work that they're doing to ensure aviation safety with...

Wildlife strikes are on the rise, with birds accounting for about 97 percent of reported strikes. Factors like an increase in passenger traffic, the introduction of much quieter engines on newer planes, and a large increase in wildlife populations have all led to a rise in the probability of wildlife strikes both at airports and in the air.

In this episode, we'll hear from three professionals about the...

Space — it's big, it's dark, and there's so much that we don't know about it yet! In this episode, we'll hear from FAA experts what role the agency plays in commercial space transportation, from licensing to launch and reentry.

Read the...

Drone package delivery isn't just something cool that could happen in the future — it's happening now! In this episode of The Air Up There, you'll learn how FAA works with businesses, local governments and researchers to ensure drone package delivery happens safely. You'll also hear from representatives at UPS and Wing about ways they've incorporated drone package delivery...

The COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort is a massive logistical operation possibly unlike anything the nation has seen in modern history. It's all hands on deck, and FAA continues to play an essential role. In this bonus episode, you'll hear directly from the experts managing FAA's role in facilitating the vaccine transportation operation.

The agency's adaptive response includes helping...

What would the aviation industry be without trailblazers? Well, frankly, it would not be at all.

In our final podcast episode of the season, you'll hear from Administrator Steve Dickson about the path that led him to aviation. But this isn't your standard interview. The person asking the questions is Malik Sinegal, a young aviator whose story is rather remarkable, too.

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