Aero Exploration

• Episode 67 - The Invisible Crisis Grounding America’s Flights

  Every delay, every grounded plane, every canceled flight has a story behind it—one you don’t see. In this episode of AeroExploration, we dive into the hidden crisis in aviation maintenance: a rapidly aging workforce, broken training pipelines, and a shortage of skilled mechanics that is grounding aircraft across the country. From major airlines to your local flight school, the impact is real, costly, and growing.We’ll explore why planes sit idle, how this workforce shortage is costing billions, and what the aviation industry is doing to fight back.Tune in to discover the invisible threat that could affect every flight you take—and why the solutions could reshape the future of flying.AeroExploration: Check out the YouTube Channel. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Community:If you enjoy Fly the Transition and want to continue the conversation, consider joining our Discord community. To request an invite, simply reach out to Jim by email or social media.Sponsor Information:Support our sponsors and affiliates who help make this podcast possible!Affiliate Links:Lightspeed Headsets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?campaign=flyingmidwest23&ref=101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flying Eyes Sunglasses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=Flyingmidwest23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code Flyingmidwest10 for 10% off your purchaseFly the Transition Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flyingmidwest.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Information:Do you have questions or comments about the show? Do you have an idea for a future episode? Do you want to be a guest on the podcast? Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or connect with Jim through social media or the website.🔊 Listen now on:✅ Apple Podcasts | ✅ Spotify | ✅ Google Podcasts | 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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• Episode 66 - From Zero Time to Airline: Inside Thrust Flight’s Approach to Accelerated Pilot Training

  In this episode of AeroExploration, we sit down with Patrick Arnzen, airline pilot, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, and CEO of Thrust Flight. Patrick has spent his career guiding aspiring aviators through the challenges of pilot training, and he’s now leading one of the nation’s premier accelerated flight schools.Together, we dig into:✈️ Accelerated flight training — the real advantages, the common misconceptions, and what future pilots need to know before enrolling.🎓 Do you really need a 4-year degree to fly for the airlines? Patrick shares his take on what the industry truly values today.🔧 Thrust Flight’s bold expansion — how the launch of their new aircraft maintenance schools will open even more doors for those looking to build aviation careers.Whether you’re a student pilot, career-changer, or simply fascinated by how airlines build their pilot pipelines, this conversation will give you insider perspective on what it takes to succeed in aviation today.Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most talked-about training models in the industry — and the people behind it.Check out Thrust Flight: Thrust Flight⁠.AeroExploration: Check out the YouTube Channel. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Community:If you enjoy Fly the Transition and want to continue the conversation, consider joining our Discord community. To request an invite, simply reach out to Jim by email or social media.Sponsor Information:Support our sponsors and affiliates who help make this podcast possible!Affiliate Links:Lightspeed Headsets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?campaign=flyingmidwest23&ref=101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flying Eyes Sunglasses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=Flyingmidwest23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code Flyingmidwest10 for 10% off your purchaseFly the Transition Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flyingmidwest.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Information:Do you have questions or comments about the show? Do you have an idea for a future episode? Do you want to be a guest on the podcast? Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or connect with Jim through social media or the website.🔊 Listen now on:✅ Apple Podcasts | ✅ Spotify | ✅ Google Podcasts | 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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• Episode 65 - From AC-130 to Healing: Anthony Dyer’s Story of War & Finding Purpose

  Join us on AeroExploration as we sit down with Anthony Dyer, a former USAF Combat Special Missions Aviator whose career includes flying AC-130 gunships and Pave Hawk rescue helicopters on dangerous missions that saved lives. In Moon Child: The Roots and Wings of a USAF Combat Special Missions Aviator, Anthony doesn’t just chronicle the adrenaline and action of combat search-and-rescue, casualty evac, and gunship close air support—he also shares the heavy cost of war: trauma, addiction, moral injury, and what it takes to find meaning after service.If you’re fascinated by aerial warfare, helicopter rescue, AC-130 operations, or the human stories behind veterans’ journeys, this episode is for you. Learn what it’s like to fly rescue missions under fire, to carry the memories home, and to build a new “why” in peacetime.Get Anthony’s Book:On Amazon → [Moon Child - Amazon] ⁠Amazon⁠On Barnes & Noble → [Moon Child - Barnes & Noble] Barnes & NobleWinter Merch is HERE!Winter is coming, and so is our brand-new merch lineup! Stay warm and rep your love for aviation with cozy long sleeve tees, hoodies, and beanies. For a limited time, you can score 20% off your order with code Cold20—but hurry, this offer only lasts until October 1st. Gear up now and head into the season in style!⁠Flyingmidwest.com/Merch⁠Support the Show: If you are looking for early releases, exclusive content, or just want to support the show, consider joining me on Patreon!There are several levels of support and extra goodies at each level. Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/flyingmidwest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AeroExploration: Check out the YouTube Channel. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Community:If you enjoy Fly the Transition and want to continue the conversation, consider joining our Discord community. To request an invite, simply reach out to Jim by email or social media.Sponsor Information:Support our sponsors and affiliates who help make this podcast possible!Affiliate Links:Lightspeed Headsets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?campaign=flyingmidwest23&ref=101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flying Eyes Sunglasses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=Flyingmidwest23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code Flyingmidwest10 for 10% off your purchaseFly the Transition Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flyingmidwest.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Information:Do you have questions or comments about the show? Do you have an idea for a future episode? Do you want to be a guest on the podcast? Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ or connect with Jim through social media or the website.🔊 Listen now on:✅ Apple Podcasts | ✅ Spotify | ✅ Google Podcasts | 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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• Episode 64 - Trading Farm Life for Flying Jets

  In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, Jim sits down with Collin, a corporate jet pilot with NetJets, to explore his unconventional path into aviation.Collin didn’t grow up with a headset in hand or a lifelong dream of flying. Instead, his early life revolved around farming. But a chance meeting with a pilot on a party bus changed everything. That single conversation set him on the path to becoming a professional pilot.We cover:Collin’s early farm life and unexpected introduction to aviationHow a party bus encounter sparked his desire to flyHis pilot training process and how he built flight hoursThe steps that led to flying with NetJets.What a corporate pilot lifestyle really looks likeWhy corporate aviation can be a rewarding career path for aspiring pilotsThis episode is perfect for:Anyone interested in corporate aviation careersAspiring pilots curious about the NetJets pilot lifeAviation fans who love unique and unexpected career storiesWinter Merch is HERE!Winter is coming, and so is our brand-new merch lineup! Stay warm and rep your love for aviation with cozy long sleeve tees, hoodies, and beanies. For a limited time, you can score 20% off your order with code Cold20—but hurry, this offer only lasts until October 1st. Gear up now and head into the season in style!Flyingmidwest.com/MerchSupport the Show: If you are looking for early releases, exclusive content, or just want to support the show, consider joining me on Patreon!There are several levels of support and extra goodies at each level. Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/flyingmidwest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AeroExploration: Check out the YouTube Channel. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Community:If you enjoy Fly the Transition and want to continue the conversation, consider joining our Discord community. To request an invite, simply reach out to Jim by email or social media.Sponsor Information:Support our sponsors and affiliates who help make this podcast possible!Affiliate Links:Lightspeed Headsets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?campaign=flyingmidwest23&ref=101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flying Eyes Sunglasses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=Flyingmidwest23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code Flyingmidwest10 for 10% off your purchaseFly the Transition Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flyingmidwest.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Information:Do you have questions or comments about the show? Do you have an idea for a future episode? Do you want to be a guest on the podcast? Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or connect with Jim through social media or the website.🔊 Listen now on:✅ Apple Podcasts | ✅ Spotify | ✅ Google Podcasts | 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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• Episode 63 - 9/11 and The Hidden Impacts on the Aviation Industry

  On September 11, 2001, the aviation industry changed forever. While most remember the immediate shutdown of U.S. airspace and the introduction of tighter airport security, the ripple effects of that day continue to shape aviation more than two decades later.In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we take a deep dive into how 9/11 reshaped every corner of the industry—from pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics to air traffic controllers, airport operations staff, and the flying public. We’ll examine the creation of the TSA, the dramatic expansion of the Federal Air Marshal Service, and how general aviation faced restrictions and scrutiny that still influence operations today.We’ll also explore the evolving impacts: the lasting influence on airline economics and hiring, challenges for general aviation airports near metropolitan areas, and how security mandates continue to affect the balance between safety and accessibility.More than a story of loss, this is also a story of resilience. Aviation professionals adapted, rebuilt, and found new ways to move the world forward—under the shadow of one of the most defining days in modern history.Join us as we reflect on the past, analyze the present, and look ahead at how the legacy of 9/11 continues to shape the future of flight.Support the Show: If you are looking for early releases, exclusive content, or just want to support the show, consider joining me on Patreon!There are several levels of support and extra goodies at each level. Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/flyingmidwest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AeroExploration: Check out the YouTube Channel. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Community:If you enjoy Fly the Transition and want to continue the conversation, consider joining our Discord community. To request an invite, simply reach out to Jim by email or social media.Sponsor Information:Support our sponsors and affiliates who help make this podcast possible!Affiliate Links:Lightspeed Headsets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?campaign=flyingmidwest23&ref=101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flying Eyes Sunglasses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=Flyingmidwest23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code Flyingmidwest10 for 10% off your purchaseFly the Transition Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flyingmidwest.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Information:Do you have questions or comments about the show? Do you have an idea for a future episode? Do you want to be a guest on the podcast? Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ or connect with Jim through social media or the website.🔊 Listen now on:✅ Apple Podcasts | ✅ Spotify | ✅ Google Podcasts | 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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