Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where Tom and Mike break down aviation news, airline operations, pilot life, and the stories you don’t hear anywhere else.

In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics—from critical MD-11 fleet updates to big career news, unexpected travel chaos, and a JetBlue flight that narrowly avoided a military tanker near Venezuela.

✈️ What’s in this episode:

• MD-11 Update – New insight into bearing recommendations, inspection differences between FedEx and UPS fleets, Boeing’s role, FAA certification timelines, and the logistical nightmare of repositioning grounded aircraft across international airspace
• Instructor & Pilot Currency Issues – Simulator waivers, FAA considerations, and operational challenges during extended groundings
• BIG NEWS – Mike is officially heading to the Boeing 777
• 777 Stats Breakdown – Payload, range, GE90 engines, and why the “Big Whamma Jamma” earns its name
• Stories From the Road –
– Blue hydraulic failure discussion
– Golf in Aguadilla
– A 21-hour training commute with lounge hopping, upgrades, delays, and inflight chaos
– Escalator near-disaster and bad-luck travel moments
– TSA comments on a Labubu backpack
– Cutting a finger on a sim flap lever
• JetBlue Close Call – Flight 1112 narrowly avoids a U.S. military tanker flying co-altitude with no transponder near Venezuela
• Listener Shout-Out – Thanks to Michael in Kentucky for supporting the show

🎄 Next week: the Christmas Episode!

📩 Contact the Show: theblackbox01@yahoo.com
📞 Hotline: (203) 699-6792 (Leave your message!)
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Please take a moment to smash that 5-star review on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon — it helps the show reach more aviation fans every week.

Whether you’re a pilot, aviation professional, or just obsessed with flying, this episode delivers real insight from inside the cockpit.

Welcome to the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where Tom and Mike break down the latest in aviation news, airline industry updates, pilot stories, air travel trends, and real-world flying experiences.

This episode is packed with surprises, industry drama, and jaw-dropping aviation stories — including a live FedEx delivery surprise that shows up during the recording!

✈️ What we cover in this episode:

• A surprise gift delivered by FedEx LIVE during the show
• Flying with dogs on seats — a real JetBlue passenger story
• MD-11 cargo aircraft lawsuits and the growing safety concerns
• FAA grounding of MD-11 jets and what it means for cargo airlines
• NTSB investigations and maintenance controversy
• The recent U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 crash and pilot ejection
• Thoughts on the Netflix aviation documentary “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds”
• Global Airlines and the push to revive the “Golden Age of Air Travel”
• Deep dive on the Airbus A380 — the world’s largest passenger aircraft
• Delta Air Lines revenue losses tied to government shutdown impacts
• Honest pilot talk about career progression, the Boeing 777, and real-world airline life

Plus, shout-outs to new listeners and swim meet teammates helping grow the show!

⭐ Smash that 5-Star Review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon to help us grow
📩 Email: theblackbox01@yahoo.com
📱 Instagram / X: @the_black_box01
📞 Hotline: (203) 699-6792 (leave your message!)

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Buckle up — this week in aviation has been absolute turbulence.
From major software recalls to a global cargo fleet grounding, winter runway scares, and wild stories from the road, Aviation Chaos Week breaks down everything shaking the industry.

✈️ This Episode Covers:
🔹 Airbus A320 global software recall impacting airlines worldwide — what caused it, who’s hit hardest, and how long disruptions may last
🔹 UPS MD-11 inspection crisis — why the fleet grounding now appears to be months, not weeks, and how cargo operations will be affected
🔹 Delta Connection runway slide-off in Des Moines — how fast winter weather can snowball into an incident
🔹 Stories From the Road — Bananas at Big Y 🤦‍♂️
🔹 Stories From Home — The Garbage Man episode
🔹 How airplanes get their names — from Pan Am Clippers to FedEx’s Purple Eagle aircraft honoring St. Jude patients

We look behind the headlines and share the pilot perspective — what’s real, what’s assumed, and what passengers never hear about.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music!
📩 Contact the show: theblackbox01@yahoo.com
📞 Black Box Hotline: (203) 699-6792 — Leave your name & message
📱 Instagram / X: @the_black_box01

🛫 Help Boost the Podcast
If you enjoy the show, please smash the 5-star rating and leave a review — it massively helps the podcast reach more listeners.

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