Ready For Takeoff - Turn Your Aviation Passion Into A Career
613 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 136 ratingsThe Ready For Takeoff podcast will help you transform your aviation passion into an aviation career. Every week we bring you instruction and inspiring interviews with top aviators in their field who reveal their flight path to an exciting career in the skies.
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Episodes
RFT 159: Cold Weather Altimetry
February 09, 2018 00:02 - 8 minutes - 12.5 MBWhen flying in colder-than-standard temperatures, it's important to understand that True Altitude may be lower than Indicated altitude due to the effects of cold temperatures. This is especially important when making an instrument approach at a high-terrain airport during cold temperature conditions.
RFT 158: Accident Investigator/F-111 Pilot Dave Scheiding
February 05, 2018 05:01 - 56 minutes - 78.5 MBColonel Dave Scheiding started his aviation career in the U.S. Air Force. After Undergraduate Pilot Training, Dave was asked to remain in Air Training Command as a T-37 Instructor Pilot (IP) at Laughlin Air Force Base. In addition to being the resident expert at spin recovery, he pulled service as the base Aerdrome Officer. In that capacity, on October 21st, 1967, he oversaw the post-crash activities when Thunderbird pilot Merrill McPeak crashed during a performance. Following his IP assig...
RFT 157: The Critique Element of CRM
February 01, 2018 05:01 - 7 minutes - 10.8 MBThe five original elements of Crew Resource Management (CRM) are: Inquiry Advocacy Conflict Resolution Decision Making Critique Most pilots have become proficient in the first four elements, but frequently the Critique element is ignored. A properly conducted Critique allows you to evaluate how the flight went and to learn from successes and failures of the flight's activities. Basically, when conducting the Critique, you consider what went right and what went wrong, and what you...
RFT 156: Misty FAC MGen Don Shepperd
January 29, 2018 05:01 - 32 minutes - 46.2 MBMajor General Donald W. Shepperd, USAF (Ret.) is president of The Shepperd Group, Inc. He performs independent consulting on defense, strategic planning, executive leadership, information technology and visioning and preparation of executive teams for the 21st century. He was a fighter pilot who flew 247 combat fighter missions in Vietnam. He retired in 1998 from the Pentagon where he served as head of the Air National Guard. He commanded over 110,000 Air National Guard personnel, 1400 aircr...
RFT 155: Radiant Crossing Part 3
January 25, 2018 05:01 - 10 minutes - 14.9 MBNovember 28, 2013 0312 Greenwich Mean Time West 87 Degrees Altitude 4000 Feet 3 As we continued westward, we maintained radio contact with other aircraft on 123.45. It appeared that the entire electrical grid for the United States was wiped out. No one had any idea what caused it or how long it would take for the system to be restored. It seemed pretty clear to us that once we were on the ground, it would be quite a while before we would be able to travel anywhere. This was a major c...
RFT 154: Ryan Rankin's Victory
January 22, 2018 05:01 - 28 minutes - 39.9 MBIn Ready For Takeoff episode 83 we met Ryan Rankin, a Navy Instructor Pilot who had the goal of flying in 52 different aircraft over the course of one year - one per week. In this episode we catch up with Ryan, to see if he reached his goal and to find out about the exciting and unusual aircraft - airplanes, rotorcraft, and seaplanes - he flew. Ryan describes how he traveled as far away as Poland in his quest, and he describes some really interesting and exciting rides. Ryan documented h...
RFT 153: Radiant Crossing Part 2
January 18, 2018 05:01 - 10 minutes - 15 MBNovember 28, 2013 2346 Greenwich Mean Time West 60 Degrees Flight Level 310 2 It was time to give ATC a call on Guard frequency. We were still over the ocean, but, I estimated, we would be in range of one of the radio facilities on the east coast. For the previous three hours we had maintained a listening watch on VHF 123.45, and had passed along our information, sparse as it was, to aircraft following us. If this had been a domestic flight, we would have come into contact with aircr...
RFT 152: Lyle Prouse's Redemption
January 15, 2018 05:01 - 58 minutes - 81.6 MBFrom Lyle Prouse's website: This is the story of the first airline pilot ever arrested and sent to prison for flying under the influence. He was fired by his airline, stripped of his FAA licenses, tried, convicted, and sent to Federal prison. This was a first. It had never occurred before. Lyle Prouse came from a WWII housing project in Kansas and an alcoholic family where both parents died as a result of alcoholism. He rose through the ranks of the United States Marine Corps from priva...
RFT 151: Radiant Crossing Part 1
January 10, 2018 05:01 - 14 minutes - 20.4 MBNovember 28, 2013 2013 Greenwich Mean Time West 30 Degrees Flight Level 310 1 I had just drifted off to sleep, with the rhythmic undulations of the aircraft gently rocking me to sleep, when there was a loud knock on the bunk door. Calling the claustrophobic space a bunk was a stretch, but at least it provided the opportunity to get a power nap while my two copilots manned the cockpit. I opened the door and swung my legs to the aisle floor, being careful not to completely sit up so I wo...
RFT 150: Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Major General Patrick Brady
January 06, 2018 05:01 - 45 minutes - 64 MBMAJOR GENERAL (RET) PAT BRADY served over thirty-four years in the Army in duty stations across the world: In Berlin during the building of the Wall; as commander of the DMZ in Korea, in the Dominican Republic; in the Pentagon as chief spokesman for the Army and for two years in Viet Nam. In two tours in Viet Nam he rescued over five thousand wounded and flew over twenty-five hundred combat missions. He is identified in the Encyclopedia of the Viet Nam War as the top helicopter pilot in that...
RFT 149: How To Fly A 3-Degree Final
January 02, 2018 22:59 - 13 minutes - 20.2 MBEvery time you fly a visual or instrument approach you will be flying a nominal-3 degree flight path. This podcast covers several techniques to fly a 3-degree final approach, whether you have glide slope guidance, such as an ILS, or simply referring to visual cues.Since the glideslope on most ILS installations and the desired visual glide path is 3 degrees, we will look at ways to easily fly a 3-degree glide path. A 3-degree glide path is equal to an altitude loss of 300 feet per mile. Con...
RFT 148: E6B Slide Rule Side
December 29, 2017 04:48 - 8 minutes - 12.1 MBThe slide rule side of the E6B computer is used to calculate time, speed and distance. The scales on the outer circle and the first scale on the inner disk are identical. Also on the inner disk is an additional scale that represents hours corresponding to the number of minutes on the first scale. Think of the edge of the inner disk as representing the word "per", such as "miles per hour", gallons per minute, etc. To calculate any rate, simply place the black triangle on the inner disk oppo...
RFT 147: Airshow Performer Paul "Sticky" Strickland
December 25, 2017 05:01 - 52 minutes - 72.4 MBPaul Strickland entered the Air Force in 1983, graduating with honors from OCS. Paul has had a distinguished and successful Air Force career logging over 3,900 hours in military aircraft including the A-10, F-5 and F-16. Paul served with various squadrons in the US, Europe, and Korea, flying combat missions during Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia, Operation Northern Watch over Iraq, and supporting Operation ALLIED FORCE over Kosovo as operations director, Combined Air Ops Center in Italy. I...
RFT 146B: RIP Jerry Yellin
December 23, 2017 21:35 - 2 minutes - 5 MBThe last combat mission of World War II began Aug. 15, 1945, when fighter pilot Jerry Yellin and his wingman, 19-year-old Philip Schlamberg, took off from Iwo Jima to attack airfields near Nagoya, Japan. The war seemed all but over. Germany had surrendered in May, and much of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were in ruins, decimated by atomic bombs dropped the previous week. If Mr. Yellin heard a code word — “Utah” — Japan’s rumored surrender had occurred, and he was to cancel his mission and return...
RFT 146: The Wind Side of the E6B
December 21, 2017 20:37 - 9 minutes - 13.9 MBThe great thing about the mechanical E6B computer is that it requires no batteries and gets more accurate the more often you use it! The easy way to use the wind side of the E6B is remember to start with placing the wind direction under the True Index. Align the grommet over any solid line on the slide, and draw a wind dot UP a distance representing the wind speed. Next, rotate the bezel to place the true course under the True Index. Now, move the slide until the wind dot is over the line...
RFT 145: Airline Pilot Brian Schiff
December 18, 2017 05:01 - 22 minutes - 32.3 MBFrom Brian Schiff's website: Capt. Brian Schiff is a captain for a major US airline and is type-rated on the Boeing 727, 757, 767, DC-9 (MD-80), CL-65, LR-JET, and G-V. Schiff’s roots are deeply planted in general aviation where he has flown a wide variety of aircraft. He holds several flight instructor ratings and is recognized for his enthusiasm and ability to teach in way that simplifies complex procedures and concepts. He has been actively instructing since earning his flight an...
RFT 144: IMSAFE
December 15, 2017 17:04 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBIMSAFE is the Aeronautical Information Manual's recommended mnemonic for aircraft pilots to use to assess their fitness to fly. The mnemonic is: Illness - Is the pilot suffering from any illness or symptom of an illness which might affect them in flight? Medication - Is the pilot currently taking any drugs (prescription or over-the-counter)? Stress - Is the pilot overly worried about other factors in his life? The psychological pressures of everyday living can be a powerful distractio...
RFT 143: Dean Siracusa
December 11, 2017 05:01 - 22 minutes - 32.2 MBDean Siracusa used to fly in his father's airplane as a child, but when he started traveling by air as an adult he developed a fear of flying. To combat this fear, he started taking flying lessons in 1999, and immediately fell in love with aviation. Dean has owned a Cessna 172, a Grumman Cheeta, and his current airplane, a Myers 200D. He's put 1000 hours on the Myers since buying it in 2006, and still raves about the plane. In 2010 Dean noticed a major problem with aviation sunglasses: t...
RFT 142: Night Vision
December 07, 2017 21:13 - 7 minutes - 11 MBIt is estimated that once fully adapted to darkness, the rods are 10,000 times more sensitive to light than the cones, making them the primary receptors for night vision. Since the cones are concentrated near the fovea, the rods are also responsible for much of the peripheral vision. The concentration of cones in the fovea can make a night blindspot in the center of the field of vision.To see an object clearly at night, the pilot must expose the rods to the image.This can be done by looking ...
RFT 141: Lt. General John Fairfield
December 04, 2017 05:01 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MBWhen John Fairfield visited an Air Force recruiter, he became convinced he should be a navigator to gain additional aviation education before becoming a pilot. He attended navigator training and served as a B-52 Navigator, eventually becoming a check airman and a Navigator-Bombadier. Due to his exceptional performance and attitude, he was selected to attend Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training as the only Navigator released from Strategic Air Command for this school. He performed extreme...
RFT 140: UAS Threat - The ASSURE Report
December 01, 2017 20:14 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBUnmanned Aerial Systems (drones) pose a serious inflight risk to aircraft. In this episode, we discuss some of the findings in the comprehensive ASSURE study performed by 23 academic institutions.
RFT 139: VIP Airlift Pilot/Fitness Professional Otis Hooper
November 27, 2017 05:01 - 32 minutes - 45.2 MBAfter Otis Hooper graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, he attended Undergraduate Pilot Training in Columbus, MS, and then flew the KC-135 aircraft at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas. He had just returned from his first deployment (of eight total) when the September 11th attacks occurred, and was assigned to fly refueling missions over New York City for the fighter aircraft protecting the city. After leaving the active duty Air Force, he flew VIP airlift support missions i...
RFT 138: Laser Threat To Aircraft
November 24, 2017 21:22 - 4 minutes - 6.02 MB- Pilots should avoid flight within areas of reported ongoing unauthorized laser activity to the extent practicable. - In the event a cautionary broadcast (by ATC or another pilot) regarding unauthorized laser illumination is made within the previous 20 minutes for a particular area, pilots should avoid the area, if practicable. - In the event laser activity is encountered or reported in the vicinity of flight, pilots operating in accordance with instrument flight rules (IFR) should obta...
RFT 137: Award-Winning Film Producer John Mollison
November 20, 2017 05:01 - 32 minutes - 46.2 MBThis is our second visit with aviation artist and historian John Mollison. In this interview, John discusses his newest film, the award-winning South Dakota Warrior: The John Waldron Story. On 4 June, 1942, LtCDR John C. Waldron led 29 other men into battle against the Japanese at the Battle of Midway. The result was (nearly) utter annihilation of his squadron...and the moment that assured that the United States would utterly defeat the Japanese. His mission led to the destruction of four ...
RFT 136: Turbulence
November 16, 2017 22:38 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MBTurbulence is air movement that normally cannot be seen and often occurs unexpectedly. It can be created by many different conditions, including atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms. Turbulence can even occur when the sky appears to be clear. While turbulence is normal and happens often, it can be dangerous. Its bumpy ride can cause passengers who are not wearing their seat belts to be thrown from their seats without warning....
RFT 135: Airshow Pilot/Guinness Record-Holder Spencer Suderman
November 13, 2017 05:01 - 34 minutes - 48.1 MBFrom Spencer Suderman's website: Spencer Suderman is not only one of the most exciting air show performers on the planet, he is also a Guinness World Record holder! On March 20, 2016, Spencer flew the Sunbird S-1x, an experimental variant of the Pitts S-1 biplane to an altitude of 24,500′ in the restricted airspace over the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Yuma, Arizona then entered an inverted flat spin. At an altitude of 2,000′ the recovery was initiated and the Sunbird smoothly returned to l...
RFFT 134: PRM Approaches
November 11, 2017 17:24 - 7 minutes - 11.4 MBWhat is Precision Runway MonitorTraining? Precision Runway Monitor (PRM) training provides guidance on conducting PRM approaches. These are simultaneous, independent approaches to closely spaced, parallel runways. What You Need to Know The FAA, together with industry, recently completed an extensive overhaul of the PRM training material. The centerpiece of this effort is a newly developed training aid titled, “Precision Runway Monitor (PRM) Pilot Procedures.” It replaces previously used t...
RFT 133: Air Force Fighter Pilot/CAP Pilot Lynn Damron
November 06, 2017 05:01 - 37 minutes - 52.8 MBAviation was in Lynn Damron's blood from the time he was born. His uncle was a barnstormer in the 1930s and later became an airline pilot. Starting at about age 10, Lynn wanted to be a fighter pilot. He soloed a J-3 Cub when he as still in high school, and after a year at a civilian college he was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy, class of 1967. After graduation he attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Moody Air Force Base and was assigned to fly back-seat F-4s. On ...
RFT 132: Runway Status Lights
November 04, 2017 02:51 - 6 minutes - 9.48 MBConcept of Operations Runway Status Lights is an essential FAA system which uses Airport Surface Survellance data to determine vehicle and aircraft locations. Runway Status Lights processes this data using complex software algorithms with adjustable parameters to control airfield lights in accordance with Air Traffic operations, including anticipated separation. Red airfield lights (Runway Entrance Lights and Takeoff Hold Lights) illuminate and extinguish as vehicles and aircraft traverse t...
RFT 131: Airline Pilot/Author Mark Berry
October 30, 2017 04:01 - 35 minutes - 49.6 MBMark Berry started flying as a teenager, and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning all of his General Aviation (GA) ratings by the time he graduated. Following graduation, he paid his dues in GA, and passed his Airline Transport Pilot written exam and Practical Test (check ride), but couldn't receive his ATP rating until he turned 23 years old. Flying Tigers Airline wanted to offer him employment, but couldn't hire him without an ATP. While he was waiting to "age" into his...
RFT 130: Aircraft Lightning Strikes
October 27, 2017 03:12 - 5 minutes - 9.17 MBLightning has the potential to cause catastrophic damage to aircraft. It is estimated that lightning will strike an aircraft every 1000 flight hours, normally without serious complications. One of the more famous aircraft accidents caused by lightning was the 1963 crash of Pan Am flight 214, which crashed near the University of Delaware. An immediate result of that crash was the requirement for all turbojet passenger aircraft to have lightning-dissipating static discharge wicks installed o...
RFT 129: Aviation Adventurer Richard Taylor
October 23, 2017 04:01 - 29 minutes - 42.1 MBOne day, while at Airventure at Oshkosh, Richard Taylor had a bold proposal to his friend, fellow pilot Pat Epps. "Let's fly over the magnetic north pole and do a roll to see what happens to the magnetic compass!" This was the start of a multi-attempt saga that took several years and took the pair on an adventure of a lifetime. Richard Taylor had served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper, then attended college. He had promised himself a Private Pilot certificate as a reward for finishing co...
RFT 128: Jet Lag
October 20, 2017 20:06 - 11 minutes - 17.3 MBFrom Wikipedia: Jet lag, medically referred to as desynchronosis and rarely as circadian dysrhythmia, is a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance trans-meridian (east–west or west–east) travel. For example, someone travelling from New York to London feels as if the time were five hours earlier than local time. Jet lag was previously classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders. The condition o...
RFT 127: CFI/Balloon Pilot/Iridium Creator Dr. Raymond Leopold
October 16, 2017 04:01 - 58 minutes - 81.8 MBRaymond Leopold knew he wanted to be a pilot since he was a child. He took flying lessons before entering the United States Air Force Academy, and continued his lessons with the Academy Aero Club. After graduation, he went to graduate school, earning his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, before attending Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training. In pilot training, he was at the top of his class. In fact, to celebrate the fact that he was the first student to solo in a jet, his class...
RFT 126: Aviation Drug Testing
October 12, 2017 04:01 - 7 minutes - 10.7 MBDrug testing is a way of life for pilots and other transportation workers. As a pilot, you will receive pre-employment drug testing, random (no-notice) drug testing, and reasonable-cause drug testing throughout your career.
RFT 125: jetBlue Gatewy Select Program
October 09, 2017 04:01 - 20 minutes - 29.1 MBGateway Select is an innovative talent pathway for those seeking to become pilots at JetBlue. This particular Gateway Program will allow an applicant, if successful, to learn with us from the beginning and become a JetBlue pilot after completing a rigorous training program. This unique, accessible and cost effective JetBlue Pilot Gateway Program will take a more competency-based approach to becoming a professional pilot. The Program will optimize the training of prospective airline pilots ...
RFT 124: Wrong Runway!
October 07, 2017 18:08 - 7 minutes - 10.8 MBMisidentifying airports and landing at the wrong runway has plagued pilots for generations. Typically, the two airports are within 10 miles of each other and have similar runway orientations. But the wrong runway may be significantly shorter. From NTSB: Without adequate preparation, robust monitoring, and cross-checking of position using all available resources, flight crews may misidentify a nearby airport that they see during the approach to their destination airport. The risk of an ...
RFT 123: Warbird/Airline Pilot Stacey Banks
October 02, 2017 04:01 - 21 minutes - 30.9 MBAviation has been a major part of Stacey Banks' family for three generations. Inspired by her uncle, an American Airlines pilot, Stacey's father became an Air Force pilot, flying F-4s in Vietnam, then flying for United Airlines. He took Stacey up on numerous civilian flights when he was delivering cargo and checks when she was a toddler. When Stacey was a teenager, she started taking flying lessons, vowing that her father would be her first passenger once she obtained her Private Pilot certi...
RFT 122: Volcanic Activity
September 29, 2017 03:40 - 8 minutes - 12.9 MBVolcanic ash poses a significant risk to aviation. It can cause problems for aircraft on the ground and inflight. This podcast discusses some issues that are significant to pilots.
RFT 121: Television Personality/Pilot/Author MayCay Beeler
September 25, 2017 04:01 - 25 minutes - 36.2 MBMayCay Beeler is a spirited vivacious American aviatrix, record breaking pilot, best-selling multi award-winning author, television personality, veteran TV host/producer/journalist, spokesperson, and active FAA Certified Flight Instructor with a passion for all things flying. Born in our Nation's Capitol, MayCay grew up in the Washington metro area. After a brief stint as a cowgirl working summer jobs in Wyoming, attending Montana State University, and graduating from the University of Ken...
RFT 120: Getting Your UAS Certificate
September 22, 2017 18:58 - 11 minutes - 17.4 MBFAR Part 107 describes the process of obtaining an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) certificate. Airman Certification Standards describes the process, which involves taking a written examination by computer at an authorized testing location, and there is no practical test (checkride) involved. The FAA has provided a study guide, an online course, and a sample test. For certificated pilots, the process simply involves completing the online course with an end-of-course exam. Once you pass the...
RFT 119: C-130/C-17 Instructor Pilot Michael Morales
September 18, 2017 04:01 - 29 minutes - 41.8 MBMichael Morales had a dream to become an astronaut, and set a goal of attending the United States Air Force Academy to become an Air Force pilot. At the Academy, he discovered his eyesight would not qualify him to become an astronaut, but he was qualified to become a pilot. He attended Undergraduate Pilot Training and then became a C-17 pilot. Shortly after qualifying in the airplane, the Global War On Terrorism started and he was deployed worldwide for an extended period, away on missions 2...
RFT 118: Airport Markings
September 15, 2017 19:20 - 17 minutes - 25.2 MBAirport markings are full explained in Chapter 2, section 3 of the Aeronautical Information Manual. This podcast highlights the more important issues.
RFT 117: Marine Top Gun Instructor/F-18/F-16/F-22/F35B Pilot David Berke
September 11, 2017 04:01 - 31 minutes - 44.2 MBDavid Berke is a retired Marine Corps officer and combat veteran. As an F/A-18 pilot he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he was dual qualified in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for conduct of the TOPGUN course. He then served as an ANGLICO Forward Air Controller supporting the Army’s 1st Armored Divisio...
RFT 116: Airport Lighting
September 07, 2017 22:04 - 18 minutes - 26.3 MBThere is an abundance of information about airport lighting in Chapter Two of the Aeronautical Information Manual. This podcast covers some of the high points.
RFT 115: Motivational Speaker/Fighter Pilot Christian "Boo" Boucoucis
August 30, 2017 22:10 - 26 minutes - 37.5 MBChristian “Boo” Boucousis was a fighter pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force for 10 years. He is now the CEO of Mode, an innovative property development group that is currently developing Australia’s tallest prefabricated hotel in the Perth CBD. Boo’s story is a real world example of how fighter pilots use the skills developed during their military careers to succeed in business. Diagnosed with a serious medical condition, Boo could no longer fly fighter aircraft and so he decided to ...
RFT 114: ADS-B
August 26, 2017 19:58 - 6 minutes - 9.46 MBADS-B enables increased capacity and efficiency by supporting: Better ATC traffic flow management Merging and spacing Self-separation or station keeping Enhanced visual approaches; Closely spaced parallel approaches; Reduced spacing on final approach; Reduced aircraft separations; Enhanced operations in high altitude airspace for the incremental evolution of the "free flight" concept; Surface operations in lower visibility conditions; Near visual meteorological conditions ...
RFT 113: More New Pilot Advice
August 24, 2017 00:52 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MBThis episode features more great advice from our previous guests.
RFT 112: CPDLC
August 19, 2017 05:45 - 8 minutes - 12.5 MBController Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) is a protocol for pilots and controllers to communicate with each other via digital means. Think of it as pilots and controllers communicating via email. The standard method of communication between an air traffic controller and a pilot is voice radio, using either VHF bands for line-of-sight communication or HF bands for long-distance communication (such as that provided by Shanwick Oceanic Control). One of the major problems with voice ...
RFT 111: New Pilot Advice
August 14, 2017 15:53 - 13 minutes - 19.7 MBIn prior Ready For Takeoff podcasts our guests have shared their advice for new pilots just starting out their flying training. In this episode we've assembled a cross-section of their thoughts.