Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

Listen in as editors explain why a crew vehicle is coming home from the space station without a crew, and what it means for Boeing, SpaceX and two stranded astronauts.

The commercial aviation supply chain is at a crossroads. In this sponsored podcast two McKinsey & Co. experts explain why—and what it means for the next generation of single-aisle aircraft. Read More: Commercial Aerospace At A Crossroads: Balancing the Present and the Future

Amid growing skepticism that airlines can achieve net zero emissions in 2050, a report lays out a road map for rapidly scaling up sustainable aviation fuels. Listen in as one of those skeptics, Aviation Week’s Graham Warwick, talks with Claudia Galea, a co-author of that report, which was put together by the World Economic Forum and Kearney. Thank you to our sponsor GE Aerospace. Find out more at GEAerospace.com

Airbus is really excited about an open-rotor engine. Boeing not so much. Listen in as Aviation Week's Guy Norris explains the background behind his recent story on Boeing's current assessment of CFM International's RISE open fan concept. He is joined by colleagues Jens Flottau, who weighs in on the strategic implications, and Sean Broderick, who provides an update on how Pratt & Whitney is managing issues with its GTF engine. Hosted by Joe Anselmo.

As the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' flagship Aviation Forum and Ascend conferences come together for the first time in Las Vegas, Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Graham Warwick and Garrett Reim review some of the cutting-edge developments shared there.

Kelly Ortberg has a stellar track record as an aerospace CEO, but he faces momentous challenges in Seattle. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo and Michael Bruno discuss Ortberg's appointment with guests Kevin Michaels, a contributing columnist and managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, and analyst Scott Mikus, who covers aerospace and defense at Melius Research.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Tony Osborne and Brian Everstine discuss their highlights from Farnborough Airshow, sharing their thoughts on GCAP, CCAs, FLRAA, tankers and more.

At Farnborough Airshow 2024, an absence of new aircraft orders spoke volumes. Listen in as Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Christine Boynton, Jens Flottau, Guy Norris and Daniel Williams analyze the week, breaking down the deals that did take place and sharing the buzz from airlines, suppliers and manufacturers. 

The NATO Summit in Washington and Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference in London both had Cold War undertones. Listen in as editors Robert Wall, Brian Everstine and Steve Trimble unpack why long-range missiles in Europe and deterrence are back on the national security agenda. 

Listen in to hear from Accenture leaders John Schmidt and Joyce Kline on why supply chain and workforce challenges remain vexing, but technological solutions such as generative AI point to a brighter future in this sponsored podcast.

In the defense industry, all eyes are on the UK in July for RIAT and Farnborough. Aviation Week's Robert Wall, Tony Osborne and Craig Caffrey kick off the conversation with a special episode about the British elections and what they (and those in France) mean for A&D.

Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Sean Broderick and Jens Flottau unpack a week that started with a unique media briefing at Boeing's Renton facility and ended with the purchase of Spirit AeroSystems.

U..S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall cast doubt on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program in an interview with Aviation Week. Listen in as editors Brian Everstine, Steve Trimble and Robert Wall break down what we know—and what we don't know.

Aviation Week editors go back through the archives to the origins of supersonic flight, revisiting key programs and exploring the issues that are still challenging high-speed aircraft designers today. Check 6 Revisits delves into Aviation Week's more than 100-year archive. Subscribers can explore our archive here and read key Aviation Week articles relating to this podcast here:  Letter from Oklahoma City resident on Project Bongo (AW&ST, March 2, 1964, p. 98) Sonic Boom Report Expected in October (AW&ST, July 13, 1964, p. 28) Boom Restrictions May Swell SST Costs (AW&ST, Aug. 3, 1964, p. 38) Concorde is Coming (AW&ST, Feb. 8, 1971, p. 11)  Audio Clips: March 2, 1969: Concorde's first Toulouse test flight (BBC) June 5, 1963: President John F. Kennedy spoke at U.S. Air Force Academy (JFK Library) June 4, 1963: JFK phone call to Treasury Secretary C. Douglas Dillon (JFK Library)

Airlines are on the verge of placing hundreds of orders for widebody jets. Listen is as Aviation Week Network's Joe Anselmo, Jens Flottau, Lori Ranson and Daniel Williams discuss what’s behind the impending order boom. Read Jens' article here: Multiple Airlines Prepare Large Widebody Orders

Check 6 will be back with a regular episode next week. Today we are sharing an episode of Aviation Week's MRO Podcast. Listen in to hear Aviation Week Network editors James Pozzi, Lindsay Bjerregaard and Michael Bruno discuss the novel applications MROs are finding for generative AI and the technology’s workforce implications. Read Lindsay's article: AI Fever Sweeps MRO, But Will Excitement Last? You can follow the MRO Podcast wherever you get Check 6.

Listen in as Aviation Week editors Robert Wall, Steve Trimble and Tony Osborne discuss the GAO's recent report on the F-35 and explain what's hampering the now $2 trillion program.

In 2021 airlines pledged to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Aviation Week experts debate their progress so far and what approach should be taken going forward ahead of airline CEOs convening in Dubai for IATA's AGM at the start of June.

Eliminating contrails would cut aviation's climate impact by half, but can it be done? Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Thierry Dubois and Graham Warwick are joined by NASA scientist Richard Moore who shares the latest research on a problem that some consider to be the low-hanging fruit of sustainability. A full transcript of this podcast will be available here. Read Guy's story about the last flight of NASA's DC-8 and see video of it chasing contrails here.

According to new Accenture reports this year, Gen AI is poised to provide the most significant economic uplift and change to work since the agricultural and industrial revolutions, and it will lead to a reinvention of work with more—not less—human-centric work processes. In this sponsored podcast Aviation Week talks with Accenture aerospace and defense practice leaders on how aerospace and defense businesses are using AI now.