The Conversation at AirSafe.com Podcast

In this May 31, 2014 interview with Rudy Maxa's World, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com discussed recent developments in the search for flight MH370, the Malaysia Airlines 777 that disappeared in early March 2014. The Australian government, which is leading the effort to find the missing aircraft, had recently suspended the search and had announced that it would take about two months to conduct a thorough mapping of a section of the Indian Ocean seafloor before resuming the search. Listen to the interview (5:11) Additional details about flight MH370For more information on airline safety, visit AirSafe.com or AirSafeNews.com.

27 April 2014 - In this ABC Radio Australia interview, Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com discussed comments made by a former Malaysian Prime Minister about Boeing's role in the investigation, and about the design of the 777. In short, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad laid the blame for the loss of the aircraft on Boeing, and not on Malaysia Airlines. Related resources Preliminary report from the Malaysia Ministry of Transport ABC Radio News Australia interview AirSafe.com flight MH370 page

This interview with Zac Manchester of KickSat took place on 26 April 2014, just over a week after the KickSat satellite was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral. The KickSat satellite carries over 100 miniaturized satellites called Sprites (including AirSafe.com's first satellite), and these will be deployed later in the mission. Sprite miniature satellite In the interview, Zac discusses the planning and development process for KickSat, the technology that made the miniaturized Sprite satellites possible, and the volunteer network of radio operators who will detect the signals from the Sprites once they deploy. Listen to the interview with KickSat's Zac Manchester For additional information, including links for plans to build your own Sprite satellite, please visit kicksat.airsafe.com Related resources KickSat launch on 18 April 2014 Subscribe to the AirSafe.com podcast on iTunes

Last month, Dr. Todd Curtis interviewed Dr. Richard Haines, the chief scientist of NARCAP, where they discussed his organization's efforts to reduce threats to aviation caused by unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). Dr. Haines, who founded the organization in 1999, provided several examples of why unidentified aerial events may have put aircraft and their occupants at risk in the past, and also explained that such events happen to a significant fraction of active airline pilots. Dr. Haines also encouraged crew members who have observed such events to contact his organization at narcap.org and file a report on any past sightings. Listen to the interview (1:01:28) NARCAP resources and research studies NARCAP advice to pilots Report unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) NARCAP technical reports Relevant conference about unidentified aerial phenomena From June 29-30, 2013, the Center for UFO Research held a symposium on the scientific investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena and UFOs in Greensboro, NC. Featured speakers included high-level officials, including Dr. Haines, a retired Belgian major general, and an Iranian Air Force fighter pilot.

Patrick Smith, airline pilot and author of the recently released book Cockpit Confidential, sat down with Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com to discuss his latest work, and to share his thoughts on other issues facing the airline industry. Listen to the Patrick Smith interview Buy the Book Today! Resources Read the full article at AirSafeNews.com Buy the book today!

29 April 2013; National Airlines; 747-400; N949CA; Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan: The aircraft had just departed on a cargo flight to Dubai, UAE when the aircraft entered a stall and crashed near the end of the runway. All seven crew members were killed. Cargo included several vehicles. Although the aircraft was flying in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan, there is not indication that the crash was caused by hostile action. Watch the video Listen to the report Resources Read the full article at AirSafeNews.com 747 Plane Crashes

On Friday 18 January 2013, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com was interviewed on the Fox Business Network show 'Money with Melissa Francis' where he discussed the recent grounding of the 787 and the things that would have to happen for the public to regain confidence in this aircraft. Issues included loss of consumer confidence, potential problems with the new battery technology used in the 787, the aircraft certification process, reducing aircraft risksand how passenger fears can be reduced. Interview links Hear the Fox Business Network interview (also available at http://www.airsafe.com/podcasts/show127-fox-money-18-jan-2013.mp3) Watch the Fox Business Network interview Related AirSafeNews.com articles 8 January 2013What's wrong with the 787? 11 January 2013FAA orders comprehensive review of the 787 18 January 2013Should passengers fear the 787? Photo credits: Fox Business News

An April 19, 2012 bird strike near JFK brings up issues about FAA rules on the use of electronic devices by passengers, and why those rules may have to change. The issue was the FAA response to a video posted by a passenger that showed the birds striking the aircraft. For details on that story, including the video shot by the passenger, check out the AirSafeNews.com article on this event.You can also listen to the interview Dr. Curtis gave to WTOP radio about this event.

On 1 June 2011 the FAA announced that it will now use a rule originally used against someone on board the aircraft who interfered with a flight crew, and apply it to people on the ground who deliberately point lasers at aircraft. With this change, someone who points a laser at an aircraft can be fined up to $11,000.The program The World Today from the BBC interviewed Dr. Curtis about some the issues associated with pointing lasers at pilots (5:02).While this threat to aircraft has not resulted in a crash of a military aircraft, airliner, or private aircraft, flashing a laser at an aircraft could compromise aviation safety by distracting or incapacitating pilots during critical phases of flight. For more on this issue, including links to FAA studies on the effects of lasers on pilots, check out the AirSafeNews.com article on the FAA's new laser rules.

In this January 8, 2011 interview with Rudy Maxa's World, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com discussed the most significant plane crashes and noteworthy safety and security events of 2010, including the crash of an A330 in Libya with a sole survivor, a near midair collision over Burbank, and the absence of fatal passengers events of airlines of the US and Canada.Listen to the interviewPlane crashes and significant events of 2010For more information on airline safety, visit AirSafe.com or AirSafeNews.com.

British Airways chairman calls for changes to US security proceduresOn October 26, 2010, at the annual conference of the U.K. Airport Operators Association. British Airways chairman Martin Broughton called for changes to the security requirements for international flights bound for the US. He claimed that a number of elements in the current security program, including separate checks of laptop computers and forcing people to take off their shoes for screenting are completely redundant and should reviewed. He also pointed out that the requirements for international flights to the US and domestic flights within the US were not consistent.The following day, Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com spoke with the BBC radio program Europe Today about Broughton's concerns and why these security differences exist. Also interviewed in the following segment was former British Airways executive Jamie Bowden. Listen to the interview (8:30)Related AirSafeNews.com ArticlesAirSafeNews.com article on the attempted bombingDescription of four key US terrorist and TSA security databasesUS security rules and baggage restrictionsTwo Qantas Engine Failures near Singapore This BBC Radio 5 interview with Dr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com on November 5, 2010 came in the wake of two unusual engine failure events. On November 4, 2010, a Qantas A380 had an engine failure about 15 minutes after taking off from Singapore's airport. The following day, a Qantas 747 had another failure about two minutes after taking off from the same airport. Both planes landed safely.Listen to the interview (3:34)Related informationSignificant Qantas events

As the investigation into the unsuccessful bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 enters its early stages, there are already several security issues that are being discussed by the media, including short term security measures and issues with US government terrorist databases.Listen to the interview (4:09)

After the unsuccessful bombing attempt last week on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, not much is known for sure, including how the suspect was able to overcome all the various layers of security. One possibility was that the information accidentally released earlier this year by TSA may have helped the suspect. The TSA manual was reviewed by Dr. Curtis of AirSafe.com, and there did not appear to be any obvious or even indirect connection between the actions of the suspected bomber and the information in the manual. The video and audio podcast below provides an overview of the information that was in the manual, and the links at the bottom of the article go to previous AirSafeNews.com articles on the TSA manual, as well as to the edited and unedited versions of the TSA manual. AirSafeNews.com encourages its readers to review the information, and to contact AirSafeNews.com if they have any insights or opinions on either the TSA manual release, or the recent bombing attempt.Video and Audio Podcast Links (2:23)Audio: MP3 | Video: iPod/MP4 | WMV | YouTubeRelated InformationFull TSA reportRedacted TSA reportTSA prohibited and restricted ItemsRelated AirSafeNews.com ArticlesAirSafeNews.com article on the attempted bombingDescription of four key US terrorist and TSA security databasesBBC interview with AirSafeNews.com's Dr. Todd Curtis

As information about the unsuccessful bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 continues to be uncovered, some are questioning the usefulness of some of the security measures being implemented, and whether profiling may be needed to deter attacks. The following interview was with WGN radio in Chicago on 29 December 2009Listen to the interview (14:39)

Dr. Curtis and host of the Calgary Today show Whitney Dean of CHQR radio in Calgary, Canada discuss a number of issues related to the Christmas day bombing attempt on Northwest flight 253, including Nigerian airline security, a review of US terrorists databases, and the technologies and procedures that are currently used to prevent airliner bombing attempts. The following interview took place on 29 December 2009.Listen to the interview (16:10)

The podcasts associated with the AirSafe.com airline safety review for 2009 are currently available as audio and video files that you can either download or play below. Please feel free to reuse them for any noncommerical use. You can read the review in a previous AirSafeNews.com article or at 2009.airsafe.org. Video and Audio Podcast Links (7:51)Audio: MP3 | Video: iPod/MP4 | WMV | YouTube

An earlier AirSafeNews.com article featured an audio podcast that discussed the role social media played in how the public found out about the January 2009 ditching of a US Airways A320 on the Hudson River. This article features a video based on a presentation that AirSafe.com's Dr. Todd Curtis gave at the 2009 Bird Strike North America conference. This show provides a general definition of social media and then provides specific examples of how it was used by AirSafe.com to expand the site's audience and to enhance the usefulness of its information. Video and Audio Podcast Links (7:01)Audio: MP3 | Video: iPod/MP4 | WMV | YouTubeRelated AirSafeNews.com ArticlesHow AirSafe.com Uses Social MediaSocial Media Insights from AirSafe.comSocial Media's Role in Airline SafetyAdditional Social Media ResourcesAirSafe.com Creates Online Radio StationSocial Media's Role in Airline SafetyHow AirSafe.com Uses Twitter with a Mailing ListTen Free Social Media Things You Can DoAirSafe Media's Social Media Blog.New AirSafe.com BlogAirSafe.com recently launched the blog FlightsGoneBad.com, which features complaints from the AirSafe.com Complaint System and other news and information about passenger service and airport security issues.

This episode reviews two events from the week of October 19, 2009 that could have become major airline disasters. In Atlanta, a 767 landed on the taxiway instead of the runway, and in Minneapolis an airline crew stopped communicating with the outside world for over an hour while flying past its destination by well over 100 miles.More detailed descriptions of these two incidents are in the AirSafeNews.com article from 23 October 2009. The podcast of this article, which you will find below, is a bit unusual. Until now, the Conversation at AirSafe.com has always been hosted by Dr. Todd Curtis. This show features a computer-generated voice. We ask you to listen to the show and evaluate it for us. Northwest Airlines A320 Overflies Airport and Delta 767 Lands on Taxiway by Mistake (4:37)Please include your feedback below:Loading...

The previous entry on the AirSafe.com News described the September 2009 update AirSafe.com's listing of fatal plane crash rates by model. The video and audio podcast below discusses the aircraft models with the lowest rates. There are links to the video on YouTube and to downloadable versions of the podcast in MP3, MP4, and WMV formats. Video and Audio Podcast Links (2:57) Audio: MP3 | Video: iPod/MP4 | WMV | YouTube Additional Resources Plane Crash Rates by Model Recent Fatal Plane Crashes

In this show, Dr. Todd Curtis discusses the role that social media applications like Twitter, YouTube, and podcasts have had in shaping the public's relationship to aviation safety issues. Using the example of the January 2009 ditching of a US Airways aircraft in the Hudson River, the show discusses why any organization that intends to influence aviation safety policy or the aviation safety community should embrace these emerging technologies in order to better serve their members and the general public.Listen to the podcastFull transcript and additional resources