Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes before your flight even leaves the gate?

We go behind the scenes with Damian Szumski, who is a licensed flight dispatcher & has worked in all aspects of data in aviation, including working at Flightradar24.

In this episode we cover:

• Damian's journey into aviation as a 9 year old to working at Flightradar24.

• the intense pre-tactical planning required for flight dispatchers

• the "secret sauce" behind location tracking of aircraft.

• the operational importance of NOTAMS (Notice to Air Missions)

• importance of Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), the standardized "books" containing crucial rules, charts, and procedures for using a country's airspace.

• why standardisation of data is lacking in the industry, often forcing airlines to use different combinations of tools

• what the future of flight planning & data would look like in the age of AI.

This episode is essential listening for anyone who uses the Flightradar24 app or is curious about the insane volume of data that powers aviation.