In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with Kyle Lewis, Regional Manager with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). When flight disruptions grounded our original plans, we didn’t let that stop us — we fired up the mics from the Midway Airport parking garage instead.

Kyle shares sharp insights on today’s aviation landscape, from pilot advocacy to industry trends, along with a few laughs and personal stories that every aviator can relate to.

So join us as we keep the parking attendants company, rack up a few parking fees, and talk all things aviation — like “Comedians in Cars,” but with pilots, planes, and plenty of prop talk.

AOPA Buckeye Air Fair:

https://www.aopa.org/community/buckeye-air-fair

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In this episode of Destination Aviation, host Jeff Miller sits down with Maria Romanick, A.A.E., Operations and Maintenance Manager at Minot International Airport — and a pilot with a serious sense of adventure.

Maria shares stories from her time keeping things running smoothly on the airfield, offers smart advice for those looking to break into airport operations, and reflects on her aviation roots at the University of North Dakota. Between the professional insights, plenty of laughs, and a few van-life dreams (yes, she’s thinking of fixing up a Ford and hitting the road someday), this conversation captures the heart of what makes aviation people so unique — passionate, practical, and always planning the next adventure.

Whether you’re an aspiring airport professional, a fellow pilot, or just someone who loves a good story from the tarmac, this episode will leave you inspired to keep your own dreams rolling.

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Drop us a line at dapodcast85@gmail.com if you have your own plane tales

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In this special on-location episode, host Jeff Miller takes listeners from the buzz of the NBAA-BACE convention floor in Las Vegas to the quiet grass fields where American aviation first took flight. The debate has lingered for more than a century: Which airport can truly claim to be the oldest in the United States?

From the Wright Brothers’ 1909 training grounds at College Park, Maryland, to Pearson Field in Washington and other early contenders, Jeff unpacks the history, the rival claims, and the fine print behind the phrase “continuously operating.”

Whether you’re an aviation historian or just love a good origin story, you’ll find there’s more to this question than meets the eye—and maybe the Wright answer isn’t so clear after all.

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Drop us a line at dapodcast85@gmail.com if you have your own plane tales

Websites:

Destination Aviation - Destination Aviation

Support the show