Adam Bernhardt is the Head of Safety and Well-Being for Airbus in the Asia-Pacific region, an area that covers more twelve countries including Australia, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia. Adam understands the subtle touch needed to advocate for safety across such a diverse region.

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Adam about the ways he works across nations and cultures that may have differing — and even contrasting — views of safety, and how the lessons he’s learned from doing so might translate to our own individual lives.

In a little over one week from recording this episode, VAI’s VERTICON is set to take place in Atlanta, GA. Pilots, mechanics, instructors, operators, manufacturers, and more will converge in one place to celebrate the state of vertical aviation…and to deliberate on its future as we enter the middle part of this century.

Joining me in this episode is François Lassale, the new President and CEO of VAI. In this lead-up to his first VERTICON as CEO, I’ll speak with Francois about his vision for the industry and how he plans to guide us there.

Dr. Roni Avissar is an atmospheric scientist, helicopter pilot, and professor at the University of Miami. His research is crucial to the modern field of weather analysis. In a unique twist on the role weather plays in aviation, Roni conducts his field research using a specially-equipped helicopter, often flying extremely low to the surface to collect data. His work has been funded by NASA, NOAA, and the US Departments of Energy and Agriculture, among others.

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Roni about the turbulent world of weather forecasting, and our relationship as pilots to the natural world around us.

Jesse Munns has flown helicopters for almost twenty years, doing everything from offshore to EMS. Some time ago, Jesse began experiencing a heavy strain in his personal life; after pushing himself past his limit, Jesse made a rare but commendable decision — he voluntarily relinquished his medical certificate. He had the awareness to know that he was putting himself and others at risk.

In this episode, I’ll speak with Jesse about the lessons we can draw from his circumstance, and what a road back to flying might look like for himself and others in his shoes.

Wendell Dunaway is a former training manager at Safran, where he oversaw the education of hundreds of technicians each year. Wendell knows firsthand how community can nurture skills and build understanding.

In this conversation, Wendell will explain how the guidance of five life coaches — five mentors designated to five different areas of his life — has kept him from stagnating, and how we can relate that practice to our own lives and careers.

A native of the Swiss Alps, Simon Wittinger is the author of The Mountain Flying Handbook. First published in 2020, the book is a comprehensive guide to operating at high altitude. It’s been praised by the helicopter community at large, and even been endorsed by EASA.

In this conversation, I’ll speak with Simon about the process of writing the book. He’ll take us inside his experience as a mountain pilot, explain some common errors people make when flying in the mountains, and much more.

Access to the mountain flying handbook: https://manual.sha-swiss.ch/en/mountain-handbook-reading-sample/inhaltsverzeichnis

Website Swiss Helicopter Association: https://www.sha-swiss.ch/de/index.html

Since 1998, Maurice Sabourin has been a part of an elite team specializing in the repair of aircraft blades at Airbus. Their work falls somewhere between the skill of a mechanic and the finesse of an artist.

In this episode, Maurice will give us an inside look at the work of a blade tech. We’ll follow the process of blade repair, from it’s initial damage to it’s return to service. We’ll learn technical insight, like the difference between working on a metal blade vs a composite blade. And finally, Maurice will give his advice on how to better maintain our blades as aviators.

From lead-acid, to NICAD, and lithium-ion, the evolution of aircraft batteries has always been a balancing act of weight, power and reliability. Getting that balance right is essential.

Today, I’m speaking with Chris Holder of Concorde Battery about the work their company is doing to provide dependable power to the industry. We’ll look at the development of aircraft batteries over time, common misconceptions about batteries, the future of power in aviation, and much more.