MD-11 Update, 777 Training, Near-Midair JetBlue Incident & Life on the Road

MD-11 Update, 777 Training, Near-Midair JetBlue Incident & Life on the Road

Author: The Black Box December 17, 2025 Duration: 57:39

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where Tom and Mike break down aviation news, airline operations, pilot life, and the stories you don’t hear anywhere else.

In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics—from critical MD-11 fleet updates to big career news, unexpected travel chaos, and a JetBlue flight that narrowly avoided a military tanker near Venezuela.

✈️ What’s in this episode:

• MD-11 Update – New insight into bearing recommendations, inspection differences between FedEx and UPS fleets, Boeing’s role, FAA certification timelines, and the logistical nightmare of repositioning grounded aircraft across international airspace
• Instructor & Pilot Currency Issues – Simulator waivers, FAA considerations, and operational challenges during extended groundings
• BIG NEWS – Mike is officially heading to the Boeing 777
• 777 Stats Breakdown – Payload, range, GE90 engines, and why the “Big Whamma Jamma” earns its name
• Stories From the Road –
– Blue hydraulic failure discussion
– Golf in Aguadilla
– A 21-hour training commute with lounge hopping, upgrades, delays, and inflight chaos
– Escalator near-disaster and bad-luck travel moments
– TSA comments on a Labubu backpack
– Cutting a finger on a sim flap lever
• JetBlue Close Call – Flight 1112 narrowly avoids a U.S. military tanker flying co-altitude with no transponder near Venezuela
• Listener Shout-Out – Thanks to Michael in Kentucky for supporting the show

🎄 Next week: the Christmas Episode!

📩 Contact the Show: theblackbox01@yahoo.com
📞 Hotline: (203) 699-6792 (Leave your message!)
📱 Instagram / X: @the_black_box01

⭐ Support the Podcast
Please take a moment to smash that 5-star review on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon — it helps the show reach more aviation fans every week.

Whether you’re a pilot, aviation professional, or just obsessed with flying, this episode delivers real insight from inside the cockpit.



Ever wondered what it’s really like to sit in the cockpit, not just during a smooth flight but through the challenging moments that define a career in the sky? The Black Box Aviation Podcast pulls back the curtain, offering a rare seat at the table with the people who live and breathe flight. Hosted by The Black Box, each conversation features airline pilots, military aviators, and seasoned industry experts sharing unfiltered stories from their professional journeys. You’ll hear more than just technical discussions; this podcast delves into the human side of aviation-the daily realities, the tough decisions, and the unique culture that comes with a life spent above the clouds. It’s about the airline industry’s inner workings, the transition from military to civilian flying, and the sheer curiosity that drives a passion for aviation. Whether you’re an aspiring pilot, an aviation enthusiast, or simply fascinated by the stories behind the controls, these discussions provide a genuine, grounded perspective you won’t find in a manual. Tune in for honest reflections and personal experiences that capture the true essence of flying.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Black Box Aviation Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Aviation Crisis: KC-135 Crash, Oil Volatility, and P-3 Orion Missions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:17
Breaking down the KC-135 mid-air collision in Iraq and why jet fuel prices just spiked 50%. Tom and Mike analyze the technical and geopolitical fallout.In this urgent Monday release, we dive into the high-stakes world of…
Is Your Flight Path Giving You Radiation? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:16
Tom and Mike explore the "silent hazard" of aviation: Cosmic Radiation. We compare pilot exposure to nuclear workers and discuss the FAA's lack of protection for crews.In this episode:Top 18 Ranking: We celebrate our Pod…
The Ghost Plane: Payne Stewart and the Silent Killer at 39,000 Feet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:08
On October 25, 1999, a luxury Learjet 35 departed Orlando with PGA legend Payne Stewart on board. Minutes later, the cockpit went silent. What followed was a four-hour "ghost flight" across America, pursued by F-16s as t…
Flight Sim Mastery, Navy Checkrides, and the Pilot Stripe Mystery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:52
Can virtual flying prepare you for a real-world Navy checkride? This week, Tom and Mike sit down with Wide-body Captain and simulation pro Jovan J. to explore the high-stakes world of online flight simulation. From the t…
Air France 447: The Pilot Errors that Caused a High-Altitude Stall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
The "unstallable" plane fell from 35,000 feet in just 4 minutes. On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight 447 vanished over the South Atlantic. In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike analyze the offici…
ExecJet 901: Citation Latitude vs. 4 Deer (ATC Breakdown) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:21
What happens when a mid-sized business jet hits a herd of deer at 100 MPH? 🎧In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike analyze the recent emergency involving ExecJet Flight 901 out of North Palm Beac…
Pilot Career Tips & Flight Training with Ava Almquist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:10
How do you balance an airline career, a social media brand, and a healthy lifestyle? In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, we sit down with Ava Almquist (@pilot.avabelle) to discuss the modern path to the fl…
DCA Mid-Air Collision: The 2025 Potomac River Tragedy & NTSB Report [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:57
Why did a commercial jet and a military Black Hawk collide over the Potomac River? In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, we analyze the NTSB final report on the 2025 DCA mid-air collision. We dive into the s…