No U-Turn

Cynthia Guidry, Director of Long Beach Airport , joins us this week to chat about her journey in aviation.

• Episode 50! A milestone for the No U-Turn Crew! 
• How Cynthia got started and her story
• Engineering, aviation, and airports 
• Long Beach, LAX, and the importance of learning from mentors
• The importance of speaking up about diversity
• How do you balance stress and stressors? 
• The importance of connecting with the youth
• Leadership is about inspiration and vision
• Changes in the airport travel experience
• Biggest event of the aviation industry
• What would you tell yourself at 16…

Until next time, keep it on the centerline!

Leah Whitfield, President of the Aviation Planning Group, joins us this week to share her story.

• Leah shares her journey from a farm in Kentucky to becoming a meteorologist and air traffic controller, with education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an internship in weather forecasting for shuttle launches.
• The transition to air traffic control was driven by Leah's interest in aviation, math, and problem-solving, with radar classes being particularly engaging, and an age cutoff for training set at 31.
• Leah, as a young airport manager, emphasized the importance of political acumen in managing a small airport, where she gained diverse skills from handling projects to working with consultants.
• The gender dynamics in aviation education and the industry were discussed, highlighting the low ratio of women in engineering at Embry-Riddle and the importance of mentorship for young female professionals.
• We explored aviation innovations, such as electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, drone delivery infrastructure, and improving passenger experiences, with the team sharing their airport preferences and pet peeves.

Until next time, keep it on the centerline!

We welcome back a previous guest, Clint Harper, and dive into vertiport infrastructure:

• The importance of a network of vertiports in urban areas is highlighted, with a need for more research on user profiles and a focus on emergency response use cases.
• Infrastructure delays in LA are discussed, with concerns about their impact on electric vehicle adoption and the need for coordination with local grid infrastructure.
• The federal regulatory framework for vertiports is outlined, with a focus on community engagement and the lack of standardized aviation safety risk evaluation.
• Near-term and long-term strategies for data storage and regulation are considered, with a discussion on federal vs local jurisdiction in drone sighting regulations.
• The importance of sustainability in the aviation industry is emphasized, with a focus on airport infrastructure development, electric vehicles, and autonomous transportation integration into urban planning.

Until next time, keep it on the centerline!

In our first chat of the new year, we discuss:

• A little news and updates from us 
• Airline safety, evacuation procedures, and Boeing's recent issues.
• Aviation safety and supply chain issues.
• Prioritizing profit over safety and quality in various industries.
• Balancing profitability and sustainability in the aviation industry.
• Gen Z's work ethic and attention to detail.
• Balancing remote work and in-person interactions for effective learning and growth.
• Generational differences in communication styles.
• Education, technology, and future workforce.
• D,E,&I in tech, aviation, and amongst men
• Mental health and resilience among men.
• Travel plans and milestone birthdays.

Until next time, keep it on the centerline!

Our last chat for 2023! In this epsiode, we discuss:

• The crew reflects on the past year 
• Holiday movies and AAM progress and milestones in 2023. 
• Electric aircraft development win by Joby, Beta and others…
• Electric and hybrid aircraft developments
• FAA progress in regulating drone technology
• Autonomous aviation, public perception and acceptance, RAM vs UAM
• Pilot training requirements for air taxis
• Exciting career paths in aviation and AAM.
• AI, pilot shortage, and industry diversity
• Happy New Year!! Thank you for your support, feedback, and love! 

Until next time, keep it on the centerline!