Jetwhine

12/06/2025

Listen to episode 2 of the new NTSB News Talk show with Rob Mark & Max Trescott.
-

In this episode of NTSB News Talk , hosts Max Trescott and Rob Mark explore a series of recent general aviation accidents that underscore persistent issues around l…

12/06/2025

✈️

It’s been 11 years since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished—taking 239 lives and leaving behind one of aviation’s most haunting mysteries.

Back in 2016, Jetwhine’s Rob Mark asked:
“Has the aviation industry changed since MH370?”
📄 Read the original article

At the time, his take was cautious.
Yes, the industry responded—but global tracking still had dangerous blind spots.

Now, in 2025, that question still hangs in the air:

✈️ Have ADS‑B and satellite surveillance finally closed the safety gap?
Or are we still gambling with outdated systems over vast oceans?

The FAA recently introduced new standards requiring more robust ADS‑B systems—directly addressing the vulnerabilities MH370 exposed.
🔗 FAA info

✈️ Jetwhine’s Take:

✅ Technology is advancing—but global, real-time tracking is still not guaranteed.

Pilots, safety pros, frequent flyers—what’s your take?
👉 Are we closer to a future where aircraft can’t just vanish?

12/05/2025

Secretary Duffy's ATC Modernization Plan is a great idea, but it has some significant problems.

Secretary Duffy's plan has plenty of what, but lacks details about how he intends to pull it all off.

08/05/2025

✈️ Throwback Thursday – The Airbus A380: A Giant of the Skies 🌍

There’s just something unforgettable about standing under the wing of the world’s largest passenger jet. The A380 was more than a feat of engineering—it was an era-defining aircraft that sparked imagination and conversation across the industry.

Whether you loved it, questioned its economics, or just admired its scale, the A380 gave us plenty to talk about.

🎥 See the full video on our YouTube Channel – and share your own A380 memories.

https://ed.gr/ehgxh

✅ Have you flown it?

✅ Worked on one?

✅ Or just marveled from the ramp?

01/05/2025

Throwback Thursday: My First Jetwhine Post – October 2006

Seventeen years ago, I hit “publish” on the very first Jetwhine post. It was called “Blogging Worries Me.”

https://ed.gr/ehghv

Back then, I wasn’t sure what blogging would mean for aviation journalism—or journalism in general. I wondered if, by letting readers choose only the content that fit their specific interests, we were actually shrinking the way we learn about the world instead of expanding it.

I wrote about how I’d learned plenty over the years from articles in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, or the Minneapolis Star Tribune—stories I never would have searched for but stumbled across because they happened to be in front of me. If everything we read was filtered through an algorithm or an RSS feed, would we miss out on those unexpected lessons?

Fast-forward to today, and I’d say that concern was valid—maybe more so than I ever imagined. Now, social media feeds us the news we already agree with, search engines show us what they think we want to see, and it’s easier than ever to stay inside our own echo chambers.

But Jetwhine has never been about just going with the flow. It’s always been about asking tough questions, challenging assumptions, and keeping aviation conversations bold and honest.

So I’ll ask you—how do you keep yourself from getting stuck in an information bubble? Have you ever learned something valuable from a source you wouldn’t normally follow? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

28/04/2025

Opinion Monday: The 90-Second Aircraft Evacuation Myth
Are We Fooling Ourselves?

By Rob Mark

Before any transport aircraft is certified, the FAA mandates that aircraft manufacturers demonstrate that they can evacuate a fully loaded plane within 90 seconds of an emergency order.

We’ve bought this for decades. The problem is that it’s completely unrealistic.

Think about the last time you boarded a flight. Didn’t it take longer than 90 seconds just for people to put their bags away and settle in? Imagine the same passengers, but panicked, trying to evacuate a smoke-filled cabin.

The FAA’s Evacuation Standard Isn’t Realistic

• The 90-second rule was designed to ensure passenger safety, but those tests use only able-bodied, highly motivated volunteers. No elderly passengers, no people with disabilities, no parents struggling with little kids, and no panic-induced people simply freezing up.

• No real-world obstacles. In a real emergency, passengers will try to grab their carry-ons, and they’re going to trip and push each other. Imagine if one or more exits are blocked.

• Cabin crew readiness is assumed. Tests assume flight attendants have full control of the situation like they did in the Haneda crash.
, but here’s the catch:

So, what’s the solution?

• Realistic testing. These drills should include a mix of ages, abilities, and behaviors to simulate real-life conditions.

• Better cabin design. Wider aisles, improved emergency lighting, and clearer exit markings can make a difference.

• Passenger education. Most people don’t pay attention to the pre-flight safety briefing.
The FAA needs to help create a more realistic safety briefing.

Do you think 90-second evacuations are really possible, or are we setting ourselves up for failure? Add your comments below or share your experience.

26/04/2025

What’s the most important tool a pilot uses? ✈️

(Hint: It’s not the fancy avionics or even the plane!)

Happy World Pilots' Day from Jetwhine!

24/04/2025

Look to the eastern predawn sky tonight for a rare and beautiful sight. The waning crescent moon will pass close to Venus, the brilliant morning star, with Saturn shining nearby. As seen from some parts of the world, they will form an eerie "smiley face" in the sky.

24/04/2025

🛫

10 years ago, Rob Mark asked a question that still hits hard today:

👉 “At United Airlines, does making money trump safety?”

🔗 Read the original 2015 Jetwhine article:

https://ed.gr/ehgta

👨‍✈️ A respected UAL pilot resigned, citing growing pressure to prioritize the schedule over the checklist—a concern many in the industry quietly echoed.

Why this still matters in 2025:

🔍 1. FAA Launches New Voluntary Safety Review Program

Prompted by a rise in serious near-misses, the FAA introduced a program encouraging airlines to proactively surface safety risks.

📰 FAA press release (Feb 2024):

https://ed.gr/ehgtc

🔍 2. United Flight 1722 Dive Incident (Dec 2022)

A routine takeoff from Maui turned into a terrifying dive toward the Pacific. The NTSB cited cockpit coordination issues and crew error.

📰 Coverage from NYT:

https://ed.gr/ehgtd

🔍 3. Record Profits, Lingering Safety Culture Questions

United Airlines reported record revenue in Q4 2023, but some mechanics and union reps have voiced concerns about “checklist shortcuts” and turnaround pressures.

📰 CNBC earnings coverage:

https://ed.gr/ehgtb

✈️ Jetwhine’s Take:

✅ The economic model has changed.

✅ But the question remains: Has safety culture evolved with it?

💬 Pilots, dispatchers, mechanics—what’s changed in the last decade?

Are your safety concerns heard—or overridden?

👇 Share your experience or perspective in the comments. Let’s make safety more than a slogan.

21/04/2025

Enough is Enough: FAA Must Stop Dragging Its Feet on ATC Modernization

👉 The U.S. air traffic control system is outdated—we’ve been talking about NextGen for over a decade, yet delays, staffing shortages, and inefficiencies persist.

👉 If airlines and private operators can modernize, why is the FAA still operating on WWII-era technology?

👉 It’s time to accelerate satellite-based ATC and automation where possible. The current system isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a safety issue.

💬 What’s your take? Is the FAA moving too slowly, or is ATC modernization overhyped?

17/04/2025

✈️

In 2008, Rob Mark pulled no punches in his Jetwhine article:

“In Air Traffic Control, a Deal Is Ugly”

🔗 https://ed.gr/ehgte

Back then, ATC morale was cratering after the FAA imposed a contract on controllers—slashing pay for new hires and disrupting work/life balance. Rob’s take was blunt:

“The FAA says one thing in public, but their actions are what really speak.”

🚨 Fast-forward to 2025 — Is ATC finally getting the attention it deserves?

🛑 1. FAA Faces Record ATC Shortage

In late 2023, the DOT Inspector General reported the U.S. is operating with only 81% of the certified controllers it needs—with critical shortfalls in NYC, Atlanta, and Jacksonville centers.

📎 Source: OIG Report on FAA Controller Staffing

🛫 2. FAA Plans to Hire 1,800 Controllers in 2024

The largest hiring push in over a decade was announced to address the crisis—but experts warn it may take years to close the gap.

📎 Source: FAA Hiring Announcement – Aug 2023

⚠️ 3. Controller Fatigue Still in the Headlines

Following recent near-misses, including a runway incursion at Austin-Bergstrom in 2023, controller fatigue and staffing pressure are under congressional scrutiny.

📎 Source: NPR Coverage – Jan 2024

🎧 If you’ve ever worn a headset or worked a scope, we want to hear from you!

💬 How has the controller culture changed (or not) since 2008?

Are staffing, training, and safety efforts working—or just PR?

👇 Share your take in the comments. Jetwhine was built to keep these conversations going.

15/04/2025

“He who tells the stories rules the world.” – Native American proverb.

In February 2025, Senator Edward Markey reintroduced his “Fat Cat” tax bill—officially known as the Fueling Alternative Transportation with a Carbon Aviation Tax (FATCAT) Act.¹ The bill proposes removing business aviation’s exemption from federal fuel excise taxes, citing luxury and inequality concerns. Once again, corporate jets have become a symbol of excess—an easy target for politicians and media critics.

This is the story the media tells about business aviation.

It's time to start telling our own stories!

https://ed.gr/ehguq