Australian Aviation Podcast Network

As the aviation industry continues to clamour for talented engineers, fostering talent in the next generation is ever more important.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' annual Design/Build/Fly competition – held this year in Wichita, Kansas – attracted young engineers with the challenge of designing, building, and testing a banner-towing bush plane that could carry mock passengers and cargo.
Among the teams was a contingent from RMIT University in Melbourne, including aerospace engineering and logistics supply chain student Viviene Beins and aerospace engineering (honours) student Marcus Serong.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Defence Connect's Robert Dougherty speaks with the duo at ICAS 2026 in Sydney on what the Australian aerospace and defence industry can do to attract and retain the next generation of engineers.

Speculation has been swirling for months, and now the tea leaves have thrown up their clearest sign yet that Vietjet is planning a move into Australia, with the registration of a shiny new 737 MAX 8 owned by the low-cost carrier and registered to a mysterious "Cherrie Aviation".
While Vietjet is remaining tight-lipped about its plans, it's hard not to think we'll see a grand unveiling sooner rather than later – and not to draw comparisons with Tigerair, the last Asian low-cost carrier that had a crack at the Australian market.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake, David and Hannah dig into the details of Vietjet's first Australian aircraft and ask what the next moves might be for the potential challenger.
Plus, part two of Project Sunrise is revealed, with Qantas to fly non-stop to New York in 2028 – so what can passengers expect?

Another week, another set of bad headlines about Sydney Airport – this time, eye-popping figures from Airservices showing ground delays were almost 40 per cent higher than average in the month of August.
With high rates of sick leave putting strain on an already overburdened and understaffed air traffic control workforce, is there any relief in sight for Sydney passengers?
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David welcome Hannah Dowling back to the show as they discuss the ongoing travails at Australia's busiest international gateway.
Plus, Virgin Australia flight attendants revolt over the revolting state of aircraft cabins.

It's been a quarter of a century since the most seismic shock to hit Australia's aviation sector before COVID-19: the dramatic collapse of Ansett Australia, which had been one of the country's two domestic airline giants.
With 16,000 people out of work and a sudden vacuum left in the domestic market, Ansett's demise sent shockwaves through both the sector and the nation at large, and its impact is still felt today.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David look at what Ansett Australia left behind, 25 years after the airline went bust – and ask what might have happened if it hadn't.
Plus, it's also been 25 years since 9/11 reshaped the face of global aviation – so how has the industry changed since the towers fell?

It's one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on Earth – but even in Antarctica, aviation is still a vital connection for those living on research stations across the frozen continent.
Skytraders has worked with the Australian Antarctic Division for almost a quarter of a century to provide aviation support and logistics to scientific missions in often challenging conditions, far from the nearest airport.
In July, the airline carried out a rare midwinter mission to McMurdo Station, in pitch darkness and temperatures as low as −43°C, to evacuate a medical patient to Christchurch – a mission which succeeded thanks to the skill and experience of the pilots and their supporting teams.
On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Skytraders pilots Dan Colborne and Louise Robertson share their tales of flying to Antarctica – the highs, the lows, and the challenges of operating in the isolated southernmost reaches of the planet.