
Welcome to Frequent Flyer,
where we discuss all things aviation-related, including the latest aviation industry news, interviews with pilots, veterans, and aviation industry professionals, and, most importantly, ways to donate to aviation-related social causes.
Latest Aviation News
American Airlines has rolled out a comprehensive redesign of its mobile app, aiming to enhance the user experience.
Airlines are transitioning from single-use plastics to more sustainable alternatives like bamboo, especially for in-flight cutlery.
Recaro Aircraft Seating has installed its first R3 long-range Economy Class seat on an Aer Lingus Airbus A321XLR.
Thompson Aero Seating will provide business-class seats for THAI's new A321neos and China Southern will launch its new VantageXL+ product.
Interviews with Industry Professionals
Sir Richard Branson is the Founder of the Virgin Group. Since starting the Virgin Group in 1968, and throughout his 56 year career, Sir Branson has founded over 400 companies spanning in diverse sectors including three airlines: Virgin Atlantic (1984), Virgin Australia (1999), and Virgin America (2004).
Daniel Shurz is the Senior Vice President of Commercial at Frontier Airlines. He has over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry working for United Airlines, Air Canada, and Frontier Airlines. Prevosily, Mr. Shurz served as the Manager of Domestic Planning for United from 1996-2005, and Vice President of Network Planning at Air Canada from 2006-2009.
Blake Scholl is the Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. The commercial airliner that Boom is developing, called Overture, will be capable of flying two times faster than any airliner today and has already received 35 orders from United Airlines and American Airlines. Prior to that, he worked at Pelago and Amazon and co-founded mobile tech startup Kima Labs which was acquired by Groupon in 2012.
Kam Majd is an Edgar Award-nominated author who was a pilot at American Airlines for 35 years, most recently as a Boeing 777 captain based in Los Angeles, California. His book, High Wire, tells the story of a young female pilot flying an aircraft contaminated with a lethal computer virus.
Interviews with Veterans
Dr. Philip A. Iannuzzi, Jr.—United States Air Force Colonel (retired)—served in the Air Force over twenty years in a variety of command, higher headquarters, and operational leadership positions, including assignments as a Major Command Division Chief, Director of Global Flight Operations, International Director and Air Branch Chief for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, Commanding Officer of an Air Force KC-10 Extender Flying Squadron, and Air Staff Program Manager at the Pentagon. Following his service in the Air Force, Mr. Iannuzzi joined The Boeing Company. He holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and is currently serving as a Workforce Development leader aligned to Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business unit.
On Thursday, September 2, I had the honor of speaking with Colonel Merryl Tengesdal. Mrs. Tengesdale served in the United States Navy and Air Force, where she flew the T-34C, TH-57 B/C, SH-60B, T-6A, T-38A/B/C, and U-2. She is the first and only African American woman to fly the U. S. Air Force U-2 Aircraft.
On Monday, August 9th, I had the honor of speaking with Mr. Colin O’Sullivan. Mr. O’Sullivan currently serves in the United States Air Force in the 125th Fighter Wing. He is currently a Crew Chief on the F-15s based in Jacksonville, Florida. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Mr. Nazimek served in the United States Air Force, where he was dual-rated as a pilot and a navigator. He flew the F-4 Phantom when he was a weapon systems officer, and flew the T-38 Talon and B-52 Stratofortress when he was a pilot.