Behind the Cockpit Door: Insights from Joel Turpin

In this episode our guest is Joel Turpin, a veteran pilot whose flying career spans everything from Piper Cubs and DC-3s to Boeing airliners and the Pilatus PC-12. In this episode, Joel shares stories from more than five decades in aviation and discusses his recent article, The Captain is Lying—one of our most-read pieces of the year. We talk about passenger perceptions, emergency landings, and how technology has changed the pilot-passenger relationship. Whether you’re a student pilot or an experienced airline captain, Joel’s thoughtful, candid reflections offer lessons for anyone who takes flying seriously.