Aero Exploration
by Flying Midwest Media
The AeroExploration Podcast explores aviation’s past and the paths people are taking in the industry today. Join host Jim Schilling for stories of historic flights, modern aviation careers, and the passion that keeps us looking to the skies. Aviation has a past worth remembering, destinations worth exploring, and people worth meeting. This is AeroExploration.
Episodes
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Episode 87: Testing Air Cargo Containers With Fire | Inside IATA
What happens when something catches fire inside an aircraft's cargo compartment? And how do you know that the equipment designed to contain that fire will actually work? In Episode 87 of the Flying Midwest Podcast, Jim continues his conversation with Tom Brodowski, this time exploring his work…
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Episode 86 - The Hidden Logistics Network Behind Every Airlin
You see the airplane. You check your bag. You board your flight. But have you ever wondered about the massive logistics operation happening behind the scenes? Every day, major airlines move thousands of pieces of baggage and enormous amounts of cargo through a global network of airports…
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Episode 85: From Fear of Flying to a Top Aviation Creator - With Sarah Daniels
If you follow aviation on social media, chances are you've seen Sarah Daniels — better known by her channels and social media as Sarahnautics. But Sarah's journey into aviation is anything but ordinary. Before becoming a pilot and one of aviation's most recognizable content creators, Sarah was an...
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Episode 84 - How Aviation Changed His Life: A Sun Country Captain's Story
Every pilot has a story, but few are as remarkable as Mark's. Before becoming a respected captain at Sun Country Airlines, Marc was a young man searching for direction. That path led him to the U.S. Navy, where he served on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War—an…
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Episode 83 - Your Ultimate Guide to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Whether you're flying into Oshkosh, driving through the gates for the first time, or simply wondering what all the excitement is about, this episode is your complete guide to EAA AirVenture. We're covering everything a first-time visitor needs to know—from planning your trip and navigating the...
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Episode 82 - From Aerospace Engineer to Ground School Pioneer: The Unexpected CEO of Part-Time Pilot
What if you could dramatically cut your flight training costs and accelerate your progress simply by understanding how to study smarter? Nick Smith, a former aerospace engineer turned flight training coach, reveals the insider secrets that helped him finally conquer the challenging private pilot...
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Episode 81 - PlaneWX: Better Weather Decisions, Safer Flights
After a bit of a break, AeroExploration is back—and we've got an incredible lineup of episodes coming your way! To kick things off, I'm joined by Mark Wolfgang, founder of PlaneWX, for a fascinating conversation about aviation, technology, and weather. Mark shares his unique journey from a...
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Episode 80 - Flight Sim Kid Becomes Air Traffic Controller | W/ @PropHatCat
What if the voice you hear at 35,000 feet started with a kid behind a computer screen playing flight simulator?This week on AeroExploration, we sit down with @PropHatCat—an air traffic controller and viral aviation creator who’s pulling back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood roles in...
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Episode 79 - We're All WRONG about the FAA: Inside the FSDO with Nick Matlock
What really happens behind the scenes at the FAA? In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we sit down with FAA Inspector Nick Matlock (@incommand0) to break down one of aviation’s most misunderstood roles. From his journey as a pilot to his transition into the FAA, Nick shares what it’s...
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Episode 78 - Saving Airports from SNOWMAGEDDON: Airport Snow Operations
How do airports stay open during massive snowstorms? When a blizzard hits, pilots aren’t the only ones fighting the weather. Behind the scenes, an entire operation is working nonstop to keep runways open, aircraft moving, and passengers safe. In this episode of AeroExploration, we take you inside...
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Episode 77 - What It Takes to Livestream MSP Airport: With Alex Redding
What does it take to livestream one of America’s busiest airports? In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we sit down with Alex Redding, the creator behind MSP Airport LIVE, the popular plane-spotting livestream focused on Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). Alex grew up...
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Episode 76 - Beyond the Airlines: Careers in Aircraft Management
Episode 76 – Finding an Aviation Career Through Aircraft Management Not every aviation career follows the traditional airline pipeline. In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, Jim sits down with Ellen, a CFI, CFII, and Part 135 commercial pilot working in the specialized world of aircraft...
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Episode 75- The Second Take: Erik Fletcher's Charter Pilot Life
Two years ago, Eric Fletcher joined us to share his incredible journey from Hollywood camera operator to corporate pilot. After years behind the lens capturing iconic moments in shows like Dexter and True Blood, Eric traded red carpets for runways and began a bold second chapter in aviation. Now...
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Episode 74 - Aviation Year in Review '25: Under Pressure
In this Aviation 2025 Year in Review episode, we examine a year defined by pressure, scrutiny, and silent success. From the DCA mid-air collision and aviation near misses to Air Traffic Control staffing challenges, infrastructure strain, and the impacts of a government shutdown, the aviation...
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Episode 73 - Stuck in Flight Training? You’re Not Alone
In this episode of AeroExploration, Jim opens up about his long, winding journey toward the CFI certificate — a path filled with delays, job changes, health setbacks, family obligations, and everything in between. If your own training has stalled, stretched out, or taken an unexpected detour…
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Episode 72 - Just Plane Silly, Just Got Serious- with Airline Pilot Bryan Turner.
In this episode of AeroExploration, we’re joined once again by aviation YouTuber Bryan Turner to close out his Fly the Transition journey. Two years ago, Bryan shared his goals and early steps toward a career in professional aviation. Today, we pick up that story as he reflects on the final...
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Episode 71 - U-2 Spy Plane: The Aircraft, The Missions, and The Pilots Who Fly It
The U-2 “Dragon Lady” remains one of the most iconic and mysterious aircraft ever flown—designed in secrecy, flown at the edge of space, and still serving critical intelligence missions nearly 70 years after its first flight. In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we expand on the recent...
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Episode 70 - FAA Written Tests and Lesson Plans
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we kick things off with a practical deep dive into FAA written test prep—how to study smart, avoid common pitfalls, and use solid test-taking strategies on exam day. More importantly, we break down what to do after you’ve completed the test. Your...
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Episode 69 - MOSAIC Unlocked: What the FAA Rule Means for Pilots
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, I dive deep into the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule — a landmark change from the Federal Aviation Administration that expands what pilots can fly, how aircraft are certified, and how our aviation world is…
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Episode 68 - Trading Badges for Boarding Passes: A State Trooper's Flight to the Airlines
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we meet Matt Peschong, a North Dakota Highway Patrol veteran who traded his patrol car for a cockpit. After 15 years in law enforcement, Matt decided it was time to chase the dream he’d held since childhood — becoming an airline pilot. From earning...
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Episode 67 - The Invisible Crisis Grounding America’s Flights
Every delay, every grounded plane, every canceled flight has a story behind it—one you don’t see. In this episode of AeroExploration, we dive into the hidden crisis in aviation maintenance: a rapidly aging workforce, broken training pipelines, and a shortage of skilled mechanics that is grounding...
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Episode 66 - From Zero Time to Airline: Inside Thrust Flight’s Approach to Accelerated Pilot Training
In this episode of AeroExploration, we sit down with Patrick Arnzen, airline pilot, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, and CEO of Thrust Flight. Patrick has spent his career guiding aspiring aviators through the challenges of pilot training, and he’s now leading one of the nation’s premier…
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Episode 65 - From AC-130 to Healing: Anthony Dyer’s Story of War & Finding Purpose
Join us on AeroExploration as we sit down with Anthony Dyer, a former USAF Combat Special Missions Aviator whose career includes flying AC-130 gunships and Pave Hawk rescue helicopters on dangerous missions that saved lives. In Moon Child: The Roots and Wings of a USAF Combat Special Missions...
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Episode 64 - Trading Farm Life for Flying Jets
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, Jim sits down with Collin, a corporate jet pilot with NetJets, to explore his unconventional path into aviation. Collin didn’t grow up with a headset in hand or a lifelong dream of flying. Instead, his early life revolved around farming. But a…
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Episode 63 - 9/11 and The Hidden Impacts on the Aviation Industry
On September 11, 2001, the aviation industry changed forever. While most remember the immediate shutdown of U.S. airspace and the introduction of tighter airport security, the ripple effects of that day continue to shape aviation more than two decades later. In this episode of the AeroExploration...
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Episode 62 - From Factory Floor to Flight Deck: Joe’s Aviation Journey
In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we have another Fly the Transition story. We sit down with Joe, a pilot whose career path proves that chasing your dream job in aviation isn’t always a straight line. Joe takes us from his days on the factory floor to his first aviation gigs…
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Episode 61 - The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Hangar
Hangar space has become one of the most competitive and confusing parts of the industry, and getting it wrong can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. In this episode of the AeroExploration Podcast, we deliver the step-by-step playbook for hangar ownership. From finding hidden opportunities...
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Episode 60 - What New Airline Pilots Can Expect: Training, IOE & the Captain’s Seat
Welcome to a new era of the AeroExploration Podcast! To kick things off, we’re catching up with a familiar voice — Christy Shaffer, who first joined us during her transition into the airlines. Since then, Christy has upgraded to captain and now serves as a line check airman, guiding the next...
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Episode 59 - Change is in the Air
This episode comes with a big announcement! In this episode I get personal, I get reflective, and I tell you what big things I learned this year at Airventure that will change my world of content creation, hopefully for the better. Airventure '25 gave me a good deal of time to assess my content...
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Episode 58 - How an Army Logistics Officer Built a Career in Aviation.
Caleb Green’s Journey from Army Officer to Corporate Jet Pilot In this inspiring episode of Fly the Transition, host Jim Schilling sits down with Caleb Green, a former Army logistics officer who made a bold leap from a background in agricultural business and military service into the cockpit of a...
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Episode 57 - The Finer Points of Becoming a Sought-After CFI with Jason Miller
Becoming a Career CFI with Jason Miller of The Finer Points In this episode of Fly the Transition, I sit down with one of the most recognizable voices in flight training—Jason Miller, creator of Learn the Finer Points. Jason shares his journey to becoming a full-time, in-demand Certified Flight...
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Episode 56: How One Man Went from Satellites to a Second Career as a Flight Instructor
This week on Fly the Transition, we're joined by Gary Palmer – Certified Flight Instructor, student pilot advocate, and aviation writer – whose inspiring story proves it's never too late to pursue your aviation dreams. After a successful career in information security for satellite systems, Gary...
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Episode 55 - Conquering Airline Sim Training: Tips from an Instructor
So, you've made it through Indoc and ground school—now it's time for the sim. Are you ready to take the controls? In Part 2 of our Airline Training Series, we sit down again with Seth Bunker, a current First Officer with a major airline, and a former simulator instructor, systems instructor, and...
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Episode 54 - Inside Airline Training: Myth, Realities, and Keys to Success
Thinking about becoming an airline pilot? Just got hired by a regional? Nervous about indoc, systems, and sim training? This episode is your roadmap to success. In this first installment of a two-part series, we’re cutting through the confusion to give you the straight story on your initial…
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Episode 53 - You’re Not Alone: How the Right Mentor Changes Everything
Mentorship can make the difference between staying grounded and taking flight — especially when you're changing careers later in life. In this episode, I reflect on the mentors who helped shape my aviation journey, from my early days in Civil Air Patrol to the seasoned professionals who poured…
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Episode 52 - This Listener Reached Out… Now He’s Living His Aviation Dream
✈️ From Listener to King Air Captain: Curt's Journey from Playing It Safe to Soaring High In this episode of Fly the Transition, we bring you a story that hit close to home—and reminded us why this podcast exists in the first place. Curt first reached out after listening to our very first…
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Episode 51 - Built for Flight: Engineer, Pastor, Pilot—and Always Learning
After a brief break, Fly the Transition is back with all-new episodes—and we’re kicking things off with an aviation story that’s as rich and inspiring as it is unexpected. In this episode, Jim sits down with a true aviation renaissance man—someone whose journey spans engineering, software...
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Episode 50 - Inside the Tower & the Cockpit: Opposing Bases RH on ATC, Airlines, and Career Shifts
What does it take to pivot between multiple careers in aviation? In this episode of Fly the Transition, we welcome Romeo Hotel (RH), co-host of the Opposing Bases Podcast and a seasoned aviation professional with a career spanning multiple roles. RH shares his unique journey from consulting to...
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Episode 49 - Is Commercial Aviation Still Safe? The Facts You Need to Know
In this episode of Fly the Transition, we tackle a pressing question on the minds of many: Is commercial aviation still safe? With the recent mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., some may be feeling uneasy about flying or even questioning whether they should pursue a career in aviation. But...
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Episode 48 - Best Flight Training Options: Renting, Clubs, Schools, or Ownership?
Thinking about learning to fly but not sure where to start? In this episode of Fly the Transition, we dive into the pros and cons of the top flight training options: renting, flying clubs, flight schools, partnerships, and even sole ownership. I share my personal story of navigating these…
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Episode 47 - Full Throttle: Bryan Turner’s Journey to the Airlines
In this episode of Fly the Transition, I welcome back Bryan Turner, the guest from our very first episode of the podcast relaunch over a year ago! Since then, Bryan’s journey to the airlines has been nothing short of remarkable. After his IT company went out of business, Bryan went full throttle…
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Episode 46 - From Deferrals to Denials: How FAA Medical Changes Impact You
In this episode of Fly the Transition, we’re diving deep into the FAA’s 2024 medical certification changes and what they mean for pilots at every stage of their aviation journey. With new rules aimed at reducing processing delays, pilots now face a different landscape—one where incomplete medical...
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Episode 45 - Soaring for a Cause: How Volunteer Flying Helps You Build Time, Connections, and Purpose
n this episode of Fly the Transition, we dive into the powerful impact volunteer flying can have on your aviation career. Whether you're looking to build flight hours, expand your network, or simply give back to the community, flying for charity offers unique opportunities to achieve all three....
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Episode 44 - Breaking the Cycle: Behind Freedom Aviation Network’s Mission - With Stephanie Lamar
Episode Description In this episode, we explore how pilots are stepping into a new kind of mission: fighting human trafficking from the skies. Our guest, Stephanie Lamar, shares her journey from a 15-year hiatus in aviation to becoming a regional airline first officer and the driving force behind...
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Episode 43 - Building a New Career: A Realtor’s Path to Becoming a Corporate Pilot
Episode Description In this episode of Fly the Transition, we sit down with Corporate Pilot Sean Crow, whose unique journey from real estate to aviation will resonate with anyone considering a career change. Sean’s passion for flying began in his teens, but life initially took him down a…
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Episode 42: FAA Knowledge Test Dos and Don’ts: What Every Student Should Know
Episode Summary: In this episode of Fly the Transition, Jim guides listeners through the essential steps to prepare for the FAA Knowledge Test. Sharing insights from both his own study journey and the FAA Fundamentals of Instructing, Jim covers everything a student pilot needs to know to feel...
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Episode 41 - From Construction Sites to Captain's Seat: A Pilot's Journey from Masonry to the Flight Deck
In this episode, we sit down with a captain who transformed his career from building on solid ground to soaring through open skies. After years in construction and masonry, he knew the physical toll the trade was taking on his body would only get harder to bear. With a passion for flying that had...
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Episode 40: What I Learned About Flying While Working Towards CFI
Episode Summary: In this episode of Fly the Transition, Jim shares a personal update on his professional journey, balancing the challenges of transitioning into a new role at his full-time job while continuing his pursuit of becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). He dives deep into his CFI...
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Episode 39 - Mastering the Aviation Job Interview: Tips for Career Changers
Episode Summary: In this episode of Fly the Transition, we break down everything you need to know about preparing for a job interview. Whether you’re transitioning into aviation or brushing up on your interview skills after years away, Jim shares his best tips from both personal experience and…
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Episode 38 - The FAA Wants YOU: How to Become an Air Traffic Controller
In this episode of Fly the Transition, Jim dives into the exciting career of Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the FAA's Fall 2024 hiring window, which opens soon. If you’re interested in becoming a controller or looking for a rewarding non-pilot role in aviation, this episode is for you. Jim covers...
About this show
The AeroExploration Podcast explores aviation’s past and the paths people are taking in the industry today. Join host Jim Schilling for stories of historic flights, modern aviation careers, and the passion that keeps us looking to the skies. Aviation has a past worth remembering, destinations worth exploring, and people worth meeting. This is AeroExploration.
Hosted by
Flying Midwest Media