This week’s episode covers a lot of ground. We open with our usual Bob-and-Steve hang for the first half hour — talking about the pending sale of the Westwind, what we’re considering as a replacement, and a deep dive into the current state of the single-engine turboprop market.

We talk through real-world tradeoffs between aircraft like the TBM, Meridian/M600 class, and PC-12 — cost of entry, mission capability, and what actually makes sense for how we fly.

Then we shift gears into something very different.

In the second half, we sit down with Dr. Abigail Powell, an aviation-focused therapist known online as @theaviationtherapist.

We dig into the mental health side of aviation — the parts that usually don’t get talked about in cockpits, group chats, or on layovers. From the pressures of performance and the stigma around seeking help, to hyper-vigilance, compartmentalization, and the unique psychological demands of aviation careers, Dr. Powell brings a grounded and honest perspective that every pilot — professional or recreational — will recognize.

We cover:
• Why mental health challenges in aviation are often hidden
• How stress and anxiety show up differently in high-performance flying environments
• Why compartmentalization is both a survival skill and a long-term risk
• The realities of asking for help in a career where “weakness” can feel like a liability
• Practical tools pilots can use to manage stress and stay mentally sharp

This one goes places we don’t usually go — and it’s worth the listen.

Guest:
Dr. Abigail Powell
Instagram: @theaviationtherapist
Website: theaviationtherapist.com

As always — if you fly, work in aviation, or just love hearing real conversations from inside the industry, this episode is for you.

This week’s episode opens with something a little different — a 12-minute, behind-the-scenes segment from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where you join us for lunch on a recent trip. It’s raw, cutting-room-floor footage from the upcoming Cockpit Casual series dropping this summer. Fair warning: this segment is definitely better experienced on video — you can watch it on our YouTube version — but it still holds up if you’re along for the ride on audio.

From there, Steve shares a bit about his Passover traditions before we get into a big industry topic — the latest (and not-so-great) changes to the United Airlines MileagePlus program.

This week’s Side Schtick turns into a fun one: if you could fly with any celebrity pilot, who’s in your cockpit? That conversation, naturally, takes a detour into the legendary Piper Aerostar.

We wrap things up with a solid listener Q&A session — some great questions in this one.

And if you haven’t yet — check out this episode on YouTube for the full Tashkent segment as it was meant to be seen.

EP 5 – From the Hangar Floor to 1.4M Followers: A Deep Conversation with Max Comer

We open this week with a brief discussion on the recent fatal crash at LaGuardia, reflecting on the realities of risk in aviation and the perspective that comes with experience.

From there, we shift gears into one of our most compelling conversations yet—an in-depth interview with A&P mechanic and social media powerhouse Max Comer.

What starts as a conversation about turning wrenches quickly expands into something much bigger.

We cover the growing mechanic shortage and why it matters, what a career in aircraft maintenance really looks like, and the often-misunderstood relationship between pilots and line mechanics. Max gives us a look inside heavy maintenance, the realities of the job, and how the next generation can find their way into the industry.

But this episode goes well beyond aviation.

We talk about everything from Lord of the Rings to music, to building a massive online following—and then into something far more personal. Max reflects about personal tragedy and loss, raising two kids as a single parent, and how creating content became a lifeline during the most difficult chapter of his life.

It’s raw, honest, and unexpectedly powerful.

We close the episode with one of Max’s original tracks "Reason".