In our first episiode, we speak to Antoine, an A320 pilot, a French-language aviation podcast host and previously an air traffic controller in Switzerland. We talk about:

  • How his parents were glider pilots and how he started flying very young
  • How he set his parents' field on fire by playing with rockets
  • What it was like to be an air traffic controller
  • What the pilot training process is like in Europe
  • How flying a modern jet aircraft compares with small general aviation ones
  • The importance of communication in the cockpit
  • The notion of personal minimums
  • The differences of private flying in the US vs. Europe

Some technical terms we use in the podcast (I'll be careful to explain these more in-podcast in upcoming episodes):

  • ATPL - Airline Transport Pilot License (European equivalent of ATP)
  • CPL - Commercial Pilot License
  • VFR - Visual Flight Rules (or visual flying, by looking out the window)
  • IFR - Instrument Flight Rules (or instrument flying, regardless of visibility)
  • IR - Instrument Rating (rating that allows you to fly IFR)
  • ME - Multi-Engine (rating that allows you to fly multi-engine planes)
  • MCCJOC - Multi-crew Cooperation & Jet Orientation Course
  • Class Alfa - Class A (as oposed to B, C, D, E, F or G) airspace, usually reserved for commercial aircraft, mostly jets.

If you speak French (or if you're just curious), check out Antoine's French-language aviation podcast: Parlons Aviation

We love hearing from you, so send us your thoughts, comments and suggestions either by email (ground.effect[@]neustadt[.]fr) or via Twitter (@thegroundeffect).

Host: Parimal Satyal
Support and Original Episode Artwork: Maggie Oran
Podcast Music: Getting It All Together by RockitMaxx

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