Phil Derner

#41: DCA Airspace, the NTSB & Congress: Part 1 in a series In its recent meeting on the January 2025 midair, the NTSB failed to evaluate how congressional interference over DCA airspace has impacted its flight safety.

Newsletter just went out to subscribers. It's Part 1 because I only made it thru the '80s in looking at how politicians have been involved in DCA airspace rules.

It's so easy to blame the FAA, but we can not ignore Congress. /1 colleenmondor.substack.com/p/41-dca-air...

History of Hard Landings for the 767, Plus AI: A Frustrating Combo A recent Amazon Air landing mirrors past Boeing 767 incidents, but AI imagery tells a different story, and it’s annoying

My latest article…

open.substack.com/pub/phildern...

I’ve owned this for years.

Need a last minute gift for the aviation pro and/or avgeek in your life? Give the gift of deep industry insight with a subscription to The Air Current! theaircurrent.memberful.com/gift?plan=41...

Thank you, Christina!

The “Golden Age of Air Travel” was Cheap Costume Jewelry Those vintage airline posters make it seem like we all missed out on something incredible, but you’ve been lied to.

Recent calls for passengers to dress better on airplanes often lean on a mythical era of glamorous air travel, but you’ve been lied to.

My latest article...

Forgotten Freight: The UPS Crashes That Should Haunt Aviation Three accidents that faded from public memory, but whose lessons still echo.

Cargo pilots fly through the same skies, and face the same risks, but when one crashes, not every tragedy trends.

This article revisits 3 UPS crashes that changed lives and quietly influenced safety for everyone who flies today.

Read or listen here:

open.substack.com/pub/phildern...

The most uninformed and the least well-intended will be the first to politicize tragedy.

Keep that in mind over the coming hours and days.

RIP #UPS2976

We SHOULD have seen it coming...15 years ago. What took them so long? (Don't answer that ha)

I don’t think this is a close call at all. This is just clearing airspace because they demand a wide birth for Air Force One.

Great seeing you! I’m not good at BlueSky…so many of them I hadn’t been following here!

Reminder to people, especially dispatchers, to keep your FAA certificate updated with your current address!

Or like I had to do, change my hair color from brown to bald. No option for shaved. :p

LaGuardia’s Runway 13: The MD-80 Slip N’ Slide Of the seven accidents at LGA during my lifetime, three involved MD-80s. Thankfully, none were fatal, but they were far from smooth rides.

The 3 events that tell of how MD-80s and Runway 13 were not BFFs.

While conducting research, I am amazed how much information I come across on plane crashes that never even happened.

Generated by both AI and passionate enthusiasts, I worry that crawlers or unknowing researchers will lump these into real crash stats, altering industry and public perception.

Delta 767 Engine Fire: Airport Ops Breakdown YouTube video by Phil Derner

My good friend Andrew, who has over 20 years in airport ops and management, sat down with me to discuss a video of a Delta 767 engine fire that took place in 1996.

With radio chatter between ATC, pilots, and ARFF, we see the event unfold and learn how things have changed over the last 3 decades.

I’m confused. News or Opinion? You literally can’t be both.

If you admit you’re injecting your opinion, then we can’t trust your news.

Ah, Ken, I'd have loved to see you! I hope our paths cross soon.

Ken wrote for NYCAviation and I never noticed this. He's OG, and one of the best pilot experts the internet has ever seen.

It's not as mainstream as implied, but if Ken affirms, I'd be more than happy to stand down.

I'm writing a long article, likely around 9,000-11,000 words.

I'm planning on publishing on my Substack as a 5-10 part series, but curious your thoughts.

Do you enjoy super long form, or digestible parts with strong standalone stories?

I was a 757 loadmaster/dispatcher, know hundreds of pilots, have read everything on my favorite, active airliner. I never heard "Atari Ferrari." A search only shows this article.

I think someone overstated this to the writer.

Still, the reasons are correct. A good read on an underrated aircraft.

I’m sorry! Ha

Every single airline seems to be bringing in a military charter flight there this week. If it gets delayed, I’d bet they are overwhelmed.

Ha if only RIV had airline service.

SAN today.

Are we not asked to arrive at the airport two hours early anymore?

If we are, why are check in counter and TSA not open 2 hour prior?

I've always been blown away how old-time journalism meant adding someone's home address every time you mention them.

"The only injured person was John Marbury, 32, of 134 Parsons Blvd, Bayside, N.Y.,..."

Why was this a thing? haha

I don’t understand why that would be ridiculous.

Air India Flight 171: Let’s Pump the Brakes There’s a lot of noise out there. Before jumping to conclusions, let’s take a moment to understand a few things about the Air India investigation.

Air India Flight 171: Let’s Pump the Brakes

There’s a lot of noise out there. Before jumping to conclusions, let’s take a moment to understand a few things about the Air India investigation. #AI171

And I'm super jealous of everyone at #OSH25 who will get to see this 747SP.

I always love the #OSH25 arrivals conga line.

Vintage Planespotting at JFK & LGA Part 1 (2003–2004): Final Concorde, MD-80 Powerback, and more YouTube video by Phil Derner

YouTube is about to see my VHS-converted NYC planespotting tapes from the early 2000s.

Part 1 has the final BA Concorde, MD-80 powerback, LGA Expressway Visual s-turns, go arounds, and more.

Not even remotely HD. ;)