First Episode: “The Aviation Bill”
This year marks the 10th anniversary of an unforgettable aviation mystery. On March 8, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and 35 minutes later vanished from air traffic control radar over the Indian Ocean. An extensive search turned up only scattered wreckage and no clues about what happened to the plane. In this in-depth investigative podcast, journalist and aviation expert Jeff Wise, along with co-host Andy Tarnoff, dissect every detail of the incident. Over the course of more than 25 episodes, the duo delves into various theories and digs into satellite data, clues from the search operation, and the backgrounds of the plane's pilots to try to find answers.
First Episode: “The First Vanishing”
Spinning off from a blog of the same name in 2015, “Layovers” is one of the longest-running aviation podcasts. Hosts Paul Papadimitriou and Alex Hunter have both spent a lot of time in the air (and in airport lounges) and have a keen interest in the commercial aviation industry. In each episode, they talk about their recent trips, offer insight into their experiences with different airlines and aircraft, and review airports around the world. Whether you're a frequent flyer yourself or want to experience it secondhand through their travels and interactions, it's definitely a fun show to listen to.
Starter Episodes: “747 Forever, London NY Bridge at JFK T8, Joie de Vivre in the Air France Lounge, 777 Guillotine, Airport Games”
Each season of this Wondery podcast is made up of several mini-seasons, each exploring the dynamics of two competing brands. Over the course of seven episodes, “Boeing vs. Airbus” charts how Boeing rose to become the leader after a series of disasters involving its biggest rival, the British manufacturer de Havilland, in the 1950s. As Boeing continued to grow, its European rivals banded together to create a worthy adversary in Airbus, laying the foundations for a duopoly that has endured ever since. Now that a series of recent Boeing accidents have revealed a culture of cutting corners and lax safety protocols, the dynamics of that rivalry have shifted significantly in Airbus' favor, making this in-depth history feel even more important.
Starter Episode: “Get Your Wings”
Produced by the Museum of Flight in Tukwila, Washington, and based in part on the museum's collection, “The Flight Deck” is a valuable resource for anyone nostalgic or curious about the past of air travel. There are episodes exploring the gradual decline of legroom in passenger planes, the chaotic beginnings of air traffic control, and the story of still-unidentified hijacker DB Cooper, plus wide-ranging interviews with pilots, astronauts, flight surgeons, and more. The podcast recently began producing short seasons on specific themes; the third season, which aired last year, highlighted LGBTQ+ stories in aviation history.