From joy-rides in a Mirage III fighter jet at age seven, to selling her home to help pay for flight lessons, to flying for Rex and eventually becoming one of the faces of Virgin Australia, Captain Michelle Huntington has had a truly astonishing journey.

She’s flown solo in a Beechcraft Bonanza from Arizona to Bankstown, been struck by lightning in mid-air, battled unruly passengers, and stared down industry sexism – but through it all, never lost her sense of adventure.

After leaving the industry during the height of COVID-19, Michelle has taken to the speaking circuit to share the lessons she’s learned, many of which also feature in her new book Lady MacGyver: Unbelievable stories with altitude.

On this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake sits down with Michelle to talk about her career, her book, whether there’s life after the sky – and how to keep your internal organs in their proper place at 30,000 feet.

The sound of investor presentations and ASX releases can only mean one thing: results season has come again, bringing joy and cheer to all the good shareholders of the land – especially those who’ve invested in airlines.

Qantas has posted another bumper profit as it looks to snap up even more A321XLRs, Virgin Australia has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a healthy result, Alliance is flying more hours than ever, and across the Tasman, even Air New Zealand is still in the black despite its many headaches.

Jake and guest host Benjamin Foster unpack all the major airlines’ results and take a look ahead to the prospects for 2026.

Plus, it’s the end of the line for Gold Coast Airport’s light rail – what might replace the controversial project as the Olympics draw ever closer?

As it recovers from massive fines and reputational headaches, Qantas has a new hairy problem to deal with over its move to make QantasLink flight crews adopt the same grooming standards as mainline Qantas and Jetstar pilots: namely, no beards allowed.

Qantas insists this is for safety reasons, with a report saying facial hair can interfere with oxygen masks – but hirsute Qantas pilots are crying “not by the hair on our chinny-chin-chins,” and pointing to studies showing beards shave hardly anything off the safety margin. So, who’s right?

Jake is joined by special guest host and fellow facial hair enthusiast Keith Ford of the ifa and SMSF Adviser podcasts to look at the arguments for and against the beard ban, and to take a brave stand against pogonophobia.

Plus, a bunfight erupts over government frequent-flyer perks, and Koala Airlines responds to our challenge – were we wrong about the scrappy start-up?

It’s the largest corporate fine for industrial relations breaches in Australian history: a mammoth $90 million, handed down to Qantas for the illegal outsourcing of around 1,800 ground workers during the pandemic – on top of $120 million already imposed in compensation.

At 75 per cent of the maximum penalty, it will doubtless put the fear of God (and the unions) into other large companies who might be considering similar moves, and the national carrier has offered an apology – but is it really sorry, or, as Justice Michael Lee speculated, only sorry it got caught?

Jake and special guest host Emilie Lauer of Smart Property Investment unpack the ramifications of the fine and ask whether a leopard ... or a Flying Kangaroo ... really can change its spots.

Plus, between ageing planes, razor-thin margins and soaring airfares, what can be done about the ongoing travails of regional aviation?

The latest episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast spotlights two finalists in the 2025 Australian Aviation Awards, with host Steve Kuper joined by Daniel Wang, head of programs for ATC and air defence at Rohde & Schwarz, and Rodney Sciortino, head of civil air traffic control.

Together, they explore how the global technology company is delivering cutting-edge solutions across both the defence and civil aviation sectors, from deployable ATC towers to AI-driven technologies, cyber security safeguards, and the growing role of drones in airspace management.

One of the standout capabilities they discuss is the transportable air operations tower (TAOT), a mobile system supporting both the Australian Defence Force and civilian organisations. The TAOT provides critical flexibility for operations in austere environments, disaster relief zones, and even during major events like the Avalon Airshow.

As Wang says, the system allows the ADF to project air power and sustain operations from remote airfields, while Sciortino highlights its civil applications, from ensuring continuity after natural disasters to supporting firefighting aircraft and temporary tower upgrades.

The trio also discuss Wang and Sciortino's journey to Rohde & Schwarz, and how the company's blend of global innovation, local experience, and cross-sector expertise is helping shape the future of air traffic management in Australia and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Enjoy the Podcast,
The Australian Aviation Team

It’s been five years since a Tigerair plane last graced Australia’s skies – and the aviation ecosystem is still coping with Tigerair’s extinction.

Jake Nelson and guest host Daniel Croft of Cyber Daily take a look at the ACCC’s report and ask who – if anyone – could fill the gap Tigerair left behind.

Plus, how can we solve the growing mental health crisis in general aviation?

After 30 years criss-crossing regional Queensland, it’s the end of the road for Skytrans – not for the airline itself, which will keep flying, but for the name. New owner Avia Solutions Group is rebranding the carrier as SmartLynx Australia, echoing some of its other brands overseas.

Along with the name change will come a new paint job for the airline’s existing aircraft, with the Skytrans livery to be covered in neutral white, allowing the planes to be more easily used for wet leasing and charter flights when needed – but for Queenslanders who know and love the Skytrans brand, will the change prove a turn-off?

Jake and guest host David Hollingworth examine the pros and cons of the change, and whether all-white planes are an appealing prospect for passengers.

Plus, scrappy upstart Koala Airlines is back in the news – but does its ambition of launching domestic services by the end of next year hold much water?

It’s the bombshell the aviation industry never saw coming, one that has shaken the sector to its core: after five and a half years at Australian Aviation, renowned luminary and thought leader Adam Thorn is leaving Momentum Media.

Over the course of his tenure, Adam has seen COVID-19 shutdowns, travel chaos, and the collapse of multiple Australian airlines – and while he’ll still be leading the print magazine, in many ways it’s the end of an era, a seismic shift rivalling even the exit of Alan Joyce from Qantas in 2023.

Co-hosts Jake Nelson and Benjamin Foster join Adam to reflect on half a decade at the helm of Australian Aviation and what comes next.

Plus, the Ansett brand has been resurrected – but is an “AI-powered” travel booking site really the best use for it?