 The very system designed to save lives in the air becomes a hidden danger on the ground. Todd and John break down a January 2026 NTSB safety alert warning first responders about the risks posed by Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) after an aircraft accident.
While BRS have saved countless lives by deploying parachutes in emergencies, the explosive activation system can be dangerous after a crash. Hear about three real-world incidents where first responders were put at risk—either because they didn’t know a BRS was installed or didn’t fully understand the danger. As these systems become more common across a wider range of small aircraft, the risk is growing and awareness isn’t keeping up. In one chilling case, a crashed aircraft caught fire and the BRS deployed while first responders were standing nearby. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the close call underscores a critical lesson. This discussion is a must-watch for first responders, pilots, and even Good Samaritans who may rush in to help after a plane crash. 👉 Key topics covered:
Stay informed. Stay aware. It could save your life.
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 Developing: a routine training flight in March turned into a fight for survival.
When a student pilot and instructor flying a Cessna 172 lost engine power over New York’s Hudson River, they were forced to make a split-second decision: attempt to get to Stewart International Airport near the United States Military Academy at West Point or put the aircraft down somewhere else. About five miles short of the airport, the crew realized they wouldn’t make it back. They decided to ditch onto a patch of ice in the river at night. Miraculously, both the student and instructor survived the crash and were able to swim to shore. The incident raises several important questions about training flights, decision-making, and risk management. In this episode, the Flight Safety Detectives break down the developing story and examine key issues the National Transportation Safety Board will likely investigate, including: ✈️ What kind of preflight planning was done before the flight? ✈️ What caused the engine power loss? ✈️ Why was this route along the Hudson chosen for a night training flight? ✈️ Was this route part of the flight school’s curriculum? ✈️ When — or if — control transferred from the student to the instructor? Even though no one was seriously injured, this close call highlights a critical aviation lesson: decisions made before and during a flight can determine the outcome when something goes wrong. The Flight Safety Detectives analyze the situation, explore the risks of night training over challenging terrain, and discuss what pilots and instructors everywhere can learn from this incident.  What really happens in the hours and days after a major aviation accident and who controls the story?
Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss the issues and suffering creating when people speculate after a plane crash. To illustrate the point, they focus on a 2003 Charlotte, North Carolina Beech 1900 plane crash that drew intense national media attention. John led the NTSB field investigation, navigating not only a complex accident scene but also a storm of media speculation and aviation “experts” offering opinions long before the facts were known. John shares the inside story of several controversial decisions he made during the investigation. The airline was allowed to put out their own information. Also, raw flight recorder data was released to counter widespread misinformation. The accident itself involved a troubling chain of events:
Todd and John explore the human impact on maintenance personnel whose work may have played a role. They discuss how the aviation industry has evolved to provide psychological support and employee assistance. Gaps still exist, especially when maintenance work is outsourced to third-party providers around the world. If you’re interested in aviation safety, accident investigations, and the human side of aviation, this episode offers a rare insider perspective.  Flight Safety Detectives go live to answer your aviation safety questions!
This month, Greg Feith, Todd Curtis and John Goglia answer questions about TWA Flight 800, the recent Bangor plane crash, and the influence (or lack thereof) of corporate media on NTSB findings and decisions. Flight Safety Detectives answer questions from the audience the 4th Monday of each month. Send yours in to [email protected]. PAMA provides scholarships and awards to aviation maintenance professionals.
Applications for the 2026 season are due NOW! The deadline to apply is TODAY, March 2! Eligibility requirements are as follows unless otherwise indicated in specific award descriptions, below:
Scholarship applications must include:
The number of awards available is dependent on funds received. For more information on supporting the maintenance professional awards and scholarships, email [email protected] or contact PAMA scholarship chair Ron Zilberbrand. Please note: relatives of PAMA directors are not eligible for scholarship awards. Jack D. Prewitt Memorial Scholarship, provided by PistonPower, Inc. Two $1,000 awards. JSFirm.com Aviation Mechanic Student Award One $1500 award The awards are provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses.  Take a deep dive into the iconic air traffic control scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. What host Todd Curtis uncovers might surprise you.
Revisiting the tense near–midair collision sequence, Todd analyzes how accurately the film portrayed the real-world challenges pilots and controllers faced in the 1970s when reporting UFOs (now known as UAPs). As shown in the scene, two separate airline crews and air traffic controllers hesitate to report what they’ve seen—even after a close call. Todd painstakingly reviewed the footage over a dozen times to create an NTSB-inspired transcript that captures every exchange, side conversation, and moment of uncertainty. His conclusion? The scene would have played out almost the same way in 2007—or even 2017—because FAA reporting policies hadn’t meaningfully changed. This episode goes beyond policy. Todd reveals how Spielberg masterfully captured the psychological strain of confronting something extraordinary while trying to maintain professionalism and composure. As pilots communicate with ATC, controllers and supervisors can be heard in the background—questioning, rationalizing, and grappling with what they’re seeing. Then Todd fast-forwards to a real-world case: a 2024 airliner encounter with a suspected UAP. Using ATC audio obtained through a FOIA request, he creates a second NTSB-style transcript and compares it to the 1977 film scene. The parallels are striking—and raise compelling questions about how much has truly changed. If you’re interested in aviation safety, UAP investigations, or the intersection of Hollywood and reality, this episode delivers rare insight, meticulous analysis, and documents you won’t find anywhere else. PAMA provides scholarships and awards to aviation maintenance professionals.
Applications for the 2026 season are due in 7 days! The deadline to apply is March 2, 2026. Eligibility requirements are as follows unless otherwise indicated in specific award descriptions, below:
Scholarship applications must include:
The number of awards available is dependent on funds received. For more information on supporting the maintenance professional awards and scholarships, email [email protected] or contact PAMA scholarship chair Ron Zilberbrand. Please note: relatives of PAMA directors are not eligible for scholarship awards. Jack D. Prewitt Memorial Scholarship, provided by PistonPower, Inc. Two $1,000 awards. JSFirm.com Aviation Mechanic Student Award One $1500 award The awards are provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses. At the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA), we believe in celebrating the foundational work that keeps our industry soaring. There is no higher tribute to the dedication and expertise of senior mechanics than the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
Named in honor of Charles E. Taylor—the Wright brothers' mechanic and the first aviation mechanic in powered flight—this prestigious award recognizes those who have spent half a century ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft. Who was Charles Taylor? Mr. Taylor was a visionary machinist who built the aluminum-copper, four-cylinder engine for the Wright brothers' first successful flight in just six weeks. Today, his legacy lives on not only through this award but also through his image on FAA mechanic certificates and the celebration of Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Day on his birthday, May 24. Eligibility Requirements This award is the FAA's most prestigious honor for individuals certificated under Title 14 CFR Part 65. To be considered for the "Roll of Honor," nominees must meet these rigorous criteria:
How to Apply Recognition of such a milestone is a significant event for both the recipient and the aviation community. If you or someone you know meets these milestones:
Celebrate the Masters Recipients of this award receive a distinctive certificate and are added to the official Roll of Honor on FAASafety.gov. As of early 2026, over 3,500 dedicated professionals have been honored with this distinction. "The award is very important for the mechanics because it is one of the few forms of recognition that you have for a career—an unblemished career." — John Goglia, PAMA Contributor and Award Recipient  The NTSB report of a fatal Piper Navajo crash in Medford, Oregon in December 2021 leaves important aviation safety questions unanswered. This fatal crash is attributed to spatial disorientation but facts available lead to serious questions about the fuel tanks and more.
The pilot had flown from his home in Nevada to Medford but had to have the fuel system repaired. Days later when the repairs were complete, the pilot took off in low ceiling conditions. The aircraft made a sharp right turn, entered the clouds, and then descended sharply, with the pilot pulling up shortly before hitting the ground After reentering the clouds, the aircraft made an inverted loop and crashed into the ground in a near vertical attitude. The NTSB identified the probable cause as spatial disorientation followed by an uncontrolled descent, with flicker vertigo as a possible factor in the crash. John Goglia and Todd Curtis discuss how the sharp right-hand turn just after takeoff could have been caused by the pilot attempting an immediate emergency landing, possibly due to fuel system issues related to the recent repairs. They also look at the timing of the pilot’s travels to pick up his airplane. The time from his home to the airport was about eight hours. The NTSB noted that the pilot turned in his rental car less than 45 minutes before the accident. Did he do sufficient preflight checks? Was he sufficiently rested? We are only 2 weeks away from the
23rd Annual PAMA DVBAA Maintenance Symposium & IA Renewal Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm FREE EVENT TO ALL ATTENDEES Attendee & Sponsorship Registration now Open on DVBAA Web site, link below: Note: Several people reached out about issues with the previous link, the new link below shouldn't be blocked by Apple devices 23rd Annual PAMA DVBAA Maintenance Symposium & IA Renewal Registration Link not working? Visit https://dvbaa.wildapricot.org/event-6410659Deerfield Golf & Tennis Club 507 Thompson Station Rd Newark, Delaware 19711 Event Includes: 8 Hours of IA Approved Training Food and drink included. All Free 2026 Sponsor & Vendor Registration NOW OPEN! Thank you to all of the sponsors below who's support made this years event possible Gold West Star Aviation Lunch Sponsor GoGo Silver Duncan Aviation Concorde Battery Aircraft Specialties TBX (airworthy.com) RealClean Aircraft Detailing Hartzell McFarlane Aviation Goodyear Aerospace Turbine Rotables Polytech School of Aviation Maintenance Engine Assurance Program Aircraft Lighting International Honeywell Velocity Maintenance Solutions Cosgrove Aircraft Service Sierra Nevada Corporation Bronze Solairus Aviation Satys Aerospace Contact Thomas J. Smith President First State Chapter - PAMA 302-256-8695 |
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