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Brandon Martini & Carson Vasquez

🚀 We are The Aviation Mentors, a weekly podcast dedicated to creating an amazing space where we aviators can hang out and enjoy a wide range of conversations about anything aviation. We're aviators, we're mentors, and we're entrepreneurs. Whether you're a student pilot, professional pilot, general aviation enthusiast, or just an AV Geek like us, this is the podcast for you! 🌎 Join us every Friday as we share our passion for flying! Sponsored by Stratus Financial www.stratus.finance

Aviation Mentors

Can an AI really get you through your checkride, or is it setting you up to fail? 🤖✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Carson flies solo to break down the fast-growing wave of AI tools built for checkride and ground school prep. He walks through what's actually useful, what's overhyped, and where trusting the wrong answer could cost you more than a bad grade.

 • How Sporty's new AI suite (ChatCFI, ChatFAR, and an oral exam simulator) compares to just using free ChatGPT or Claude
 • Why Lime's AUTO, an AI digital pilot examiner, claims an edge with aviation-specific training data
 • A real 2024 chatbot lawsuit against Air Canada, and what it means for AI liability in aviation
 • Why ASA, the publisher behind the oral exam guide series, is now printing warnings about AI-generated study content

🚀 Whether you're studying for your private checkride, prepping for an instrument rating, or just curious how AI fits into modern flight training, this episode gives you a clear-eyed rundown of what to trust and what to double-check with your CFI.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Don't forget to check out the Fly to Success Scholarship from Stratus Financial: $10,000 for qualifying students, entries close August 28th. And catch the Aviation Mentors team at the Ascend Flight Training Summit in Dallas, September 8th–10th.

Can AI Get You Through Your Checkride?

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday — what really happens when the engine quits and there's no runway in sight? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down the real Huntington Beach beach landing that had pilots buzzing, then dig into aviation history to explain why golf courses keep showing up as emergency landing spots. The hosts cover:

 • The real mayday call and engine failure behind the Huntington Beach beach landing near the 2026 U.S. Open of Surfing
 • Harrison Ford's 2015 emergency landing at a Venice, California golf course, and the mechanical failure that caused it
 • Why golf courses sit next to so many airports and what makes them ideal emergency landing zones, including a 2025 Riviera Country Club landing
 • A former insurance adjuster's take on seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, and why proper installation can be the difference between walking away and not

🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, or general aviation enthusiast, this episode is a real-world look at emergency decision-making, aircraft safety equipment, and why staying calm under pressure can turn a crisis into a story you get to tell.

The Fly to Success Scholarship closes August 28th, with the winner announced at the Ascend Flight Training Summit in Dallas, September 8-10.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday — join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

When There's No Runway: Beaches, Golf Courses, and the Huntington Beach Mayday

Buying or selling a plane? There's a costly mistake hiding in the logbooks that most people never see coming. ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down the real process behind buying and selling an airplane, using Carson's recent sale of his Icon A5 as a live example. They cover:

 • Why a pre-buy inspection is non-negotiable, even on a $20,000 airplane, and what mechanics actually look for
 • How incomplete logbooks and "pencil whipped" ADs can lead to a surprise engine or propeller overhaul costing $10,000 to $50,000
 • What happens legally if you fly an aircraft that's out of compliance, and where the line between an honest mistake and a serious violation sits
 • What actually determines whether an airplane holds its value, gains value, or depreciates over time
 • The paperwork trail required to transfer ownership, from bills of sale to FAA registration and lien releases

🚀 Whether you're a first-time buyer, a seller weighing your options, or a student pilot curious about aircraft ownership, this episode gives you a practical, real-world walkthrough of the entire process, including the $50,000 mistake that can catch anyone off guard.

This episode is brought to you by Stratus Financial. The Fly to Success Scholarship closes August 28th, with the winner announced at the Ascend Flight Training Summit in Dallas, September 8-10.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

Buying or Selling a Plane? Here's the $50,000 Mistake to Watch For

What does it really cost to experience the biggest airshow in the world? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down everything pilots need to know about EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, from ticket and membership costs to what it's really like to fly in and camp under your wing. With this year's event just days away, the hosts share firsthand stories and answer the questions most first-timers have:

 • What EAA AirVenture Oshkosh actually costs, including AA membership, wristband pricing, and camping vs. hotel logistics
 • What it's like to fly a small plane into Oshkosh and camp under your wing, including a real story of a 23-hour solo cross-country in a maxed-out Cessna 172
 • Can't-miss moments at the show, from warbird flybys to the night airshow's wall of fire
 • Why the connections made at Oshkosh are worth the cost, even for student pilots mid-training

🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, or general aviation enthusiast, this episode is packed with practical advice and firsthand insight for anyone considering their first trip to Oshkosh.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

What It's Really Like to Fly Into Oshkosh and Camp Under Your Wing

Flying a drone near an airport? The rules might surprise you. 🛸

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down Part 107 and what every pilot, student, and CFI needs to know about sharing the airspace with drones. From personal drone stories to real FAA enforcement cases, the hosts cover:

 • The difference between recreational (TRUST test) and commercial (Part 107) drone rules
 • Registration, weight limits, and how LAANC authorizations actually work
 • Real federal cases where drone pilots faced fines and criminal charges
 • The FBI's drone crackdown at the 2026 World Cup and what it means for future regulation

🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, CFI, or drone operator, this episode is packed with practical guidance on staying legal and safe in shared airspace.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

🌐 Protect your aircraft and your flying with Skywatch Aviation Insurance. Get a quote at skywatch.ai, and check out our exclusive partner offer at skywatch.ai/partners/mentors

 Apply for the Stratus Financial Fly to Success Scholarship: stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/Learn more about the Ascend Flight Training Summit: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

Part 107 Drone Rules Every Pilot Needs to Know in 2026

🌍 Failed a checkride? You're not alone, and it's not the end of your aviation journey. ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down what a checkride failure or discontinuance actually means for student pilots, plus dig into the differences between Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools, why general aviation airports keep shutting down, and why fewer people are flying just for fun these days. The hosts cover:

 • What happens after a failed checkride or discontinuance, and why it's more common than you think
 • Part 61 vs Part 141: the real differences in structure, stage checks, and examining authority
 • Why airports like Santa Monica, Rialto, and Huntington Beach have shut down, and what it means for GA's future
 • The declining number of people learning to fly purely for fun, and how the cost compares to other hobbies

🚀 Whether you're preparing for your own checkride, weighing Part 61 vs Part 141 training, or just care about the future of general aviation airports, this episode has practical insight and real talk for student pilots and GA enthusiasts alike.

New episodes drop every Friday, join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

🌐 Protect your aircraft and your flying with Skywatch Aviation Insurance. Get a quote at skywatch.ai, and check out our exclusive partner offer at skywatch.ai/partners/mentors

 Apply for the Stratus Financial Fly to Success Scholarship: stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/Learn more about the Ascend Flight Training Summit: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

You Failed Your Checkride. Now What?

A Chinese-owned aircraft maker just landed on the Pentagon's radar, and Cirrus pilots want to know what it means for them.

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down the news that Cirrus's parent company, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has been added to the Pentagon's list of Chinese military-linked companies operating in the US. The hosts walk through what the designation actually means, who else got named alongside Cirrus, and why this story is surfacing now. They cover:

 • What the Pentagon's blacklist designation is and why it's not the same as a flight ban
 • Why Cirrus parent company AVIC was added, and how it ties back to a 2011 ownership deal
 • What it means for the Department of Defense's procurement contracts starting June 30th
 • Continental Aerospace Technology and Align Aerospace, the two other aviation suppliers named in the same update
 • Why this surfaced now, including Cirrus's 2024 Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing and shifting US policy on foreign-owned companies

🚀 Whether you fly a Cirrus, train in one, or just want to understand how geopolitics can intersect with general aviation, this episode breaks down what pilots actually need to know, and what they don't need to worry about.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

What Is the Pentagon's 1260H List and Why Is Cirrus On It?

Is Cirrus secretly owned by a Chinese company, and could carbon monoxide be hiding in your training aircraft right now? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson tackle a stacked listener Q&A covering the biggest questions general aviation pilots are asking right now. Carson also catches Brandon off guard with breaking news about Cirrus. They cover:

 • Carson asks Brandon if he's heard the news: the Pentagon just added Cirrus to its list of Chinese military companies, and Brandon's reaction says it all
 • Whether carbon monoxide poisoning is a real risk in training aircraft, including a real ATC story that shows why CO sensors matter
 • How the DPE shortage is affecting checkride scheduling and training timelines for student pilots
 • Whether you can really afford to own an airplane, and why the dream isn't as out of reach as people think
 • What basic med actually requires, and whether it's a better option than a regular FAA medical for most GA pilots
 • Where the unleaded fuel transition for general aviation actually stands today

🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, or CFI, this episode breaks down real questions affecting your training, your aircraft, and the industry news you need to know about.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

Sponsored by Stratus Financial: stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/ Ascend Flight Training Summit: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

Cirrus Is a Chinese Company? Plus CO Risk and DPE Shortage

Flight training in 2026 — is it still worth it, and what do the numbers actually say? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Carson delivers a data-driven state of the union for flight training in 2026. Real numbers pulled from FAA records, industry surveys, and airline hiring reports. Carson breaks down:

 • The real state of airline hiring in 2026, with actual numbers from American, United, and Delta
 • Why 2025 was a pause and not a collapse, and what the rebound looks like right now
 • Student pilot pipeline data, CFI supply, and what the competition actually looks like
 • The true cost of flight training from private pilot to CFI in today's market
 • Why waiting to start could cost you more than financing now
 • The checkride examiner bottleneck and how it is quietly adding thousands to your training bill
 • Whether starting flight training today, in June 2026, is actually the right call

🚀 Whether you are a student pilot weighing the investment, a CFI waiting on the airline rebound, or just trying to cut through the noise on the pilot shortage debate, this episode gives you the honest, unfiltered picture.

🎓 Apply for the Aviation Mentors $10,000 Scholarship (25+ flight hours required): stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/

✈️ Ascend Flight Training Summit — Dallas, September 8-10: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday — join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

The State of Flight Training in 2026: Hiring, Pipeline, and What the Data Actually Shows

Can you fly without aviation insurance and what happens if you do? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson sit down with Tomer Kashi, CEO and co-founder of Skywatch, and Stephanie Kleeberg, head of sales and customer service, to break down everything pilots need to know about aviation insurance. They discuss:

 • What renters insurance actually covers and why every student pilot needs it before their first solo
 • How flight school fleet policies work and why schools require students and CFIs to carry their own coverage
 • The difference between renter policies, CFI policies, and aircraft owner insurance
 • How hours, make and model experience, and certificates directly affect your premium
 • Why you no longer need to wait weeks for a policy and how to get covered same day
 • What aircraft owner insurance covers, from hail and hangar rash to in-flight liability
 • The difference between in-motion, not-in-motion, and storage-only coverage explained

🚀 Whether you're a student pilot waiting on your first solo, a CFI looking for the right coverage, or an aircraft owner wanting to protect your investment, this episode gives you a clear and practical breakdown of aviation insurance from two industry experts.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday, join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

🛡️ This episode is sponsored by Skywatch Aviation Insurance. Learn more at skywatch.ai or get your personalized quote today at skywatch.ai/partners/mentors

Can AI Get You Through Your Checkride?

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

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