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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

Aviation history was made—but should it have been? The first real emergency Autoland sparks massive debate. ✈️

On December 20, 2025, Garmin's Emergency Autoland system completed its first-ever real-world emergency landing when a Beechcraft King Air 200 experienced rapid depressurization at 23,000 feet. But here's the controversy: the two pilots were fully conscious, wearing oxygen masks, and capable of flying—yet they chose to let the computer land the plane.

In Episode 208 of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Carson breaks down this groundbreaking and controversial event that's dividing the aviation community:

What happened: • The complete timeline from depressurization to autonomous landing
The technology: • How Garmin's Autoland actually works and why it won the Collier Trophy
The controversy: • Did the pilots make the right call or misuse the system?
The debate: • Industry reactions from both sides—proper emergency management vs. dangerous precedent
The future: • What this means for aviation automation, pilot training, and single-pilot operations
The investigation: • FAA and NTSB response to this historic event

Buffalo River Aviation CEO Chris Townsley defended the crew's decision, citing IMC conditions, mountainous terrain, active icing, and unknown failure causes. But critics argue Garmin explicitly states Autoland is "designed ONLY for pilot incapacitation"—and these pilots weren't incapacitated.

So what do YOU think? Was this smart use of certified safety technology, or automation dependency gone too far?

🎙️ This deep dive explores the technical details, pilot decision-making under pressure, the role of automation in modern aviation, and what this precedent-setting event means for the future of flight.

Whether you're a pilot, student pilot, aviation professional, or technology enthusiast—this episode raises critical questions about human judgment vs. machine capability in emergency situations.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—subscribe to join the conversation and stay current on the biggest stories in aviation.

Garmin Autoland's First Real Emergency: Right Decision or Dangerous Precedent?

Flight training costs, career timelines, and generational wisdom—what does it really take to make it as an airline pilot? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon sits down with Captain Curt, a third-generation airline pilot and current Gulfstream captain, in Curt's brand-new podcast studio. They dive deep into the realities of building an aviation career, including:

 • Why every year you delay flight training costs you $500,000+ in lost career earnings
 • The $2 million impact of seniority numbers on your lifetime airline salary
 • Captain Curt's journey: working 3 jobs, paying cash for flight school, and surviving the 2008 financial crisis
 • Why student loans and speed matter more than slowly working your way through training
 • The harsh realities of medical issues ending careers early—even for the healthiest pilots
 • From ferry pilot to Gulfstream captain: building hours fast without instructing
 • Aviation family legacy: 4 generations of pilots and checking out his dad on a GV
 • Corporate aviation vs airlines: pay, lifestyle, and work-life balance trade-offs

🚀 Whether you're a student pilot deciding on flight school financing, a CFI building hours, or aspiring to fly corporate jets, this episode is packed with honest advice and real-world career strategies from someone who's lived it.

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

Captain Curt's Journey: From Working 3 Jobs to Flying Gulfstreams | Aviation Success Story

Winter flying, icing, fog, and cold-weather decision-making—how do pilots actually manage the risks when temperatures drop? ❄️✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive deep into winter flying realities, sharing real-world stories, hard lessons learned, and practical guidance every pilot should know. From scraping frost off windshields to flying IFR through icing conditions, this episode covers:

• The dangers of frost, ice, and snow on aircraft before takeoff

• Real pilot experiences with in-flight icing and how to escape it safely

• The difference between FIKI-certified aircraft and non-approved airplanes

• Deicing systems explained: boots, heated wings, fluids, and carb heat

• Why “just a little ice” can quickly become a life-threatening problem

• How cold weather affects engines, oil viscosity, and aircraft starting

• Fog types, winter METARs, ceilings, and visibility considerations

• Decision-making, get-there-itis, and winter risk management for pilots

🎯 Whether you’re a student pilot, private pilot, or instrument-rated aviator, this episode provides clear answers and actionable insights to help you fly smarter—and safer—during winter operations.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Join Aviation Mentors and stay confident, informed, and prepared for real-world flying challenges.

Winter Flying Safety for Pilots: Frost, Icing, FIKI Aircraft, and IFR Considerations

Navigating thunderstorms, aircraft maintenance, and in-flight decision-making—what really happens behind the controls when things get tense? ⚡✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dig into real-world scenarios that every pilot can learn from. From forecasting convective weather to navigating point-of-no-return decisions over the Rockies, the hosts break down:

• How to determine if a forecasted thunderstorm is safe to navigate around

• What really happens when you get too close to convective activity

• Brandon’s intense near-storm experience with family onboard—and what he’d do differently today

• Key external pressures that quietly influence your aeronautical decision-making

• The most overlooked pre-buy inspection items for first-time aircraft owners

• How to handle aircraft logbooks, AD compliance, and title/registration pitfalls

• Recovering from radio mistakes (and why ATC isn’t as scary as new pilots think)

Whether you’re a student pilot, a new aircraft owner, or a seasoned flyer looking to sharpen your safety mindset, this episode is packed with practical, experience-based aviation insights.

🚀 Tune in and elevate your pilot decision-making, weather awareness, and maintenance knowledge—one episode at a time.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday. Stay inspired, stay safe, and keep chasing your aviation dreams.

Listener Questions (Part 12)

Pearl Harbor, aviation history, and real lessons for today’s pilots—how does a two-hour attack from 1941 still shape the way we fly today? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into the aviation side of the Pearl Harbor attack, exploring how 353 Japanese aircraft caught the U.S. by surprise and what modern pilots can learn from the event. From warbirds like the P-40 Warhawk, B-17 Flying Fortress, the Dauntless, and the Japanese Zero, to breakdowns in communication and readiness, the hosts connect one of history’s most significant aviation-driven moments to general aviation today.

They discuss:

• How the attack unfolded and the timeline of the first and second waves

• Why only a handful of U.S. aircraft were able to get airborne

• The roles of Zeros, Kates, and Vals—and their impact on the fleet

• Situational awareness lessons student pilots can apply today

• Communication breakdowns, ATC parallels, and traffic awareness

• Aircraft limitations, density altitude, V_NE, and pilot decision-making

• How warbirds demonstrate performance, energy management, and aircraft handling

• Personal insights, travel stories, and the importance of readiness in GA

🚀 Whether you’re a student pilot, history buff, or general aviation enthusiast, this episode blends real aviation knowledge with one of the most dramatic moments in military history—offering practical flying insights, safety takeaways, and a fascinating warbird breakdown.

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

The Aviation Side of Pearl Harbor: Surprises, Warbirds, and GA Takeaways

What’s the right way to tell your CFI you’re confused? Should student pilots buy their own headset early? And is it normal to feel like you’re getting worse before you get better? ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into real student-pilot frustrations and answer top questions pulled from Reddit and listeners, including:

• Why regressing during flight training is completely normal—and how to push through it

• How to stop overthinking your landings and build true pilot instinct

• Whether to trust school-provided headsets or invest in Bose, Lightspeed, or David Clarks early

• How to confidently tell your CFI you don’t understand something (without feeling embarrassed)

• The best weekly flight-training schedule for faster progress and lower overall cost

They also share personal stories—from Brandon learning instrument scan embarrassingly late to Carson’s early headset upgrade and even a tangent about parachutes, spins, burnout, and staying healthy enough to stay current.

🚀 If you’re a student pilot, a new private pilot, or someone trying to learn smarter—not harder—this episode is packed with practical tips, relatable training struggles, and humor from the cockpit.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—follow, subscribe, and keep leveling up your aviation journey.

— Sponsored by Stratus Financial, supporting the next generation of pilots.

Listener Questions (Part 11)

Keeping an airplane clean isn’t just about appearance—it’s a key part of aviation safety, professionalism, and building trust with students and passengers. ✈️✨

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson dive into the critical but often overlooked world of aircraft cleanliness. They break down why a clean airplane matters, how it impacts safety and perception, and what every pilot, renter, CFI, and aircraft owner should expect from a well-maintained fleet.

They cover:

• Why aircraft cleanliness directly affects safety, visibility, and first impressions

• Which parts of an airplane are neglected most—and why they matter

• Proper techniques for cleaning windshields, belly panels, static ports, and leading edges

• The best products, tools, and materials for safely cleaning general aviation aircraft

• What high-quality flight schools do to maintain their airplanes

• Major red flags in aircraft care—and when it’s time to switch schools

🚀 Whether you’re a student pilot, private pilot, or aircraft owner, this episode is packed with practical, real-world insights to help you fly safer, protect your aircraft, and uphold the standards of aviation professionalism.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—learn, improve, and stay inspired with Aviation Mentors.

Overlooked Aircraft Cleaning Tips That Improve Safety

Flying for currency, reconnecting with your flight school roots, and keeping safety at the center of aviation growth—this episode covers it all. ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson kick things off with fresh flying stories: short-approach fun in the ICON A5, a post-office moment that turned into an impromptu A5 fanboy encounter, and getting the RV back in the air after months on the ground. From taxiing tips to hangar-shuffling adventures, the hosts share what real general aviation days look like.

Then, they dive into the featured topic: scaling a flight school without sacrificing safety standards. Drawing from years of experience running a busy training environment, they break down:

• Why a solid operational foundation matters before you scale

• What preflight, post-flight, and cleanliness standards should never be skipped

• How safety documents and clear minimums protect pilots and schools

• The role of a dedicated safety manager as student numbers grow

• Real-world examples of training deficiencies—and how to fix them early

• The hidden costs schools face, from insurance to maintenance cycles

Whether you’re a student pilot, an instructor, a flight school operator, or simply passionate about safe flying, this episode delivers practical insights on building aviation programs the right way—without cutting corners.

🚀 Perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about flight school operations, aviation safety systems, and what it truly takes to run a high-quality training environment.

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

Ep 201 - The Hidden Risks in Flight Schools—and How to Fix Them Before You Scale

In this special milestone episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, hosts Brandon Martini and Carson Vasquez celebrate 200 episodes of inspiring stories, mentorship, and aviation community growth. 🥂

From humble beginnings recording in a noisy RV at Oshkosh to becoming one of aviation’s most engaging podcasts, Brandon and Carson reflect on their journey, share behind-the-scenes stories, and revisit their favorite moments and guests.

💬 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• How the podcast started — from scripted beginnings to genuine hangar talk

• The inspiration behind Aviation Mentors and the power of mentorship in aviation

• Favorite moments, guests, and community stories from the past 200 episodes

• Lessons learned about podcasting, persistence, and connection

• A heartfelt message to listeners and fellow aviators around the world

🎙️ Aviation Mentors Podcast is where pilots, student pilots, and aviation enthusiasts come together to learn, laugh, and share their passion for flying. Whether you’re just starting flight training or deep into your aviation career, there’s always something new to discover.

🌎 Join us every Friday as we share real stories from the cockpit, the classroom, and beyond.

Subscribe, leave a comment, and celebrate 200 episodes with us!

🛫 Listen to more episodes:

www.aviationmentors.com

🎟️ Check out Stratus AeroSummit:

www.stratusaerosummit.com

💼 Sponsored by Stratus Financial

www.stratus.finance

Celebrating 200 Episodes – Aviation Mentors Reflect on Growth, Stories & the Journey Ahead

Flying VFR? Understanding IFR traffic is critical for safety even at non-towered airports.

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon Martini and Carson explore IFR approaches, shared airspace, and practical VFR safety tips. Using examples from Corona Airport (KAJO) and nearby VORs, they explain how VFR and IFR operations coexist, how to anticipate faster instrument traffic, and what to watch for when flying in general aviation environments.

Key topics include:

IFR approaches and handoff procedures for VFR pilots

Recognizing speed and pattern differences between aircraft

Airspace awareness and safety strategies for student pilots

🚀 Aviation Mentors Podcast is dedicated to helping pilots and aviation enthusiasts improve skills, safety, and career growth. Whether you’re a student pilot, professional pilot, or GA enthusiast, this podcast is for you!

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—tune in and elevate your pilot awareness!

www.aviationmentors.com

www.stratusaerosummit.com

Sponsored by Stratus Financial

www.stratus.finance

Captain Curt's Journey: From Working 3 Jobs to Flying Gulfstreams | Aviation Success Story

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