Runway Life

The Fight to Save America's Airports

What happens when an airport becomes the target of development pressure, local government decisions, or changing community priorities? In this episode of Runway Life, we sit down with Stacey Heaton from AOPA to discuss the growing challenges facing airports across America and the efforts underway to protect them. We take a closer look at the story of Everglades Airpark and explore how AOPA works with local pilots, airport advocates, and communities to identify and respond to threats that could impact the future of general aviation. Stacey also shares insights into the many ways AOPA supports pilots through advocacy, education, safety initiatives, and resources designed to strengthen and preserve aviation access nationwide. Whether you’re a student pilot, aircraft owner, flight instructor, or aviation enthusiast, this conversation highlights why protecting airports matters and how pilots can get involved in shaping the future of general aviation. Learn more about AOPA: https://www.aopa.org #AOPA #GeneralAviation #AirportClosures #RunwayLifePodcast #StudentPilot #FlightTraining #PilotLife #AviationNews #AirportAdvocacy #Flying

He Took On the Entire System—and Won

For years, general aviation pilots have fought back against efforts to use ADS-B data to track and bill aircraft for airport operations. Few people have been more involved in that fight than Don Frano. In this episode of Runway Life Podcast, Don joins us to discuss the latest developments in the ADS-B billing battle, why recent victories may signal a major turning point, and what it took to bring national attention to an issue that impacts pilots across the country. Checkout Don's Channel:  https://youtube.com/@gawatchtower?si=1uyv-dg7C9V0RFG9

A UNANIMOUS WIN FOR PILOTS

Florida pilots and aircraft owners just received major news for general aviation. Both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate have unanimously passed legislation that halts the use of ADS-B data for airport landing fee billing. The bill now heads to the desk of Ron DeSantis to be signed into law. This move comes after growing concerns across the aviation community that ADS-B tracking data was being used to automatically bill pilots for airport landings, creating major privacy concerns and financial burdens for general aviation pilots.

Part 61 vs. Part 141 : What You NEED to Know

In this episode of Runway Life, Craig sits down with Pete Lankester, co-owner of First Landings Aviation [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0], for an in-depth, honest conversation about one of the biggest decisions a future pilot will make: Part 61 or Part 141 flight training? If you’re considering flight school — or already enrolled and wondering if you chose the right path — this episode breaks down the real-world pros and cons of each training structure. From flexibility and cost to syllabus structure, VA benefits, airline hiring perceptions, and training efficiency, Craig and Pete go beyond the textbook definitions and talk about what actually matters in today’s aviation industry.

Best Aviation Headsets for Student Pilots

In this episode of Runway Life, Craig sits down to break down one of the biggest purchases a new flight student will make—their aviation headset. From the legendary Bose A20 and A30, to Lightspeed Zulu, David Clark, and other Quiet Technologies headsets, we cover the real differences in price, comfort, noise reduction, and value so you can make an informed decision before spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars. Whether you’re just starting flight training or upgrading your gear, this video will help you understand: ✔️ ANR vs passive noise reduction ✔️ Comfort and fatigue on long flights ✔️ What instructors and airline pilots actually use ✔️ Price vs performance (what you REALLY get for your money) ✔️ The best headset for student pilots vs career pilots Aviation headsets aren’t just about comfort—they impact communication, safety, and learning efficiency. Craig shares real-world pilot insights to help you avoid common mistakes and pick the right headset for your flying journey. ⸻ 🛫 Subscribe to Runway Life for real pilot advice, training tips, aviation news, and behind-the-scenes airline and GA content. 👍 Like, comment, and share to help other pilots make smarter training decisions! Sponsored by: https://www.firstlandings.com/