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The Reider Report

The Reider Report

AvBrief.com 13 Episodes Aug 20, 2026

The Reider Report brings you real stories told by real pilots. Join host Rob Reider and guests every two weeks as they explore hard-won cockpit experiences and the vital lessons we learn when things don't go as planned. Authentic, collaborative, and educational—this is aviation storytelling for all pilots.

Episodes

A Nearly Failed Ferry Flight
A Nearly Failed Ferry Flight Aug 20, 2026 2569 Test pilot, retired rocket scientist, and award-winning air show performer Bob Carlton recounts the unforeseen travails of a cross-country ferry flight that brought to life lessons he’d only learned about in ground school. What should have been a leisurely 3-day trip turned into a 2-week odyssey due to severe icing — in VMC, ground fog, and the need for a sick sack.Sponsored by Avemco
Saratoga Surprise
Saratoga Surprise Aug 6, 2026 1994 A newly-minted, Atlanta-based instrument pilot on a business trip to northern Ohio encountered weather that included unexpected ice accumulation. It caused a loss of control that could have killed him and the five others aboard his Piper Saratoga. Doug Armstrong joins host Rob Reider to share what happened, why it happened, and what he learned from this event.Sponsored by Avemco Insurance
Incorrect Instrument Indications
Incorrect Instrument Indications Jul 16, 2026 2394 A pilot took off in his Columbia 400 and noticed that the airspeed and altitude numbers looked a little off. He managed to handle the discrepancy during the cruise portion of his flight but when he began his descent, the airspeed indicator said he was in excess of Vne. Things felt right but reconciling the differences were causing some problems. What did he miss?Sponsored by Avemco
Fifteen Thousand Hours and Still Learning
Fifteen Thousand Hours and Still Learning Jul 9, 2026 2191 It doesn’t matter how many hours you’ve logged — there’s still more aviation you haven’t seen or experienced. Join host Rob Reider and his guest, Mark Blois-Brooke, as Mark tells about a downwind landing attempt, a serious maintenance faux-pas in a Beech Baron, a student who messed up an engine failure test on takeoff nearly killing both aboard, and almost snap-rolling a Lear 45. Still le
Dead Stick and Almost Dead
Dead Stick and Almost Dead Jun 25, 2026 2800 CFI Dan Bass is today's guest as he relates how he almost lost his life because carbon monoxide poisoning rendered him unconscious as he was returning home from a day-long business trip. He also recounts an engine failure at 14,500 feet, and what he did right—and wrong—in handling this emergency. Both incidents resulted in good outcomes and provide valuable lessons to learn.Sponsored by A
An Arrow and a Stone Wall
An Arrow and a Stone Wall Jun 11, 2026 3443 A pleasure flight with co-owners of a Piper Arrow nearly turned deadly when the pilot realized he was too low to make a safe landing on an old grass field. But when he initiated the go-around, he heard a loud thump. He looked out at the left wing and the left flap was up! Asymmetrical flaps and a mangled left main gear made the plane nearly impossible to control. Guests Andrew Levison and
Confidence or Complacency?
Confidence or Complacency? May 28, 2026 1646 Twenty-one year-old Mason Rowe is the guest on this episode. He’s a flight instructor, has about 300 hours in Cessna Citations, and will soon join a major cargo airline to be type-rated in the Boeing 737. He recounts 2 stories of engine issues in a small plane that has caused him to reconsider how much to “trust” any airplane. The lessons learned include a warning about complacency when f
Why Do Those Houses Look So Big?
Why Do Those Houses Look So Big? May 14, 2026 2229 The crew of an Air National Guard C-130 Hercules was on a nighttime precision cargo drop practice mission. En route, they found themselves significantly lower in altitude than they should have been, putting their lives in jeopardy. What happened caused some changes in procedures and how missions were flown to that drop zone. Brigadier General Marcus Jannitto, the navigator on that flight,
The Killing Zone
The Killing Zone Apr 30, 2026 1657 Analytics - it’s an important word in almost every business. The same is true in aviation. On today’s episode, Rob Reider talks with Dr. Paul Craig, PhD, who shares some of the not-so-flattering statistics for pilots who have between 50 and 350 hours of flight time. He’s compiled thousands of accident reports and published his findings in a book called, “The Killing Zone.” He’ll also disc
ATC—Sequencing is the Scenario
ATC—Sequencing is the Scenario Apr 16, 2026 2253 Air Traffic Control in the USA is an extremely challenging job for the men and women who help manage nearly 50,000 flights daily in the U.S. alone. In the busiest airports, coordinating departures begins before any airliner pushes back from the gate. Joining host Rob Reider is retired JFK controller Dave Schoen, and he gives us a glimpse into the workings of ATC and how we as pilots can d
Attitude Check with Julie Boatman
Attitude Check with Julie Boatman Apr 1, 2026 2067 If you own an airplane, you’ve doubtless become very comfortable with the panel, whether it be steam gauges or glass. But if you fly an airplane with which you are less familiar, you’ve got a bit of catch-up to do to feel proficient in your scan. In today’s episode, Rob interviews a pilot who had some challenges in a Chinese airplane with a strange attitude indicator.Sponsored by Avemco
The Case of the Confounding Crosswind Component
The Case of the Confounding Crosswind Component Mar 19, 2026 1970 How many times have we jumped in an airplane for a short flight without doing complete flight planning? Most of the time there are no consequences. But what would you do if you thought you’d done due diligence in your planning and something changed en route? Divert? Go back to where you started? Or was there another option? Host Rob Reider discusses this cautionary tale with pilot Randy B

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