The Air Show – "On the Road Again"

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Shayr Media
Guests: Jon Ostrower (The Air Current), Brian Sumers (The Airline Observer), Brett Snyder (Cranky Flier)
Main Theme:
Jon Ostrower recounts his whirlwind month traveling for aviation reporting, with in-depth discussions on industry developments including Airbus’s A220-500 decision, Avelo’s Embraer order, the future of aerospace technology, and the persistent struggles with new-generation jet engines.

1. Jon’s Aviation Reporting Odyssey

Overview:
Jon has just wrapped up an intense 30-day travel period, spanning a dozen flights on three US airlines, adding new aircraft types and airports to his log, and experiencing cutting-edge in-flight connectivity tech.

• Jon’s Trip Recap:
  • First A321neo flight on United
  • Used Bluetooth connectivity on board
  • Experienced Starlink and SES in-flight Wi-Fi
  • Visited new airports: Albany, NY and Bentonville, AR
  • Endured "comically long taxi times at O’Hare" and enjoyed local airport food

Memorable Quote:

"Regional airline connectivity is in actually really good hands with these new technologies."
— Jon Ostrower [00:56]

2. Airbus’s A220-500: Stretching the Fleet

Key Points:

• Jon discusses a pivotal interview with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury at the US Chamber of Commerce Aerospace Summit.
  • Airbus is eyeing a 2026 decision on launching the A220-500, a stretch to about 180 seats.
  • The likely focus: short- to medium-haul capability (e.g., Minneapolis–Orlando), rather than long transcontinental range.
  • Customers like Delta and Air France appear to have influenced the direction over JetBlue’s vision.
  • A production rate ramp-up (target: 14 per month) is a prerequisite for the launch.

Industry Significance:

• Production ramp-up is essential for profitability and for the future of the A220 program.

Memorable Exchange:

B: "Rate 14. That means 14 airplanes a month, right?"
A: "Yeah, yeah, that's the monthly production rate for the airplane and they're at about half of that right now."
[03:32–03:35]

3. Avelo’s Embraer E195-E2 Deal: Betting on Stability

Deep Dive:

• Jon broke the scoop on Avelo’s order for 50 Embraer E195-E2 jets—an effort to stabilize Avelo’s ultra-low-cost carrier business model through more efficient, lower-cost jets.
• Embraer provides substantial debt financing as part of the deal, helping Avelo weather periods of weak demand.

Skepticism & Strategy:

• Brett and Brian remain skeptical of Avelo’s long-term strategy; New Haven is the only major success so far.
• Brett: “I'm still not sure where they're going with this... it's just a big question mark to me.” [06:43]

4. UP Summit: The Next Wave of Aerospace Innovation

Jon’s Report:

• UP Summit in Bentonville, AR, brings together entrepreneurs and investors for a wild showcase of futuristic aviation and transportation technologies—think “Davos meets Oshkosh.”
  • Demos included single-seat electric aircraft, drag racing, P-51 flybys, and outrageous startup concepts.
  • Notable: a company pitching a satellite constellation to shine sunlight on a 6,000-acre area at night.

Subtext & Industry Dynamics:

• The geopolitics of US-China competition in innovation is a running theme.
• The event's presentations highlight both practical tech (improved vehicle batteries) and “frothy” ideas unlikely to reach market.

Notable Quote:

"If you had told me that my 7 year old organized this event, I absolutely would have believed you. It was wild."
— Jon Ostrower [07:52]

5. Technology, Hype, and the Realities of Aerospace Startups

Focus:

• Brett asks if much of the innovation is just “Silicon Valley tech bullcrap, vaporware, whatever...” [12:34]
• Jon acknowledges: A lot is overhyped, many projects will die or be bought for their IP, but some will succeed (Beta Technologies cited as a real-world example).
• A distinctly American optimism, for better or worse, permeates these efforts.

Memorable Quote:

"The bigger the goal, the bigger the fundraiser can be and eventually reality has to take hold."
— Jon Ostrower [12:43]

6. Business Aviation Advances & Laminar Flow

Discussion:

• The launch of Auto Aerospace’s Phantom 3500, a windowless, super-midsize business jet, touted for natural laminar flow (better aerodynamics, less fuel).
• Jon notes that breakthrough tech alone isn’t enough—certification & industrialization are make-or-break factors.
• Success stories like HondaJet needed a major leap to differentiate.

7. Jet Engine Woes: Durability, Maintenance & Airline Frustration

In-Depth Explainer:

• Jon visits GE Aerospace’s research hub in upstate NY, learning about the industry-wide pain from new-generation jet engines:
  • Gains in fuel efficiency have been offset by higher maintenance and quality issues across all major OEMs.
  • Harsh environments like the Middle East accelerate turbine blade wear.
  • GE is replicating desert dust to perfect coatings and cooling channels as minute as "tens of human hair thicknesses."
  • New fixes, such as upgraded turbine blades, aim to “double time on wing” (e.g., from 4,000 to 8,000 cycles in harsh conditions) and restore operator confidence.

Economic and Operational Stakes:

• Upgrades need to be affordable and reliable so airlines don't face spiraling, unpredictable costs.
• Airlines demand solutions, not excuses—maintenance contracts have been far more costly than predicted.

Memorable Quote:

"If you don't have a spare engine ready to swap in, it's a bad day."
— Jon Ostrower [24:19]

8. Upcoming Events and Final Banter

Looking Forward:

• Jon is now preparing for the Washington DC Aerospace Event (civil & defense aerospace focus) and the Wings Club Gala in New York.
• Teases a big interview at the Gala:

  "We're supposed to address the person we're interviewing as Sir Paul McCartney supplementary type certificates. That's all I'm saying."
  — Jon Ostrower [27:48]

Light-Hearted End:

• The trio jokes about bringing back antique JT8 engines and the nature of hero worship in aviation journalism.

Key Timestamps & Segments

• [01:53] — Jon’s month on the road, early insights
• [02:38] — Airbus A220-500 launch prospects and market dynamics
• [04:28] — Avelo’s Embraer E195-E2 order and business rationale
• [07:52] — UP Summit: insane demos and political undercurrents
• [10:20] — The promise and limitations of the Phantom 3500 jet
• [16:34] — Deep-dive into GE’s efforts to solve engine durability
• [20:11] — GE’s proprietary dust and technical fixes for turbine blades
• [22:31] — Economic implications for airlines and OEMs
• [26:23] — Future travel, DC aerospace event, previewing Wings Club Gala

Notable Quotes

• "Every time I have trips like this, I kind of come away having a newfound respect in how hard it is to make this whole thing tick." — Jon [01:53]
• "This is a huge swath of the US economy... trying to rev itself up into the next generation of technology." — Jon [09:33]
• "There has been a real aversion to the cost and expense that comes along with that [engine problems]... fundamentally, I think stepping back from all this, GE Pratt roles need to restore confidence that new technology can work in this business." — Jon [24:19]
• "Let's bring back the JT8s and call it a day." — Jon [26:07]

Summary Tone

Candid, occasionally irreverent, with a mix of awe, skepticism, and inside-baseball industry analysis.

Recommendation:
This episode is a can’t-miss for anyone following the business side of aviation. Full of firsthand reporting, technical breakdowns, honest skepticism, and some fun banter, it’s a clear window into both the promise and pitfalls of airline innovation.