Destination Aviation
Love all things flying?
Industry veteran Jeff Miller is here to help you feel more connected to the skies.
Enjoy the friendliest of welcomes as Jeff takes you behind the news, shares tales from history and shares the stories that matter.
Got a question for Jeff? Get in touch on dapodcast85@gmail.com and he might just feature it on the show!
www.destinationaviation.org
Episodes
62 episodes
Episode 63 - Tanks to Tarmacs: George Sakas on Leadership, Service, and Aviation
In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with George Sakas of Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK) to talk about a career path that’s anything but ordinary. George shares his journey from serving in the U.S. Army—where he drove...
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Season 3
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Episode 63
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2:23:04
Episode 62 – Cleared for Silence
As 2025 comes to a close, this episode of Destination Aviation takes a step back — not just to reflect on the year, but to remember the airports that no longer appear on today’s charts.After a few opening updates and some behind-the-sce...
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Season 2
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Episode 62
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1:13:54
Episode 61 – From Politics to Planes: Sean White of Jet Access
In this episode of Destination Aviation, Jeff sits down with Sean White, Executive Vice President of FBO Development at Jet Access, whose career traces an extraordinary arc from the halls of Washington to the heart of general aviation....
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Season 2
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Episode 61
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1:45:27
Episode 60 - Look for the Arrow—Fuel Here, Think Safety Everywhere with Patrick Moylan
In this episode, Look for the Arrow—Fuel Here, Think Safety Everywhere, Jeff sits down with Patrick Moylan, Chief Safety and Quality Officer at West Star Aviation. Patrick brings more than 25 years of aviation safety and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 60
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2:23:25
Episode 59 - Garage-Level Aviation with Kyle Lewis
In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with Kyle Lewis, Regional Manager with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). When flight disruptions grounded our original plans, we didn’t let that stop u...
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Season 2
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Episode 59
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3:14:01
Episode 58 - Maria Romanick: Keeping Planes Moving and Dreams Rolling
In this episode of Destination Aviation, host Jeff Miller sits down with Maria Romanick, A.A.E., Operations and Maintenance Manager at Minot International Airport — and a pilot with a serious sense of adventure.Maria shar...
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Season 2
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Episode 58
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1:37:44
Episode 57 - Wright, Wrong, or Somewhere in Between: The Oldest Airport Debate
In this special on-location episode, host Jeff Miller takes listeners from the buzz of the NBAA-BACE convention floor in Las Vegas to the quiet grass fields where American aviation first took flight. The debate has lingered for more than...
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Season 2
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Episode 57
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44:03
Episode 56 - From Lesson Plans to Liftoff: Nate Ehlers and the Backseat Pilot Revolution
What happens when a pilot who’s flown everything from C-17s to United Airlines jets decides to reinvent how flight instructors teach? In this episode of Destination Aviation, Jeff Miller sits down with Nate Ehlers — founder of Backseat...
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Season 2
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Episode 56
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1:15:26
Episode 55 - The Sky Is the Road: Alaska’s Flying Tradition
In this episode of Destination Aviation, we head to Alaska — the Last Frontier — to explore its deep connection with aviation. From stories on the road to the daring history of bush pilots, we scratch the surface of how flying became A...
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Season 2
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Episode 55
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46:45
Episode 54 - Moon Child: A Veteran’s Flight Path with Anthony Dyer
Join us for a moving and insightful conversation with Anthony Dyer, retired USAF Tech Sergeant and author of Moon Child: The Roots and Wings of a USAF Combat Special Missions Aviator. In this episode, Anthony shares:His jou...
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Season 2
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Episode 54
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56:06
Episode 53 - Kevin Spitz: On the Mic
Episode 53 of Destination Aviation brings aviation engineer Kevin Spitz of Mead & Hunt on the mic. Kevin and I have a long-running, joking back-and-forth, so if you’re expecting a dry engineering lecture… think again. We d...
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Season 2
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Episode 53
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1:36:55
Episode 52 - Gary P. Mascaro: Executive On Loan
On this episode of Destination Aviation, former Scottsdale Airport Aviation Director Gary P. Mascaro shares his journey into aviation, leadership insights, and perspectives on the industry. And if the photo for this episode is any indication, w...
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Season 2
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Episode 52
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46:31
Episode 51 - Built to Bomb, Born to Haunt: The B-52 Story
On this episode of Destination Aviation, we dive into the unbelievable history of the B-52 Stratofortress – a bomber built to win the Cold War but somehow still flying today. From nuclear standoffs and near-disasters to ghost stories a...
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Season 2
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Episode 51
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45:08
Episode 50 – From Runways to Reels: Aviation Movies That Soar
On this milestone episode of Destination Aviation, I sit down with Nate Hahn, Executive Director of Evansville Regional Airport—and a true aviation movie aficionado. We dive into the skies of cinema, trading favorite aviation films, un...
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Season 2
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Episode 50
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1:50:24
Episode 49 – Lessons from the Admiral: Author Mark C. Fava
In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with author, aviation attorney, and retired U.S. Navy Captain Mark C. Fava for an inspiring conversation drawn from his book Lessons from the Admiral. With decades of...
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Season 2
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Episode 49
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1:11:48
Episode 48 - When the Host Becomes the Guest: Lauren Carter Interviews Jeff Miller
This week on Destination Aviation, the mic flips around as University of North Dakota aviation student Lauren Carter steps into the interviewer’s seat to put host Jeff Miller in the hot seat!Lauren, who is working toward her Bac...
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Season 2
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Episode 48
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1:17:13
Episode 47 - Voices for Aviation: Jenny Ann Urban & Randy Deberry on Industry Challenges and Change
In this engaging episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with Jenny Ann Urban and Randy Deberry from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). As passionate advocates for aviation businesses, Jenny and Randy share inside...
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Season 2
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Episode 47
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1:24:19
Episode 46 - Altitude & Advocacy: Part 2 with Alex Gertsen
In the second half of our engaging conversation on Destination Aviation, we continue our deep dive with Alex Gertsen, Sr. Director of Airport Advocacy and Vertical Infrastructure at NBAA. Picking up where we left off, Alex shares more ...
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Season 2
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Episode 46
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56:32
Episode 45 - Altitude & Advocacy: Part 1 with Alex Gertsen
In this first part of a two-part conversation on Destination Aviation, we sit down with Alex Gertsen, Sr. Director of Airport Advocacy and Vertical Infrastructure at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). From his early car...
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Season 2
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Episode 45
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1:21:31
Episode 44 - Skates to Gates: The Journey of Derek Martin
In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with Derek Martin, Executive Director of Erie International Airport, to explore his unique path through the world of aviation. From chasing pucks on the ice to managing one of Pennsy...
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Season 2
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Episode 44
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1:00:35
Episode 43 - Into Thin Air: The Hidden Danger of Hypoxia
When flying at altitude, oxygen isn’t just optional—it’s essential. In this episode of Destination Aviation, we explore the silent, often misunderstood threat of hypoxia—a condition that can render pilots incapacitated in minute...
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52:15
Episode 42 - From the Ground Up: Julie Curtis and the Rise of South Bend Air Service
In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with Julie Curtis of South Bend International Airport for a candid and engaging conversation about her journey into the aviation industry. Julie shares how she found her way into air...
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Season 2
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Episode 42
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1:12:50
Episode 41 – A Lifelong Love of Flight: Patrick Carreno’s Journey to the Captain’s Chair of DAL
In this episode of Destination Aviation, I sit down for a lively and insightful conversation with Patrick Carreno, the Director of the Dallas Airport System—which includes Dallas Love Field, Dallas Executive Airport, and the Dallas Ver...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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1:17:40
Episode 40 - Is Aviation Still Safe? A Candid Look Behind the Headlines
With recent aviation incidents making headlines, it's natural to wonder—just how safe is flying today? In this episode of Destination Aviation, we dive deep into the data and the real-world systems that keep our skies secure. From air ...
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Season 2
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Episode 40
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47:36
Episode 39 - Headwinds: Aviation Incidents, Etiquette, and Travel Tales
In this episode of Destination Aviation, we dive into the latest in aviation news, travel etiquette, and real-world flight experiences. From the debate over bare feet on planes to the critical moments leading to the crash of Delta Flig...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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55:51