This week we’re all over the place—in a good way. Bob’s fresh off a trip to Uzbekistan, which turns into a conversation about some of our old Russia flying days.

We get into what’s happening behind the scenes on the next Cockpit Casual, and tell a story about shutting down an engine in a 757 on the way into Guam.

Then we’re joined by Scottie Bateman—BA captain, filmmaker, and now author—to talk about his new book Jumbo and his path through aviation and media.

Find Scottie's latest book on Amazon UK (from anywhere) and check out the Video Pod on YouTube with some gross footage of Bob and Steve diving into some Balut in the Philippines (ya had to be there)...

Steve and Bob kick off the episode with an update on the rapidly evolving situation with Iran.

From there, they catch up on a particularly busy week at Nomadic Aviation Group, moving airplanes around the world and navigating the usual mix of logistics, maintenance quirks, and last-minute surprises that come with ferry flying.

In this week’s Side Schtick, the conversation takes a lighter turn as Steve and Bob debate the best—and worst—airport lounges they’ve encountered across decades of global travel.

Then the show shifts into a unique “On Aircraft” interview recorded from the cabin of a jet sitting on the ramp in Phoenix, just before departure for Shanghai. Nomadic pilot Pat Lewis, recently featured in the latest season of Cockpit Casual, joins the conversation to talk about his unconventional path into ferry flying—from his background as a musician to finding his way into the world of international aircraft delivery.

The episode closes with “Demons” by Pat’s band Mass Fear, available now on Spotify.

Episode 2 drops early as Bob and Steve head back into the skies for a packed week of flying.

We break down the early stages of the Iran conflict and what it actually means for civilian aviation — airspace closures, reroutes, risk assessments, and how professional flight crews and operators plan around geopolitical hotspots in real time. If you’ve ever wondered how airlines and ferry crews decide what’s safe (and what’s not), this is the inside look.

Then, in classic Cockpit Casual fashion, we pivot hard.

This week’s Side Schtick (thanks, Bob…) takes an unexpected turn into the strange world of aviation influencers on Instagram — the good, the bad, and the algorithm-driven absurd.

We close with an extensive listener Q&A session. You asked sharp questions — about careers, aircraft, and life on the road — and we gave honest answers.

Video version coming soon to the @CockpitCasual YouTube channel — schedule permitting. Both hosts are operating this week, so audio takes priority.

Strap in.