In this gripping episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with author Kevin Hazzard to explore his latest book, No One’s Coming—a real-life aviation thriller that puts you in the middle of one of the most daring air medical rescue missions in history.

Set against the backdrop of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the story follows a high-stakes race against time as two infected American aid workers must be evacuated from West Africa. With the clock ticking and the risks nearly unimaginable, a small, unconventional aviation company—Phoenix Air—is called upon to attempt what many believed was impossible: safely transport highly contagious patients across the globe.

Hazzard takes us inside the cockpit and behind the scenes of this unprecedented mission, where pilots, engineers, and medical teams pushed the limits of aviation, medicine, and courage. The result is a tense, cinematic account of innovation under pressure and the kind of aviation story you rarely hear—one where the stakes aren’t just high, they’re global.

In our conversation, we dive into the real events behind the book, the challenges of flying bio-containment missions, and what this story reveals about aviation’s critical role in global crisis response.

If you’re passionate about aviation, emergency response, or just love an incredible true story, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

👉 Grab your copy of the book here:
No One’s Coming: Hazzard, Kevin: 9781538783177: Amazon.com: Books

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In this special episode of Destination Aviation, Jeff takes you behind the scenes of his very first vlog — now live on our YouTube channel.

The journey starts briefly in Florida at the ACI-NA CEO meeting, where aviation leaders from across the country gathered to talk airports, innovation, and the future of our industry. From there, Jeff heads west to the desert for the high-energy, jet-fueled excitement of the Buckeye Air Fair in Arizona.

But this trip wasn’t just about airplanes. Along the way, Jeff explores the town of Buckeye, takes in some local flavor, and captures the travel experience that makes aviation more than just what happens on the runway.

If you’re someone who primarily listens to the podcast, this episode gives you a preview of what you can now see on our YouTube channel — air show action, travel moments, and the full visual experience from the Buckeye trip.

🎥 Be sure to check out our first official Destination Aviation vlog on YouTube and let us know what you think.

This is aviation — on the ground, in the air, and now on video.

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Why do billions of dollars in Gulf tourism and real estate marketing often fail to connect with American travelers?

In this episode of Destination Aviation, Jeff sits down with Rihab Abouzaki, a GCC–US advertising strategist who has spent more than two decades helping tourism boards, luxury travel brands, and real estate developers bridge the gap between the Middle East and Western audiences. With deep experience across the UAE and Gulf region—and now based in the United States—Rihab specializes in translating cross-border campaigns into strategies that actually influence traveler decisions. Her work reflects the importance of cultural understanding and authentic messaging when marketing across international audiences.

Rihab explains why traditional marketing metrics often fail to convert into real travel demand, how airline and tourism partnerships can shape traveler behavior, and why routing campaigns through the right media platforms and partners is critical to reaching US-based decision-makers. She also shares tactical insights into content strategy, targeting luxury and long-haul travelers, and how destinations can align with the way Western travelers actually plan trips.

Whether you work in aviation, destination marketing, airport management, or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at how global travel demand is influenced, this episode offers a practical look at what works—and what doesn’t—in cross-border tourism marketing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why GCC tourism campaigns often miss US travelers
• How airline partnerships influence destination demand
• Which media platforms actually drive Western travel decisions
• Practical strategies for marketing long-haul and luxury destinations
• How to translate—not just language—but cultural intent in global campaigns

Connect with Rihab Abouzaki

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rihab-abouzaki-80448322/

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