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Apr 24 2012

How Air Traffic Control Works

39 min 7 movies discussed
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You know how when you fly in an airline you usually don't die? You can thank the battalion of air traffic control professionals who studiously track every moment of your flight to ensure its safety. Learn all about this unsung field with Chuck and Josh.

AI Summary

Ever wondered how airplanes safely navigate the skies without constantly crashing into each other? Josh and Chuck take you on a fascinating journey through the complex world of air traffic control, following your flight from takeoff to landing through multiple handoffs between different controllers and airspace zones. They explain how this intricate system of radar controllers, flight plans, and communication keeps thousands of aircraft moving safely through U.S. airspace every day, plus they dive into the dramatic 1981 air traffic controllers' strike that changed everything.


Movies Discussed

Airplane!
Airplane!
1980 1h 28m
★ 7.3
"Well, Airplane. Yeah, of course. Classic. Lloyd Bridges. — Mentioned as another good air traffic control movie when discussing films related to the topic" — Chuck
Airport
Airport
1970 2h 17m
★ 6.5
"Oh, what about all the real airport movies? Oh, sure. Yeah. Airport 70, airport 75, 77. — Referenced as part of a series of airport-themed movies when discussing aviation films" — Josh
Apollo 13
Apollo 13
1995 2h 20m
★ 7.5
"They look like Ed Harris in Apollo 13. — Used to describe what air traffic controllers look like, comparing them to Ed Harris's character" — Josh
Best in Show
Best in Show
2000 1h 30m
★ 6.9
"No, from Best in Chill. — Referenced when discussing where Chuck got his 'What?' catchphrase from Fred Willard" — Chuck
Bull Durham
Bull Durham
1988 1h 48m
★ 6.6
"It's like a bold Durham. Emily was just watching that today in her sick bed. — Briefly mentioned in passing during a conversation about movies" — Josh
Pushing Tin
Pushing Tin
1999 2h 4m
★ 5.9
"We're speaking of the 1999 Mike Newell flick with Billy Bob Thornton and John Cusack — Used as an example of a movie about air traffic controllers to introduce the episode topic" — Josh
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
2026 1h 48m
★ 7.0
"I would say, yeah, it was probably my decision to leave ER and to walk away from $27 million dollars. — Quote from Brooke Shields' podcast ad about life's pivotal moments"

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