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Wichita, Kansas has been known as the "Air Capitol of the World" since the 1920s. Building aircrafts for the army and for the jet-set, the city is to airplanes what Detroit is to cars. But, after September 11th, new orders plummeted, and Wichita-based manufacturers cut over 15,000 jobs between 2001 and 2004. The latest blow to the industrial city came on Wednesday when Boeing announced plans to close its Defense, Space and Security facility.

Barbara Peterson, Conde Nast Traveler’s Senior Aviation Correspondent, discusses the trend of air traffic controllers falling asleep, problems with plane maintenance and planes losing their cabin roofs, rising airplane prices, last-minute canceled flights, and other aviation matters. She’ll also be answering questions from callers! If you have a question about air travel, call us at 646-829-3985!

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is taking steps to attract more international passengers to Stewart Airport in the Hudson Valley.

The Department of Homeland Security recently announced changes in its approach to passenger screenings at airports, in an effort to increase security after the failed bomb plot on Christmas Day. However, statistically, it is more likely that a terrorist would target a subway system or public buses than an airplane. And a week after two coordinated bombings on the Moscow subway, many cities are concerned about securing their surface-level public transportation systems. 

The Senate passed a $34.5 billion bill on Monday that will bring in GPS technology to replace radar. This is an attempt to help modernize our country’s dated air traffic control system. Science and aviation reporter Miles O’Brien explains the new system and why it's only happening now.

Today marks the 75^th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s successful flight from Honolulu to Oakland, California.She was the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific.  To help update the history of women in aviation we talk to another pioneer who has also participated in many firsts for women pilots: Major Nicole Malachowski is a senior pilot in the Air Force and just five years ago became the first woman to join part of the elite Thunderbird squad, also known as the Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron.