In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Preston Holland to break down the economics behind private aviation and why so many pilots, owners, and even high-net-worth individuals completely misunderstand how it actually works.

Preston shares how he built one of the most valuable audiences in aviation by sharing a peek behind the curtain of aircraft ownership, operating costs, and charter.

From NetJets and fractional ownership to the psychology behind why people choose to fly private, this conversation challenges the way most people think about cost, value, and decision-making in aviation.

In this episode:

- The biggest misconceptions about private aircraft ownership
- How NetJets became the dominant player in fractional aviation
- Why even ultra-wealthy individuals struggle to justify private flying
- Why “dollars per hour” is the wrong way to evaluate private aviation
- How Preston built a high-value audience through transparency
- The benefits of fractional ownership vs charter vs full ownership
- Why private aviation decisions aren’t purely financial
- The "empty leg" problem in charter and how to solve it
- How the industry actually works behind the scenes

About the guest:
Preston Holland is founder and president of Prestige Aircraft finance, cofounder of FastJets, cohost of The VIP Seat podcast, and author of the Private Jet Insider newsletter. He built a following of over 27,000 on Twitter/X sharing transparent pricing information about private jet ownership and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest players on his podcast.

You can find out more about Preston here:
https://prestigefinance.com/
https://www.thevipseat.com/
https://fastjets.com/
https://prestonholland.com/

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In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with former NASA engineer and Test Pilot School graduate Kate Gunderson to talk about what it actually takes to break into (and succeed in) one of the most competitive and misunderstood fields in aviation.

Kate shares her journey from student to engineer, the surprising culture of NASA, the challenges that test pilots face, and why the stereotype of what a career in engineering looks like is completely wrong. This conversation gives a behind-the-scenes look at the people building and testing the systems that keep aviation moving forward.

In this episode:

- What aerospace engineering actually looks like day-to-day
- The biggest misconceptions about becoming an engineer
- Why many people feel like they don’t “fit” the industry stereotype
- How young engineers are given real responsibility early in their careers
- How the landscape of space launches have changed
- The importance of honesty and accountability for flight test engineers and pilots
- Why small details are often what separate top performers
- Lessons from test pilot school
- Advice for students and aspiring engineers looking to break into the field

About the guest:
Kate Gunderson is a mechanical and aerospace engineer with experience in both government and private-sector aviation programs. She provided engineering support to a fleet of more than 20 aircraft at NASA's Johnson Space Center, flew hundreds of hours aboard two Gulfstream aircraft as NASA’s youngest Flight Science Officer aircrew member, and left her dream career at NASA for a full-ride fellowship at the National Test Pilot School in California. She holds a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master's in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Kate passionate about breaking down barriers in the field and helping guide others on the pathways into aviation and aerospace careers. She shares her journey on her website, https://katelyngunderson.com/, and her Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/theplanekate/

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In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Vanesa Miksa, a Human Factors engineer at Boeing and pilot, to break down the hidden science behind how pilots interact with aircraft and why many aviation accidents aren’t just “pilot error,” but systematic failures in disguise.

Vanesa shares how cockpit design, automation, and airspace systems are all built around human limitations, and what happens when those systems fail to account for how people actually think, process information, and make decisions under pressure.

From automation and ATC workload to confirmation bias and cockpit design flaws, this conversation dives into the real reasons mistakes happen in aviation and what can be done to prevent them.

In this episode:

- What “human factors” is and why it matters more than ever
- How poor system design can lead to “pilot error” accidents
- The role of human limitations in ATC workload and airspace congestion
- Why more technology can sometimes increase workload instead of reducing it
- How automation improves safety and when it can become dangerous
- The importance of “human in the loop” testing in aircraft design
- Common cognitive errors like confirmation bias and normalization of deviance
- Why complacency is one of the biggest threats in general aviation
- The debate around single-pilot cockpits and the future of automation
- How training, decision-making, and experience shape pilot safety outcomes

About the guest:
Vanesa Miksa is a Human Factors engineer at Boeing with a background in psychology and a Master’s degree in Human Factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is also a pilot and flight instructor, combining technical expertise with real-world flying experience to help design systems that align with human capabilities and limitations. Vanesa focuses on improving cockpit design, pilot interaction, and overall aviation safety through human-centered engineering.

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In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Russ Torgerson, a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and rescue swimmer whose career spanned decades of search and rescue missions at sea. Russ shares what it’s really like operating in environments where the weather, the ocean, and the mission itself can all push a crew to the limit.

From ship-based helicopter operations to moments where seconds meant the difference between disaster and survival, Russ walks through the realities of Coast Guard aviation and the responsibility that comes with launching into the unknown.

In this episode:
- What Coast Guard aviation actually does day-to-day
- The unique challenges of the Coast Guard's operational environment
- The importance of Crew Resource Management in high-risk environments
- The difference between Coast Guard aviation and other military flight communities
- Lessons learned from both great leaders and the leaders who got it wrong
- The emotional toll of losing friends in aviation
- What civilian and fixed-wing aviators can learn from Coast Guard helicopter operations

About the guest:
Russ Torgerson is a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot, C-130 pilot, and rescue swimmer with decades of experience flying search and rescue missions, maritime patrols, and ship-based helicopter operations. Throughout his career, Russ operated in some of the most demanding environments in aviation, working closely with rescue swimmers and flight crews to conduct lifesaving missions at sea. Russ is also a recipient of the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for superior performance of duty. Today, he shares lessons from leadership, aviation safety, and the realities of flying missions where the outcome is never guaranteed.

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