One of the aviation industry’s most popular podcasts, The Airplane Geeks, last week welcomed Flying magazine Editor-in-Chief Steve Pope to the show. Pope spent an hour engaging with the Geeks’ hosts, fueling passionate discussions about industry topics like United Airlines’ recent computer problems, tracking passengers moving through the airport, the search for MH370, ADS-B-capable satellites, the latest Mitsubishi MRJ delay, B-2 bombers flying a 30-hour mission and a tribute to the late astronaut Gene Cernan.
Pope proved to be a great guest on a show that tries not to take itself too seriously, talking light-sport aircraft, third-class medical reform and the new Garmin G1000 NXi avionics system. He also explained how Flying magazine’s new look, content, website and Enews product position the brand at the industry’s forefront. The Airplane Geeks’ audience heard Pope offer several excellent suggestions for anyone considering aviation journalism as a full-time or freelance career choice.
Pope learned to fly at age 15 in a Piper J-3 Cub at Trinca Airport, a small grass strip in northern New Jersey. He also worked as a line service professional at the 60th Street Heliport in New York City and for First Aviation at Teterboro Airport. After soloing at 16, he earned his private pilot’s license the following year and his instrument rating at age 18. Pope earned a journalism degree from the University of Maryland and completed an editorial internship with AOPA Pilot magazine before moving on to Aviation International News.
During his 15 years with AIN he became senior editor directing avionics and technology coverage, editor of Convention Publications and editor of Business Jet Traveler magazine. He joined the staff of Flying in 2010, becoming editor-in-chief in 2015.
