DeWayne Allen and Rob Wesley go behind the curtain on the communications ecosystem that keeps aircraft moving safely through crowded skies, especially during peak holiday travel. They connect the business of aviation comms (who pays, how it scales, and why modernization is accelerating) with the real operational flow of a flight, from clearance to taxi-in. The conversation also spotlights the next wave of complexity: integrating drones, BVLOS operations, and eVTOLs into shared airspace through digital infrastructure, UTM, and more automated, secure data-driven communications.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 - Holiday travel sets the stage: the “invisible” communications that keep aviation moving

01:39 - Newsreel kickoff: funding continuity, FAA modernization, and pressure from UAS and eVTOL growth

05:17 - The business of aerospace communications: market size, growth drivers, and who pays

07:20 - What the industry is really buying: safety, efficiency, and scalable growth

09:01 - Flight-by-flight architecture: clearance, ground, tower, TRACON, en route, approach, landing

17:18 - Standardization and shared language: ICAO phraseology, FAA protocols, and global operations

18:58 - Voice versus datalink: CPDLC/FANS, reduced congestion, improved routing, situational awareness

20:45 - Humans and technology together: staffing constraints, interoperability, upgrade economics

22:39 - The next airspace wave: UTM, detect-and-avoid, digital ID, and new revenue streams

23:53 - Major industry players and why investment continues

25:49 - Wrap-up: why modernization matters and the shift toward digital, automated communications

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DeWayne Allen on LinkedIn

Robert Wesley on LinkedIn

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Produced by NOVA