Do you like planes? Do you fly planes? Have you ever listened to air traffic control? Have you ever used the services of air traffic control? Do you have hundreds of hours to burn listening to a podcast? Do you love ATC? Woah!!!! maybe I’m getting carried away with that last one 😉, but if you answered yes to any of the rest of these questions, you need to listen to Opposing Bases. You’ll fill your iceberg with flying penguins (ok, maybe I’m stretching this analogy?); you’ll be a better user of the NAS; you’ll laugh; you’ll cry (errr, well, maybe); and you’ll definitely end up going all the way back to the beginning, ignoring RH’s peas that you not, and you’ll listen to every last minute of the ABSOLUTE BEST podcast ever made. Signed, SKF. Hopefully a future patron.

I’m celebrating 350 days of aviation sobriety with the Opposing Bases podcast! Hi…. I’m Pap Abravo & I was addicted to ignorance (pausing while the group replies “Hiiiii Pap!”)… I first obtained a pilot certificate around the turn of the century (this century, not last century). Like many others, I was addicted to (and often intoxicated by) my own ignorance & didn’t know it…. After years of flying occasionally, and without much thought to my lack of knowledge, a friend (we’ll call him Romeo Mike) asked me if I’d heard of the Opposing Bases Podcast. Sighing to myself, I gave a half-hearted reply “ummm, I don’t think I have.” With a sense of denial, I thought to myself “I don’t have time for another podcast in my life, but that nagging feeling that I should follow the advice of a trusted friend & fellow aviator persisted……. So, I took a chance & listened to an episode. Immediately, something like scales fell from my eyes… My ears were opened & my awareness awakened! Colors seemed brighter & more brilliant! Sounds were crisp & clear! Fragrances filled the atmosphere!!! What was happening to me!? I began to see, hear & feel things pertaining to aviation that I had never observed!!! It was ignorance leaving my body! I was being HEALED!! My iceberg began to build at a dramatic rate, and penguins started to populate the previously nonexistent and unoccupied spaces! I owe a debt gratitude to my sponsors, Mr. Hotel & Mr. Phagolf (in meetings we refer to them as RH & AG). These two are bastions of aviation!!! A dynamic duo of the NAS, they use humor, intuition, knowledge, practical experience & something called the Sven Dee Jaun Tin (or maybe it’s 7110…?) to eradicate the toxins of ignorance, and bolster their listeners census of spheniscidaes (flightless aquatic birds)! With my new found insight, I have even been able to sponsor another fellow aviator (DZ)!!! So, whether you’re a flyer or not…, If you’re not sure whether you TOO, are afflicted by ignorance, come on in & behold a life change! And, possibly even a life-SAVING experience! Don’t be fearful! We change our identities (Pap is not my real name)…. We use our initials, so no one will know who we really are! You’ll hear about EFB’s and FMS’s… LPV’s and ILS’s…. No one will be “with you”…. We don’t use “fish finders” or the letter “K”…. And, we all have the obvious awareness that birds exist “on and in the vicinity of planet Earth”, so there’s no need to say it…. You’ll quickly be put to ease in this community. You’ll be recovering while not even knowing you were sick! This informative podcast is filled with details presented in a thoughtful & engaging way, that hijack the listener’s interest (be sure to squak 7500). Regardless of your skill or experience level, regardless of your depth of interest in aviation, these guys will capture your attention more efficiently than the localizer! You’ll find yourself reprioritizing your day to catch the latest musings. To AG & RH…. A sincere thank you for an incredible source of weekly education! Sincerely, SGAC Patron PB P.S. Want to know what an SGAC is….? You’ll have to listen.

This show is for the pilots done in a way that any die hard aviation geek can enjoy. They have somehow taken the absurd world of abbreviations and acronyms and made it even more enjoyably absurd. RH and AG are wildly amusing, brutally hilarious, and you will get the zoomies as you prepare to jump into your bug smashers, fast movers, or screensavers. If you dream of growing wings, being an airborne DJ or wowing your friends with useless information about the NAS then this is a show for you. -Patron GNR-

Did you know penguins mate for life? Neither did I! Until I started looking up fun penguin facts to write a review about an aviation podcast……. shortly followed by an in depth evaluation of my life and what lead me to this point. Hosts AG and RH’s crooning, robotic voices deliver in-depth and important aviation knowledge on a weekly basis that makes everyone safer, more knowledgeable pilots. The hosts’ humor is perfectly paced and keeps some of the less enthralling topics from being coma inducing. The information I gleaned from the podcast was invaluable to my instrument rating, made me more comfortable talking to controllers for my private, and has helped me have a much greater understanding of the NAS overall for commercial onward. Wether you are a 0 time student pilot or 20,000 hour airline pilot, you have something to gain by giving this podcast a listen. Thank you AG and RH for being assets to the aviation community. Your contributions are appreciated more than you know. Patron JP

I waited way too long before I started listening to this podcast and like many others, wish I had found out about it sooner. I know it certainly would have been a huge asset during my Instrument training in 2022, but can guarantee I will take full advantage of it while working on future certificates & ratings. Many CFI and CFII listeners have noted they will be integrating this show as required listening, and I can certainly see why. The only benefit which getting a late start has provided is having a large catalog of unplayed episodes to binge during the week while also keeping current with the weekly releases. The interactive nature of the show is one of several aspects that make it so great, and have gotten to hear many questions answered that I didn't even know I had. You will subconsciously start to pick up vocabulary not usually taught in a standard flight training curriculum, but will undoubtedly be helpful in understanding the other side of the mic. One of my favorite episodes to date has been "OB 275: Ice Cold Vectors" where the mechanics of how Vectors to Final for an ILS approach are discussed, limitations on the controller side, as well as terminology such as "Approach Gates" introduced that were not taught during flight training (nevertheless great to know for a more thorough understanding of the NAS). I'll step back and get my Round Up though before I get too into the weeds…Still working backwards from OB 246. Thanks both for all you do, and keep up the great work. Huge fan of the show. Patron JK based at TTA

Hey dad From: Zippy

Because AG and RH read these reviews aloud on their show, I'm going to make them work for this 5 star rating by including a selection of difficult words for them to stumble over: Onomatopoeia Sesquipedalian Schadenfreude Anathema Ignominious All jokes aside, I have learned so much from this show, and these guys have been at my side (or at least in my ears) as I worked my way through my private pilot and instrument ratings. Thank you so much for the laughs, groans, and eye rolls over the years, and looking forward to the next 300 episodes! RT, from underneath the sourdough bravo

I was convinced I didn’t like podcasts… until I gave Opposing Bases a listen. Hosts RH and AG manage to strike the perfect blend of education, humor, and the occasional soap-box tirade, taking the often sleep-inducing lessons found in the endless books of rules and regulations and transforming them into the highlights of my week. As a private pilot working on my instrument rating, OB has helped me become a substantially more competent, safe, and confident pilot. They give invaluable insight into what’s happening on the other side of the mic, and always manage to teach me things about myself I never knew, such as the lives and habits of the “penguins” in my brain… I implore you to support them in whatever way you can, through your listenership and Patronage, so we can keep this show running and ourselves learning from our gracious hosts’ experiences and perspectives. With many thanks, Patron SDC from heart of the Big Apple Bravo

Please forgive me aviation fathers for I have sinned. I have enjoyed opposing bases for well over a year now I've yet to become a Patreon. I have said 50 hail FAR's and paid my Pentance via PayPal. This show hands down in the best /aka most entertaining aka informative aviation show in the podcast space. I am slowly (at least 2 episodes a day) working my way through the catalog. I have gained valuable knowledge through listening to the podcast and am no longer intimidated to ask/ question ATC. The hosts have brought a common sense approach to the faa regulations and a peek behind the curtains in the mythical world of triad. which I'm guessing, is nestled between Narnia and the lost city of Atlas. Thank you again for the informative podcast. AT

I’ve been listening to the OB podcast for better than two years now. I’m an aviation business owner and ATP that does regular contract work. I learned about OB from another pilot when at recurrent training. The hosts are knowledgeable and entertaining. I am constantly picking up new information and the podcast makes my airport commute fly by. If you’re looking for the best aviation podcast available right now, you’ve found it!

Embark on a whimsical journey through the mythical Triad where tower dwellers launch short term memory penguins at humans in the sky in an effort to keep airplanes from touching. On this journey, you will meet an elf who translates an ancient language spoken by overloads who constructed the airspace we are so privileged to enjoy. After listening to this podcast, I was able to pass an instrument check ride with ease in just 2 1/2 months and cannot thank RH and AG enough for their contributions to my iceberg. -AB from the forever crosswind delta, under the mile high bravo

Patron JAC from the untowered colorful pole airport just outside (but under the TRSA) of the soaring capital of America delta. I came across this podcast in December of 2022 as a low time student and have been listening ever since. The docile tones of AG and RH will quickly draw you in for more; somehow they hypnotized me into removing most of my other podcast subscriptions. Based on the early episodes I listened to, starting around 257, I was led to believe Penguins played an integral role in this Podcast from the beginning, I was bamboozled. I ignored their advice and decided to start back at episode 1 in the hunt for the genesis of the Penguins. In the hunt I crammed so many penguins on the iceberg that the “genesis of ice water chickens” penguin had slipped off the berg and was flailing in the icy water for its life (he had been on the berg so long he must have forgotten how to swim - or fly - they are technically birds, right?). I was suddenly alert when I heard AG mention penguins falling of his iceberg in episode 92. But that was it - no elaboration, no comment by RH, nothing. I was sure the next episode would have a question or feedback about the penguins… but alas, nothing. It was not until episode 198 that the Penguins reappeared on the show and we got a full explanation from AG. A few notes: -I don’t understand how anyone can listen in 1.5 speed. I also don’t want to rush running out of episodes to listen to -I don’t think I can go back to listening to the radio during my commute. -The early patron horn was, well… let's just say that was the awkward teenage years. My wife overheard the horn go off several times in quick succession and immediately asked me “what the PENGUIN are you listening to?” (Highlight in BLUE? too late AG read this anyhow… Substitute penguin for any colorful word of your choosing). -When watching a live you will be too distracted by the chat room and BINGO to actually comprehend anything they are talking about. -I recommend watching a video of AG and RH before forming a picture of them in your head based only on their voices…. They will be significantly younger and thinner than what you picture. In all seriousness this show has been great. It has taught me a lot, helped me improve my radio communications and not be afraid of the radio, and kept me thinking about aviation during several months long flying lapses. Keep up the great work and I hope to meet you both someday.

I don’t subscribe to podcasts, I don’t do Patreon, I’m a casual listener to many shows… EXCEPT Opposing Bases. I both subscribe and pay for this show because it’s that good and important to me. If you are serious about flying (and you should be if you are purposely leaving the surface of the earth), this is a fantastic listen every week. It’s a shame that the first couple hundred hours of my flying was shrouded in mystery regarding ATC as I had not discovered this show. The next couple hundred hours were so much better having them on board, practicing what they teach. I do consider them pseudo instructors, maybe virtual mentors is better. In any event, they are the only show I have ever felt compelled to electively pay because the value is that good.

Gentlemen, I’m a near-checkride student pilot based at a Delta airport under the western shelves of the Big Apple Bravo. Once the proverbial “stick-wiggling” phase of my training gave way to mainly procedures, regulations, navigation and communication, I noticed that much like learning a language, there is no substitute for immersion. Since I can only fly at most a couple of days a week, OB has been an invaluable way for me to keep living in aviation world, hearing the locals speak the dialect, even when family and work demand my return to earth. It’s smoothed my training immensely, and helped my interaction with ATC. For both simple things like “what on earth is a ‘local’ controller” or more, shall we say, empathetic ones like “why am I still hurtling downwind in the pattern and about to run into this hill? I wonder if this trainee controller has forgotten I’m here”, OB has been terrific. Thanks for the podcast and all the best for the new year. I look forward to reporting my successful checkride very soon. -GFHD

I am a non-pilot aviation afficionado who learned of Opposing Bases Air Traffic Talk from another long-established aviation podcast. The two hosts, seasoned air traffic controllers and commercial pilots, bring the perfect balance of wit and wisdom to the show. Ignoring the fact that they have funny names ( who names their kids Alpha Golf and Romeo Hotel?), these guys provide a cornucopia of information to pilots of all experience levels and non-pilot av geeks like myself. Whilst I wouldn’t endorse them as vocabulary tutors, their knowledge of, and contribution to, the National Air Space is invaluable. They end every show with some with a discussion of how to keep your junk free off gunk and funk using your sack or something like that. Listen and you’ll figure it our. Five stars, keep up the great work.

I have been listening to Opposing Bases since the beginning (at 1x speed) and can say that it is the most informative and entertaining podcast you’ll find in the National Airspace System. OB’s hosts, codenamed AG and RH, answer our questions about Air Traffic Control, flying, procedures, incidents, confusing situations, and more. You name a subject in aviation, you can either find an episode where it was discussed or ask yourself! Be the change you want to see in the world! Some suggestions on where to start: - Episode 1. RH will tell you to start later than this because of some audio reasons that he’s already fixed. So why not get a chuckle as our hosts say they can cover all of air traffic in 10 episodes while you watch the Penguin Saga unfold from the beginning. Priceless. - Obstacle Departures (Two Bonus Episodes near OB160) Even if you don’t fly in the mountains or aren’t an instrument pilot (try both, it’s fun!), the breakdown into these sometimes complicated procedures is great knowledge to have. - Lost Comms (OB278) A scenario based (the FAA loves those) dive into lost communications in IMC conditions. I won’t spoil it, you’ll have to listen for yourself. A quick plug for Patreon and the live chat room too. The live show is a fantastic time where we occasionally play a game that I can’t name or the Rules Committee will yell at me.

Your instructor, pilot examiner, favorite comedian, neighbor, spouse or cat don’t hold a candle to this podcast’s ability to translate the endless books of aviation regulation to practical application. The humble hosts go out of their way not to sensationalize events. OB has attracted a thoughtful and good natured group of listeners that provide profound insight into the interworking of the aviation world. Prepare to laugh and learn. Leave your pretense at the door and start listening today – you won’t be sorry.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules to make this much needed podcast!! I left the regional airlines in 2012 to change sides of the radar scope as a center controller and it didn't take long to realize there was a large disconnect about what goes happens on both sides of the radar. This podcast is exactly what is needed to bridge that disconnect! RH and AG do an excellent job at explaining what goes on in the background in the atc world through real world examples sent in by listeners. Each episode is full of valuable knowledge and every listener should be able to walk away from having learned something, no matter if you have 10 hours or 10,000. Even though they like to poke fun at us center guys (no offense taken 🤣) they are a huge asset to aviation safety and I wish this podcast had been around when I started my flight training over 20 years ago! Congrats on over 300 episodes!

As a student pilot, I am always looking for aviation podcasts to listen to, whether that be the a PG show, or the squawk ident podcast cast this one is definitely my favorite. I very much enjoy that the information even from the first episode is still relevant today. (Unless there is a rule change) this podcast is funny, and very informative. Even if you are not a pilot, this is something that will make your day a lot more enjoyable, and grow your knowledge in the NAS. Also for some reason people are penguins… or penguins are people… I haven’t quite figured it out yet. stay safe. SJS

Two years ago when I earned my Private Pilot Certificate, I thought I was being given a license to fly. As my DPE signed the certificate and handed it to me, though, he told me that I was now in possession of a “license to learn.” In that moment I didn’t fully comprehend how right he was! All it took to convince me was starting IFR training a few months later, and thankfully that was about the time I discovered this brilliant podcast! The hosts, RH and AG, both controllers and pilots themselves, make this ongoing learning both practical and enjoyable! Every week they skillfully peel back the many layers of complexity of the NAS, helping pilots of every stripe more fully understand how all the pieces fit together and making us better, safer participants in the use of our nation’s airspace in the process. The best part? We get to laugh along with the hosts and become part of a community they’ve built called Opposing Bases as they invite and respond to questions and feedback from all of us. This podcast should be listed in the FAR/AIM as required listening to maintain currency and competence for all pilots and controllers! Who knew it could be this fun?!? Give it a try… we’ll ALL be better for it! — Mike Juliet Bravo

How many careers can RH and AG juggle? I've lost count after their... third, fourth endeavor? On the funnier side of things, I'm convinced they're playing a voice-swap prank on us; it feels like they've sneakily exchanged vocal cords. But jokes aside, I've absorbed so much wisdom from these two. Thanks to them, I'm now a slightly above-average pilot soaring over LaLa land, expertly executing DME arcs and transitioning from a VOR approach to an ILS landing in IMC conditions, all without ruffling SoCal approach's feathers more than once a day. Crushing it! So, tune in, kick back, and prepare for a few laughs while learning something on every episode (maybe). 👍🏻

As a relatively new pilot and current instrument student, I have gotten so much from the wisdom (and good humor) of hosts AG and RH. Using their metaphor of penguin brain cells exiting iceberg gray matter, I think my sadly small-and-shrinking iceberg has seen a penguin population explosion from the podcast’s great insights (from controllers and pilots alike) into the plumbing of the NAS. It seems that controllers are people, too! Whether a newbie or a grizzled veteran of the skies, you will benefit greatly from listening to this podcast. And you’ll have fun while learning. Delta Romeo Foxtrot

I stopped flying GA in 1985 but never lost the bug. In 2018 I discovered this podcast and became a regular listener. One day I realized that all my non-flying penguins had left the iceberg--replaced with ones that could fly, and I began to wonder if I could do the same. Two years ago I got current, and a few days ago passed my instrument checkride. This podcast is *the* place to learn because these guys have the perspective of both controller and pilot. So if you're flying curious, whether as a hobby, profession, or passenger, this podcast should be at the absolute top of your list. Take a listen but be prepared to want to go to the airport and start flying, and then over to Patreon to support these guys. It's the best deal out there.

I’m a pilot (little known provision of the Federal Aviation Regulations, all pilots are required to inform people around them within 30 seconds of their status as a pilot … is it the same for controllers?), and I’ve been listening to Opposing Bases for a few months now, mostly in the hope that my pilot friends will think I’m extra cool, and also for the laughs and the inside baseball (inside TRACON?) stories. However I have been troubled by my non-compliance with one particular part of the FARs, namely 14 CFR 91.123, which states that pilots (did I mention I’m a pilot?) must always comply with the instructions of wand-waving air traffic controllers, who in this case make it clear on every episode that all listeners must submit a written report of their five-star rating. So, after filing an ASRS to obtain forgiveness from the FAA, I am finally submitting my five star review. In all seriousness, cannot say enough good things about AG & RH’s musings on this podcast. There’s something to learn for every level of aviation enthusiast, they weave in enough humor to keep it entertaining and not dry, and maybe most importantly, they clearly have a good time putting it together. Keep it up guys, we love ATC.

Smiling as I think back to the first few episodes I listened to. It was January 2022 and I didn’t understand the intro, why they were talking about their kid’s art projects (no glitter in the house is a good rule), or just how far I would fall into this amazing show…. RH and AG are both pilots and Air Traffic Controllers. They have general aviation, military, helicopter, little fixed wing, and big jet airliner experience from flight instruction through training newbie air traffic controllers. They are also humans. Their expertise and humanity were the reason I’d switch from formal IFR training audio to this podcast when the going got tough. I finished my IFR rating this summer and am almost through working through the back catalog of this amazing show. Start with the most current, but know that you’ll be heading back to episode 1 in no time, looking for an excuse to take an hour walk or a long drive.

The requirements for an awesome podcast: 1. Information MUST be presented in a memorable and entertaining way. 2. The hosts MUST NOT be so full of themselves that they think they are the point of the show. 3. The hosts TOGETHER must have an honest and genuine chemistry that draws the listener in and leads him or her to listen that much more closely. Oppositing Bases easily checks all three of these boxes. Pilots, from students to ATP's are guaranteed to find something in each episode that makes them a better and safer aviator (or double your money back). As far as hosts RH and AG are concerned: Each of them is a total ROCK STAR, but has no idea that he is, which is so refreshing in today's "influencer," "look-at-me, social media wasteland. Together, they care so much about their listeners that they always tell us the truth, but are never sarcastic or condescending. And in doing all of this, it is obvious that they are also having a really good time themselves in creating each well-presented episode. Just listen to one example, and my experienced guess is that you will absolutlely love it, and will want more and more Opposing Bases instruction and fun.

By far the most entertaining podcast about aviation and ATC interactions, and is my favorite podcast of all time. I am currently finishing up my private and my brother (IFR rated pilot) turned me on to it and said it is a must listen. AG and RH keep it fresh and give informative and entertaining insights to the mystical world of ATC while demystifying the boogy man in the tower. Keep up the great work and congrats on the 300 episode mark! BK

Absolutely fantastic show. You will learn about the strange habits of migrating mind-penguins, AG’s home repairs, and oh yeah air traffic! For anyone with even the slightest bent towards aviation I highly recommend. You will learn so much more about how the National Airspace System (NAS) works than anywhere else. And become a better citizen of the NAS if you apply the concepts discussed. The guys and gals in your headset are there to help, not hurt. While they are certainly not a replacement for a good CFI, RH and AG are a very beneficial supplement. Like fiber in your diet. Or prune juice. Except without the messy side effects. Hit subscribe to be graced by the sultry tones of the Click and Clack of aviation. Keep up the good work guys!

This is my favorite podcast to relax with while squawking 1200 five hundred feet above my closest Bravo’s airspace and between practicing for my Wookie audition on the guard frequency. Five stars, and a Brasher warning for anyone who disagrees! RH and AG have joined the ranks of history’s great duos: Penn and Teller, Siskel and Ebert, Hillary and Norgay, Watson and Crick, Click and Clack, Johnny and June, Bert and Ernie - the list can go longer but I’m trying to keep this review shorter than my airport’s list of NOTAMs for unlit towers. A must listen for pilots who want to be better citizens of the NAS, and for controllers who spend precious ATIS time to inform me that there are birds, yes, BIRDS in the vicinity of the airport. Lima Charlie

I love your podcast!

This podcast is amazing. As a very recent CPC at a fairly busy level 6 delta this podcast has helped me keep pushing through. This is my 4th facility, 3rd tower, 1st FAA facility. Wow does FAA training hit different. AG and RH do such a great job speaking to both sides of the pilot/controller relationship. This podcast has helped me transition from my slow east contract life to the FAA life. Thanks for all you do guys.

As a (current) student pilot I developed an insatiable craving for aviation content, both informative and entertaining (separate categories). This podcast has ended up being both. I kept hearing references to OB from other pilots and from other aviation media sources and honestly, I procrastinated in listening because frankly, I assumed that it would be a bit over my head as a student, and as a result boring. I tuned into an episode about a month ago and now am totally hooked. As a VFR student, I would say 95% of the subject matter I understand, and the remaining 5% I am glad to have exposure to, to expand the boundaries of my awareness. Within the first week of listening, I changed some simple radio procedures I had been doing, and now am way more confident and willing to speak with ATC. Pilots, controllers and av aficionados of all types will benefit from listening. It is also quite entertaining, although I don’t get the people that listen at faster speeds, I personally find the smooth sound of the robots speaking to be quite delightful. Keep up the great work. Bravo Hotel Bravo

Remember that time on Car Talk when Tom and Ray talked about the time they found some “free” sheets of plywood and put them on top of Tom’s 1980s station wagon? Then when Tom was driving home on a well-known highway under the Beantown Bravo, he had to stop short and the sheets of plywood slid off the roof, down the hood, and sheared off the front trim of his car? And then the two hosts cackled on broadcast radio for a solid 15 seconds? And you nearly crashed your car because you were laughing so hard that tears were streaming down your face? That’s this show, except they’re talking about ATC. Don’t fly like my brother!

Super Powerful Maestros of the Sky Symphony, Alpha Charlie Echo here. I just wanted to say thanks for such a great show. I started my flight training under the South West (geographical region, not the airline). "Rising from the Ashes" , aka “burning bird” Bravo back in 2002, and immediately fell in love with Flying. By the fall of 2003 I had earned my CFI/CFII and MEI. I got to instruct for a couple years. As life sometimes has a tendency to do, a curve ball was thrown my way and I had to put aviation on hold for many years. Fast Forward 17 years later, things finally lined up where I could start flying again. Only problem is, I was so far removed from aviation by then and so many things have changed, I was a bit overwhelmed. I needed to be re-familiarized with the NAS and from more than just a book. What are these new fancy ipad thingies? GPS approaches to ILS mins??? What has this world come to? I assumed Foreflight was a golf term... I digress. He continues. I started listening in March of this year, and despite your warnings on the quality of early episodes (BTW, they were fine), I started at the beginning. You really helped me get my head back into the aviation lingo, communication techniques, thought processes, rules and regs. You really helped me understand a lot of the things that have changed over the last 17 years (and it's a lot). After lots of studying and 200+ hours of AG and RH, I actually feel like a somewhat competent pilot again. I completed my first flight review in 17 years in March. This last weekend in July I also completed my IPC (also 17 years out of date) and renewed my CFI/II/MEI for the 10th time (we never let that expire). It feels so good to be flying again, and your show has been a huge part of getting my brain thinking on all things aviation. You provide such an invaluable resource. I am all caught up on all episodes. The biggest change over the years is RH no longer hit the wrong sound effect button as often, and now seems to have handed that off to AG. Thank you again. ACE

I listened to this podcast on a recommendation. I sampled 3 episodes and by the end I realized I had been had. The general meanderings of the conversations were senseless, humorless and boring. Also, for a couple of aviation professionals, they said some really stupid things. But enough of the bad - they get one star for being a great solution for insomnia!!

This show has compelled me to leave my first ever podcast review, and a five star one at that. The two hosts known phonetically as Alpha Golf and Romeo Hotel, take you on a shadowy flight into the intricacies of the National Airspace System in an informative and entertaining way. I discovered the show while earning my instrument rating and give all credit to this show when I key up the mike and the stream of strange words unconsciously emerging from my brain makes me sound like I belong in the seat of my flying machine 10,000’ above the earth. This show has awoken many sleeping penguins and made me a better pilot. All pilots should subscribe, and the NAS Will be a safer and more enjoyable place.

RH and AG provide great insight into the air traffic world from both the controller and pilot side. Whether they are continuing the endless VFR flight following discussion or addressing the more niche IFR through clearance at "middle of nowhere airport", they continue to be a great service to aviators and avgeeks alike. The information they share allows me to excercise my penguins even in the weeks that I'm not able to go flying. They have undoubtedly made me a better user of the NAS. I am more confident in my communications with scruffy city TRACON and peachtree center, and my situational awareness has increased. A new penguin gets introduced each week, giving the opportunity for me to continue learning and become a better pilot. As a bonus, you'll get to laugh alongside RH and AG in the Charlie Alpha segments and the numerous jokes that come at centers' and Duke's expense. –Whiskey Bravo

If you are a pilot and serious about continuously learning, especially in the area of pilot / ATC interaction, this is bar far the best Podcast out their. A blend of humor, factual information , and a little “snark” thrown in just to keep everyone on their toes. No question I am a better pilot as a result of the knowledge I’ve learned from Aloha Golf and Romeo Hotel. Keep up the great work Gents! Sierra Golf

Top 3 only because it’s a 3 way tie for first. Patreon JW here from the USS Lexington Class Charlie. Listened to EP. 1 and have been binge listening ever since. Not a pilot (yet), lifelong AvGeek/Aviation Photographer. Hoping to some day in the near future get my sport pilots license so I have been finding ways to stuff as many penguins onto this iceberg before it becomes affordable for me. AG & RH’s witty comments and jocular humor make learning about the NAS easy to understand and fun to listen to, even to someone who doesn’t have any experience in it what so ever. Definitely recommend for anyone interested in aviation as a hobby, as a career, or for anyone who just wants to find a good podcast to listen to!

Greetings from the Wolfpack State Coastal TRSA!! Thank you for an exceptional podcast which adds pilot and controller perspective to the NAS. Special thanks is to your friend, KC, who told me about your podcast which greatly helped me pass my IFR recently! Keep up the good work!! Ego boost complete…

Tune out the haters and trolls. This is a great podcast. Always informative and insightful with a good bit of humor mixed in. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud. I will say I won’t listen on any faster than regular speed. Can’t help but think about an episode of Alvin and the Chipmunks if it is sped up. Keep it up! CLW Just outside the College World Series Charlie

Lima Romeo here from the busiest Delta under the Cowboy Bravo. Newly certificated private pilot and instrument student. AG and RH are experienced pilots and air traffic controllers at a fairly busy Class Charlie airport. The insights I’ve garnered from only a month of listening has been incredibly valuable. Their dissection of pilot-controller communications, miscommunications and unspoken mind melds is amazing. As an instrument student, the step-by-step break-down of arrivals, departures, squeeze plays and approach clearances has been a timely godsend for me. I’m a big fan. Headed over now to Patreon to show them a little love.

Draw near and feast on weekly servings of penguins with this witty and informative aviation podcast by two experienced pilots and air traffic controllers. Listen, have your questions answered, participate in the Patreon chat group, but for the love of all that is holy, do not put RH’s bippie in your nasty.

If you are at all interested in aviation, you should be listening to this podcast. If you’re a pilot at any level, you should be subscribed. Somehow, these two manage to make the 7110 not just interesting, but funny as well.

Looking to expand your knowledge of the NAS? Want to find yourself laughing out loud in every episode? This is the podcast for you!! I am a relatively new private pilot and this podcast has given me the courage to ask for flight following on flights, and even gave me the nerve to fly into a SFRA area a few weeks ago. Love this podcast and listen to every episode! The only way this podcast could be improved is to have a Charley Alpha segment every episode, I LOVE THOSE!! Thanks so much for all the hard work and for making me a better pilot!!

AG and RH; two seasoned ATC professions who are also aviators (one military, one airlines), bring you a weekly dose of laughter, education, enlightenment, advice, and common sense. Their style makes listening to a podcast very palatable, and their use of collegial good humor and friendship ices that cake. Their value-proposition to the General Aviation Community is evidenced by the copious feedback they get from post-checkride-success stories from pilots. My only wish is that I had more free time to listen to bigger chunks of podcast at a time. Well done, gents. MPL

I am not a pilot, but hoping to start training soon under the sourdough bravo. I have almost listened to the entire show over the past three years and Icebergs are full of pingüinos in my mind. As I write this I am crossing the bay on the ferry on the best WX day of the year with literal whales leaping out of the water and putting on a show. While the skipper backed out of the port I watched an arrival into the sourdough bravo cross at 90 degrees and 1000’ with a departure from the graffiti charlie, right over the city. It was a beautiful sight to see and I was in awe for a minute at the amazing coordination it took to make that happen. A quick check in FlightAware confirmed only 1100’ of separation. Arrival was from Amsterdam, departure was going to HI. Super cool. Love what you guys do, I have went from zero understanding to being able to listen on LiveATC and follow along in my mind almost seamlessly. Plus, now I can see something like that and really appreciate it. Thanks guys. -JS

I have always been interested in flying, and am now at the point of my life to scratch that itch. My goal was to immerse myself in the flying world to learn the lingo and see if this is really something I want to tackle. ATC communications was especially important to me since I live under the shelf of Tony Soprano's favorite Bada-Bing-Bravo. I stumbled upon this podcast and was instantly hooked by the combination of information and entertainment. Like many others, I am trying to make my way throgh the older episodes as they are all gems. With my daily commute just under an hour, 1.2x speed works well. Sometimes I get saucy and go for 1.5x which works fine until they play some bravo ATC clip and the controller sounds like the the guy from Micro Machines commercials from my youth. What are micro machines? - Probably a topic for a Charlie Alpha segment. What is a Charlie Alpha segment? - You will have to listen to find out. In all seriousness, a great and informative podcast for pilots, passengers, or anyone looking to gain more knowlege of the world. - BW

Greetings from just south of the Paul Revere bravo. Been listening for about a year now and I must say the weekly dose of aviation knowledge mixed with humor have kept the penguins on my tiny iceberg fully engaged and eager for more. Currently on the home stretch of my instrument training and find the information you share to be extremely valuable in training and my day to day vfr flying. If you’ve never listened to OB podcast start today. Your penguins will thank you. Thanks BLK

Was told to listen to your podcast by a flight school training director, after conducting a couple of checkrides. I don’t listen to podcasts and politely thanked them for the suggestion. As luck would have it, I embarked on a 6 hour road trip and had remembered the suggestion. To my surprise, I became immediately engrossed. You guys have struck gold. This is exactly the space that needs filled, between pilots and controllers. I don’t say this lightly but you guys couldn’t be more helpful to the aviation community. Your topics and banter, and often well executed dad jokes, keep me listening every week… and embarrassed to say, a podcast listener. You both are amazing and can’t thank you enough for filling a void that has been waaay overdue. Each pilot needs to subscribe. As a DPE and a consummate student, I appreciate greatly the work on the show and keeping us safe. Thanks, Charlie Bravo.