The Aerpod
The Aerpod
Mitchell Banks
The Hidden Job That Keeps Fighter Jets Flying
1 hour 16 minutes Posted Nov 19, 2025 at 5:00 am.
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Show notes
In this episode of The Aerpod, host Mitchell Banks talks with Julia Rivera, a former KC-10 boom operator and flight engineer whose career bridges both manned and unmanned operations. Julia shares how she found aviation through family influence, why she chose the enlisted route, and what it was like training on one of the most capable refueling platforms ever built. She breaks down the debate around reducing cockpit crews and human-factors risks behind proposed single-pilot airline operations...