Riddle us this! You’re a family of 4 (including a child under 2) planning to travel by plane. How many tickets should you purchase to ensure everyone’s safety? We won’t make you think too hard, the answer is 4. Your lap, though cost-saving, is not the ideal or safest place for your child on an airplane. From hangry children to unexpected clear air turbulence, a number of things can impact the mood and safety of your travel experience with kids. Mary Garton, a mom, flight attendant and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA representative gave us the real on the important safety role of flight attendants, the reasons why parents should consider using a government-approved safety seat or device for a young child, and tips to keep kids occupied, happy and safe.

Making plans to fly with your kids? Do you know what to pack, how to pack it, and how to get through the security line seamlessly? Check in first with the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Aviation Administration by listening to our latest ‘The Air Up There’ podcast episode.TSA – The Suitcase Advisors? Actually, we have a lot in common with TSA’s Emily Bonilla-Pieton and Lisa Farbstein: we’re parents, love air travel, safety and security. They joined us for our “Flying With Kids: Tips From TSA” episode to offer you practical advice for packing your bags and getting through the security line effortlessly.After this episode, you’ll be a pro at finding surprise “no-no” items that your kids sneak into the luggage before you leave the house (and not in the security line), what snacks to pack and the best place to put them, what to do if your child safety seat doesn’t fit in the security scanning machine and more! It’s all in the planning and it starts at home. Walk out your door confidently for your next trip with the kids. Share this episode with other parents to help make their journey through the airport easy-peasy (lemon squeezy).    

Air travel can be challenging, especially when you add your kids in the mix. You can do this!How do you get them through security, navigate the airport and then quickly carry them, your bags AND their car seat down the plane aisle to get to your seats? Do you know the safest way for a child under 2 to fly? How do you prepare your little ones to know what to expect so you can, hopefully, prevent a meltdown on the plane? These are all valid questions, and we’ve got answers.Tune into our latest The Air Up There podcast episode, “Flying With Kids: Tips From An Expert.” This episode’s conversation is with Michelle Pratt, an experienced traveler with kids, founder of Safe in the Seat, and a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Expert. This hilarious, relatable, and informative dialogue about the joys and stresses of flying with kids will have you eager to try out her air travel tips and tricks so your family’s next flight is more enjoyable.Share this episode with your friends and family and start flying with kids like a pro.ResourcesFlying with Children

The average person probably has no idea what the FAA’s Technical Operations, or Tech Ops, employees do or what an adventure the profession can be. And by adventure, we mean wild beasts, volcanoes, and camping in the middle of nowhere!In the latest ‘The Air Up There’ podcast episode, “Adventures in Safety,” we talk about the extreme nature of Tech Ops and the great lengths our technicians go to maintain the airspace infrastructure so  pilots can fly safely and air traffic controllers can communicate with pilots. Warning – the content in this episode may cause wide eyes, a fast heartbeat, and shock. Listen in to hear stories from experienced technicians Jeremy Withrow and Charles Barclay, who have maintained flight navigation equipment in the unique – and extreme – environments of arctic Alaska, Hawaii and California desert. If you’re down for an adventure, you may develop a newfound interest in an exciting Tech Ops career. Nevertheless, you will walk away from this episode with a much higher appreciation for these unsung heroes! If you’re #TeamAdventure and #TeamSafety, visit faa.gov/jobs to learn about the career and check out our job openings to see where you could be an asset to our national airspace system. And if you liked this episode, please share.

Anyone who has ever had a goal is probably familiar with the phrase, "the sky's the limit." Ironically, that logic can be quite limiting because, for some, the sky is just the beginning. Take Sirisha Bandla, for example. Once upon a time, Sirisha was on a rooftop, gazing at the stars and wondering what it would be like to explore what's out there. Then, in 2021, she joined Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 suborbital flight and became the second India-born woman to fly to space!Curiosities can turn into out-of-this-world realities with the right knowledge, focus, and determination. In our newest podcast episode, "It's Just Rocket Science," we give you all the proof.In this episode, we speak with Sirisha Bandla and JaciLynn Poteet, an FAA commercial space safety inspector and rocket scientist. They tell us about their career trajectories, what it took for them to get there, and what's important to them in their field of work. They also give listeners advice for pursuing their dreams.After this episode, you'll be ready to, literally, reach for the stars. Learn more about Commercial Human Spaceflight at faa.gov/space, and if you like this episode, please share!