Opposing Bases: Air Traffic Talk - Podcast Rankings and reviews

When I first started flight training, the idea of talking to ATC filled me with the kind of dread reserved for public speaking in a foreign language, which basically it was. I’d rehearse my calls five times before keying the mic, only to forget my tail number halfway through.

Then I found Opposing Bases. RH and AG pulled back the curtain on the magical world of air traffic control and revealed... actual human beings! Regular people doing a tough job who want to help you, occasionally joke about penguins, and sometimes fumble pronunciations. Suddenly, the radio didn’t feel so intimidating; it felt like a conversation. One that I could actually be a part of.

This podcast didn’t just help me pass my checkride, it made me a safer pilot, giving me the confidence to key that mic, speak up, and even laugh at the occasional slip-up (mine and theirs). Whether you’re still pre-solo or you’ve got every rating and endorsement the FAA has to offer, this show is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the humans behind the headset.

Listening to Opposing Bases is like watching a penguin-themed TED Talk hosted on a rapidly melting iceberg of mental capacity.

Picture this: my brain is an iceberg, majestic, floating confidently in a sea of semi-useful trivia and leftover high school Spanish. Each episode, AG and RH drop bite-sized waddling nuggets of ATC genius and aviation insight…penguins, if you will, right onto my personal iceberg. But here’s the problem: there’s only so much room.

At first, it’s thrilling. The penguins arrive, flapping with fresh wisdom about VFR-on-top clearances, Class Bravo etiquette, and why you should never underestimate the power of “unable.” But then… the iceberg starts to feel a bit crowded. I try to make space. I push off a few old penguins: the lyrics to a 1970s Bee Gees song, my parent’s Wi-Fi password, maybe even how to do my taxes. More room! More penguins!

Eventually, it’s chaos. New penguins parachute in mid-episode… some in formation, others screaming "descend via!,” while older ones leap off the edge, waving goodbye with facts I might someday desperately need. ("Wait, what was the fuel requirement for night VFR again?!")

This podcast doesn’t just teach you, it transforms your iceberg. And despite the mental overpopulation and occasional cognitive penguin-pile, I keep coming back, because few things in life are this educational and entertaining.

Also, there is absolutely no way this review was written or assisted by AI. Why? Because AI would’ve used a dolphin metaphor, forgotten about FAR 91.155, and completely misunderstood penguins. (KJA62)(N675KA)

Have you ever wondered why your favorite class Delta issues you a squawk for flight following while others don’t? Have you wondered why a controller won’t respond to you instantly when the frequency was silent for the last 6 seconds? Have you heard a “Penguin/Iceberg” call and response on frequency? Have you wondered why ATC rarely assigns the published missed aftet an instrument approach? The answers to these questions and much much more can be found here!
This feedback driven show has a full menagerie of listeners providing feedback about all sorts of aircraft type and airspace. Each facility across the NAS is different. Learning about other airspace has helped me understand my own and it’s made me a better pilot. It will do the same for you.
Whether your spinny thing is in front of you or above you, I can almost guarantee you can learn something here. These hosts have truly earned that fifth star, keep up the great work gentleman!
If you choose not to listen to the show, please, get flight following.

I used to have pride. I used to have dignity. Now I’m a center controller, longing for the golden days of yesteryear when I was a simple private pilot slipping the surly bonds of earth for the first time. Alas, much like the penguins on my iceberg, I am now flightless, relegated to watching the pretty yellow dots fly across my scope.

In all seriousness, this show has kept my love of aviation firmly planted and well watered, unlike our houseplants. RH and AG are supremely knowledgeable and their delivery and dynamic always keep me coming back episode after episode to learn something new and laugh along the way.

I have committed the unpardonable sin and listened for 5 years without leaving a review. I also let my Patreon lapse for a considerable amount of time after I had to replace everything in my lost wallet. Don’t be me!

- SC