Colleen Mondor
@chasingray.bsky.social
Aviation journalist, especially on Alaska. Never met a federal database I didn't love. "Probable Cause" newsletter is here: https://colleenmondor.substack.com/
Pinned
#35: I Can't Make the FAA Sexy
I’m smart. I’m a good writer. I can do a lot of things but making the Federal Aviation Administration sexy is not one of them.
colleenmondor.substack.com
I can do a lot of things, but making the FAA sexy is not one of them.
Here's some thoughts on what it's like writing on commercial aviation safety & ATC & the FAA in 2025.
colleenmondor.substack.com/p/35-i-cant-...
Here's some thoughts on what it's like writing on commercial aviation safety & ATC & the FAA in 2025.
colleenmondor.substack.com/p/35-i-cant-...
Totally believable at this point.
November 24, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Totally believable at this point.
Has anyone seen the FAA administrator lately? While Sean Duffy is spending his time telling us all how to dress what is Bryan Bedford doing?
November 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Has anyone seen the FAA administrator lately? While Sean Duffy is spending his time telling us all how to dress what is Bryan Bedford doing?
Reposted by Colleen Mondor
Please dress properly while we delay your flight.
Sean Duffy: "Dressing with respect -- whether it's a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better which encourages us to maybe behave a little better. Let's try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport."
November 24, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Please dress properly while we delay your flight.
I feel like mimicking one of those teenagers who flies in sweats with a pillow that has a Hello Kitty pillowcase.
November 24, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I feel like mimicking one of those teenagers who flies in sweats with a pillow that has a Hello Kitty pillowcase.
My son just corrected me and says the Star Wars Animated Series is the best and The Clone Wars Animated Series has ups and downs.
Like I said, he was raised right. 😄
Like I said, he was raised right. 😄
November 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
My son just corrected me and says the Star Wars Animated Series is the best and The Clone Wars Animated Series has ups and downs.
Like I said, he was raised right. 😄
Like I said, he was raised right. 😄
Pretty soon they are going to tell us that My Lai never happened.
November 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Pretty soon they are going to tell us that My Lai never happened.
Also, for the love of all that’s holy, “Star Wars” is the name of the movie & not “A New Hope”, Han shot first, Anakin was an ass with no hope of redemption, whose helmet was completely destroyed in a funeral pyre, but he did kill Palpatine and Rise of Skywalker is the very definition of terrible.
November 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Also, for the love of all that’s holy, “Star Wars” is the name of the movie & not “A New Hope”, Han shot first, Anakin was an ass with no hope of redemption, whose helmet was completely destroyed in a funeral pyre, but he did kill Palpatine and Rise of Skywalker is the very definition of terrible.
Based on the Star Wars commentary today, far too many of you are too young to have seen the original trilogy in the theater and your parents did not show you the movies on DVD when you were growing up.
Also, you missed the animated Clone Wars series during your youth.
I raised my kid right. 😃
Also, you missed the animated Clone Wars series during your youth.
I raised my kid right. 😃
November 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Based on the Star Wars commentary today, far too many of you are too young to have seen the original trilogy in the theater and your parents did not show you the movies on DVD when you were growing up.
Also, you missed the animated Clone Wars series during your youth.
I raised my kid right. 😃
Also, you missed the animated Clone Wars series during your youth.
I raised my kid right. 😃
I don’t even know how to write about Duffy’s obsession with how clothes on airplanes equates to patriotism but the minute he says pax can be removed from flights for not dressing right, people are going to lose their damn minds.
And yes, I think he’s headed in that direction.
And yes, I think he’s headed in that direction.
Duffy on his demand that air travelers not wear slippers or pajamas: "It honors our country ... don't take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair ahead of you"
November 24, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I don’t even know how to write about Duffy’s obsession with how clothes on airplanes equates to patriotism but the minute he says pax can be removed from flights for not dressing right, people are going to lose their damn minds.
And yes, I think he’s headed in that direction.
And yes, I think he’s headed in that direction.
Badass pilot photo for the win!
I swore an oath to the Constitution in 1986. I've upheld it through 25 years of service and every day since I retired.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
November 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Badass pilot photo for the win!
Absolute proof that the people running the FAA have learned nothing from the failures of Advanced Automation and NextGen.
avbrief.com/faa-issues-r...
avbrief.com/faa-issues-r...
FAA Issues Request for Information on New ATC System - AvBrief.com
It wants to bring two existing systems under a Common Automation Platform.
avbrief.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Absolute proof that the people running the FAA have learned nothing from the failures of Advanced Automation and NextGen.
avbrief.com/faa-issues-r...
avbrief.com/faa-issues-r...
I am really really really not subscribing to Vanity Fair.
November 24, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I am really really really not subscribing to Vanity Fair.
Reposted by Colleen Mondor
“This raises so many questions,” Risen told me. “Did this guy tell his editors he might have stuff on Trump and Epstein?
What did they do about it? Did they ignore
@sulliview.bsky.social
#TrumpCrimeFamily #EpsteinFiles #MainstreamMedia #Journalism #Lies #Billionaires
What did they do about it? Did they ignore
@sulliview.bsky.social
#TrumpCrimeFamily #EpsteinFiles #MainstreamMedia #Journalism #Lies #Billionaires
Three lessons in unethical media behavior
Plus: Some moments that made me proud to be a journalist
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
“This raises so many questions,” Risen told me. “Did this guy tell his editors he might have stuff on Trump and Epstein?
What did they do about it? Did they ignore
@sulliview.bsky.social
#TrumpCrimeFamily #EpsteinFiles #MainstreamMedia #Journalism #Lies #Billionaires
What did they do about it? Did they ignore
@sulliview.bsky.social
#TrumpCrimeFamily #EpsteinFiles #MainstreamMedia #Journalism #Lies #Billionaires
Honestly, it’s hard to see “later” right now, but I hear ya.
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Honestly, it’s hard to see “later” right now, but I hear ya.
A big part of my thoughts right now have to do with what is currently happening in the US politically.
At the moment, where rampant corruption is the rule, I do not believe we can seriously contemplate privatization of ATC (or any govt entity).
At the moment, where rampant corruption is the rule, I do not believe we can seriously contemplate privatization of ATC (or any govt entity).
November 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
A big part of my thoughts right now have to do with what is currently happening in the US politically.
At the moment, where rampant corruption is the rule, I do not believe we can seriously contemplate privatization of ATC (or any govt entity).
At the moment, where rampant corruption is the rule, I do not believe we can seriously contemplate privatization of ATC (or any govt entity).
Reposted by Colleen Mondor
a PSA: most nonprofit newsrooms right now are probably participating in the NewsMatch program RIGHT NOW. That’s a program funded by a few foundations that “matches” your end-of-year donation.
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
i promise i don’t mean to high horse this but if you’re thinking about giving lizza ten bucks there are a lot of good independent journalists whose work you could subscribe to for a month instead
November 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
a PSA: most nonprofit newsrooms right now are probably participating in the NewsMatch program RIGHT NOW. That’s a program funded by a few foundations that “matches” your end-of-year donation.
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
If you set up $10 monthly, that literally unlocks $120 from NewsMatch.
So who could you support?
(I got it.)
(And yep - correct on both counts!)
(And yep - correct on both counts!)
November 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
(I got it.)
(And yep - correct on both counts!)
(And yep - correct on both counts!)
Meanwhile, I’ll just keep researching & writing about the long history of politics impacting flight safety in the US and how it has been part of the FAA from the very beginning.
I’ve got a story from the 1970s coming at ya this week. Sign up here: Colleenmondor.substack.com
I’ve got a story from the 1970s coming at ya this week. Sign up here: Colleenmondor.substack.com
Colleen Mondor: Probable Cause | Substack
A deep look at flight safety, especially in Alaska. Big fan of accident reports and federal databases. Also, my obsession with the 1932 Mt McKinley Cosmic Ray Expedition and occasionally, what I've be...
Colleenmondor.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Meanwhile, I’ll just keep researching & writing about the long history of politics impacting flight safety in the US and how it has been part of the FAA from the very beginning.
I’ve got a story from the 1970s coming at ya this week. Sign up here: Colleenmondor.substack.com
I’ve got a story from the 1970s coming at ya this week. Sign up here: Colleenmondor.substack.com
Also, there is a long list of significant aircraft accidents that have nothing to do with ATC but were impacted by other staffing & funding issues that exist due to political reasons.
The NTSB accident database has many reports that cite poor FAA oversight as a factor & don’t involve ATC.
The NTSB accident database has many reports that cite poor FAA oversight as a factor & don’t involve ATC.
November 23, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Also, there is a long list of significant aircraft accidents that have nothing to do with ATC but were impacted by other staffing & funding issues that exist due to political reasons.
The NTSB accident database has many reports that cite poor FAA oversight as a factor & don’t involve ATC.
The NTSB accident database has many reports that cite poor FAA oversight as a factor & don’t involve ATC.
Rather than address how & why politics has infected the FAA, the WaPo suggests waving a magic wand with privatization & making it all go away.
In this administration, where pardons are for sale, this is not a smart idea.
Far cheaper to remove politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
In this administration, where pardons are for sale, this is not a smart idea.
Far cheaper to remove politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Privatize air traffic control
Safely directing thousands of commercial flights every day is too important to be left to politics.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Rather than address how & why politics has infected the FAA, the WaPo suggests waving a magic wand with privatization & making it all go away.
In this administration, where pardons are for sale, this is not a smart idea.
Far cheaper to remove politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
In this administration, where pardons are for sale, this is not a smart idea.
Far cheaper to remove politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Well, that’s a pretty impressive photo!
November 23, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Well, that’s a pretty impressive photo!
Such a brutal but well written piece. I can't stop thinking about it (and her).
I'm also so impressed that she is sacrificing her privacy to make the country know exactly what her cousin's policies are doing to people like her.
I'm also so impressed that she is sacrificing her privacy to make the country know exactly what her cousin's policies are doing to people like her.
November 23, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Such a brutal but well written piece. I can't stop thinking about it (and her).
I'm also so impressed that she is sacrificing her privacy to make the country know exactly what her cousin's policies are doing to people like her.
I'm also so impressed that she is sacrificing her privacy to make the country know exactly what her cousin's policies are doing to people like her.
Still thinking about Tatiana Schlossberg's essay hours after reading it. Just absolutely gut-wrenching and one of the most significant attacks against RFK Jr & his policies that I can imagine.
Good overview here if you are paywalled at @newyorker.com. www.townandcountrymag.com/society/trad...
Good overview here if you are paywalled at @newyorker.com. www.townandcountrymag.com/society/trad...
Tatiana Schlossberg, the Granddaughter of JFK and Jackie Kennedy, Shares News of Terminal Cancer Diagnosis in Moving Essay
“Now I have added a new tragedy to her life, to our family’s life, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it,” writes Schlossberg, who is the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, on the anniversary of Presiden...
www.townandcountrymag.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Still thinking about Tatiana Schlossberg's essay hours after reading it. Just absolutely gut-wrenching and one of the most significant attacks against RFK Jr & his policies that I can imagine.
Good overview here if you are paywalled at @newyorker.com. www.townandcountrymag.com/society/trad...
Good overview here if you are paywalled at @newyorker.com. www.townandcountrymag.com/society/trad...
The kid was born in Newberg, Oregon.
Kavanaugh stop. Smashed the kid’s car windows and arrested him. He told them he was a U.S. citizen. The officer replied “I don’t care.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
High school senior, a U.S. citizen, detained by ICE in Oregon
The 17-year-old was held more than five hours Friday in an ICE facility, his brother said.
www.oregonlive.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The kid was born in Newberg, Oregon.
I was on staff for my campus newspaper & a classmate was killed in a plane crash. was the only pilot - only one who knew the questions to ask. His parents attended a campus memorial & asked to speak to me. They said my article helped them understand. So, I endeavored to find a way to keep doing it.
November 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I was on staff for my campus newspaper & a classmate was killed in a plane crash. was the only pilot - only one who knew the questions to ask. His parents attended a campus memorial & asked to speak to me. They said my article helped them understand. So, I endeavored to find a way to keep doing it.