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Mental Health Bill Passes House, SpaceX Buys Echostar

We dive deep with special guest, Joe LoRusso

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Jessica Naor & Preston Holland
September 16, 2025

 

✈️ The VIP Seat Weekly

Your business aviation hot takes, served fresh

This week: Mental Health and Aviation Act passes House unanimously, SpaceX-EchoStar deal threatens GoGo connectivity, Starlink dominates aircraft Wi-Fi, aviation detailing business reality check, and conspiracy theories about private jets debunked.

Season 2, Episode 16 | September 16th, 2025 | Episode Companion

🛫 The Runway Report

The top 5 stories from this week's podcast that are moving the needle in bizav

1️⃣ Mental Health Act Passes House Unanimously (Finally!)

The Scoop: The Mental Health and Aviation Act of 2025 sailed through the House with unanimous bipartisan support, forcing the FAA to implement the 24 recommendations from their own Aviation Rulemaking Committee report. The bill includes $40 million for pilot mental health programs and mandates $1.5 million annually for public education on why pilots need mental health support. We’re joined by Joe LoRusso, director of aviation at Ramos Law to discuss the effort. Its worth a listen!

Our Take: After a decade of advocacy following the Joe Emerson incident, this addresses the absurd situation where pilots avoid treatment rather than risk losing their medical certificates. The FAA has a 30,000-medical backlog and still uses 1987 mental health definitions while the clinical world has moved to DSM-V. Time to treat pilots like human beings who occasionally need therapy.

2️⃣ SpaceX-EchoStar Deal Creates GoGo Connectivity Dilemma

The Scoop: SpaceX acquired spectrum from EchoStar, which also owns Hughes - the company that designed GoGo's steering antennas for their Wi-Fi systems. This creates an interesting conflict where GoGo's antenna supplier is now partnered with their biggest competitor, Starlink.

Our Take: Starlink is absolutely dominating aircraft connectivity with over 6,000 satellites deployed. Even operators are suction-cupping Starlink mobile units to bathroom windows instead of using traditional systems. The direct-to-cell capability threatens air-to-ground systems like AirText, while GoGo may need new antenna suppliers.

3️⃣ Conspiracy Theories Target Private Aviation (Again)

Burnie Burns Conspiracy GIF by Rooster Teeth

Gif by roosterteeth on Giphy

The Scoop: Social media conspiracy theories falsely claimed a private jet transported someone connected to the recent assassination attempt, with ADS-B data supposedly proving the connection. The aircraft owner publicly denied any involvement and asked to be left alone.

Our Take: Another example of ADS-B data abuse and aviation becoming a target for conspiracy theories. If someone wanted to hide aircraft movements, they'd turn off ADS-B before takeoff, not mid-flight. Meanwhile, operators are getting billed by Signature for touch-and-gos based on ADS-B tracking - the real privacy concern.

🤳 Mile High Madness

This week's wildest aviation content from social media

Preston's Jonas Brothers FBO Encounter: Joel Mayo (possibly the world's highest-time Vision Jet pilot) posted about running into Jonas Brothers at an FBO, only to have them ask him for photos because they recognized him as the famous pilot. Aviation celebrity status in reverse - Peak FBO equalizer moment.

Jessie's Post-Burning Man Aircraft Detailing: Viral video of a detailer cleaning an aircraft after Burning Man, showing the extreme conditions these professionals handle. Shoutout to aircraft detailers who deal with... whatever happens when wealthy people go to the desert and get creative.

⚡ Quick Hits

Other stories on our radar

  • Aviation Medication Transparency Act - Second bill requiring FAA to publish their medication "blacklist" so pilots know what's banned

  • HIMS Program Criticism - National Academy of Sciences audit tore apart the substance abuse program in a 500+ page report the FAA swept under the rug

  • FAA Timeline Failures - Still haven't formed the medical modernization focus group required by September 2024 reauthorization

🎧 This Week's Episode

Missed the podcast? Catch up on the full episode at the links below! We would LOVE if you would give us a 5 start review, and share with your friends!

✈️ The Final Approach

This episode tackled serious topics that affect every pilot's wellbeing and career. The Mental Health Act represents real progress after years of advocacy, while the connectivity wars show how quickly technology can reshape entire industries. Joseph's insights remind us that behind every regulation is a human story about pilots trying to do their jobs safely while dealing with the same life challenges as everyone else.

The VIP Seat Weekly is the companion newsletter to The VIP Seat podcast. We give you the business aviation hot takes for your commute.

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