Author: Tanya Austin
Tanya Austin
For more than twelve years, Tanya Austin has worked in the aviation field as a first responder, brand ambassador, and customer service representative to travelers worldwide, as operations and safety manager, representing regional and global carriers such as Delta Airlines and United Express. Tanya has worked in charter, private, and commercial aviation. She has been passionate about her work with nonprofit groups such as Black Pilots of America and Tuskegee Airmen Inc., where she is a national board member and Eastern Region Representative. Tanya is an active member of Women in Aviation International, the Organization for Black Aerospace Professionals, Sisters of the Skies, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. She contributes her spare time supporting those who need help in these and other organizations. Tanya is an aviation business owner and commercial pilot. She is a Certified Aviation Safety Manager. Tanya has over 25 years of sales, service, and management experience and has worked for both government and private sectors. Tanya attended Kaplan, where she completed studies in business and real estate. She also has an international mediator certification.
As the New York Knicks continue their deepest playoff run in more than two decades, excitement is spreading far beyond Madison Square Garden. While fans are focused on the action on the court, the team’s success is also generating increased activity across New York’s transportation network, particularly within the aviation industry. The Knicks’ return to championship contention has attracted fans from across the country, creating additional demand for flights, hotels, public transportation, and ride-share services. According to New York City officials, the Knicks’ postseason run has already generated hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, benefiting businesses throughout the…
In the world of military aviation, few missions are as demanding -or as selfless- as combat search and rescue. For the men and women of the 106th Rescue Wing (New York Air National Guard), the mission is simple in words but profound in execution – That Others May Live. Based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, the 106th Rescue Wing (106 RQW) stands as one of the premier search and rescue units in the United States military. Their work spans combat zones, open oceans, disaster-stricken communities, and remote environments where survival depends on…
For travelers departing from or arriving in the New York tristate area, severe weather is not an occasional disruption—it is a routine factor in travel planning. From summer thunderstorms and flash flooding to winter snow, ice, fog, and coastal storms, weather systems across the country regularly affect travel tied to New York’s airspace.Because the region serves as one of the nation’s primary aviation gateways, delays do not need to originate locally to cause major impacts. A storm in the Midwest, snow in the Great Lakes region, or high winds along the Southeast corridor can ripple east and restrict traffic into…
Just in time for the holiday travel season, Apple has rolled out a new feature that enables U.S. passport holders to add their passport details to Apple Wallet on iPhone or Apple Watch. For travelers departing from New York’s busy airports—including JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports—this tool is meant to help speed up identity verification at the security checkpoint. Here’s how it works, who it’s for, and how to get help if you’re less tech-savvy. What the Feature Does Device and Platform Requirements How to Set It Up Security & Privacy Where Non-Tech Savvy Travelers Can Get Help If you…
Every year, Thanksgiving earns its title as the busiest travel holiday in the United States, and for New Yorkers, that means navigating crowded airports, traffic-clogged bridges, and packed trains—all in pursuit of family, food, and gratitude. This year, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey estimates a staggering 8.7 million travelers will move through the region’s airports and vehicle crossings during the Thanksgiving period, from November 25 through December 2. That number includes approximately 3.2 million passengers flying through John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, and Stewart International, as well as 5.5 million vehicles expected…
Each year, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) implements vital programs to create awareness, inspire, and propel careers in aerospace nationwide. OBAP maintains a strong presence in the Northeast, and New York is no exception. The key programs and offerings that New Yorkers and Northeast students can tap into include: ACE (Aerospace Career Education) Academy – NYC: The 2025 NYC ACE Academy took place from July 7 to 11, 2025, in Jamaica, New York. Designed for students aged 13–18, it offers hands-on exposure to aviation fundamentals, flight simulators, field trips, classroom lessons in aerodynamics, and opportunities to meet aerospace…
Even when told repeatedly not to, many people instinctively prioritize grabbing important items as a flight cabin fills with smoke or the alarm sounds. A U.S. Transportation Safety Board study in 2000 found that nearly 50% of passengers attempted to take carry‑on bags during evacuations, typically reaching for wallets, credit cards, passports, medication, or work materials. In a later survey, about 35% of respondents said they would take their luggage in an emergency even if explicitly warned not to. And according to a British report, 77% of passengers at least expect to try to take some belongings in an evacuation…
Wichita, KS — The spirit of aviation excellence and achievement was alive and soaring at the Kansas Aviation Museum on July 11, 2025, as the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) hosted its much-anticipated 2025 Aviation Records Celebration, presented by Bombardier. Held in the heart of America’s aviation capital, the ceremony brought together innovators, aviators, and industry leaders from across the nation to honor the record-setters whose accomplishments have pushed the boundaries of air and space travel. As guests filed into the historic museum—an art deco gem that once served as Wichita’s municipal airport terminal—there was a palpable sense of excitement. Beneath…
On February 1, 2025, the world lost a true American hero. Lieutenant Colonel Harry T. Stewart Jr., one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen and a decorated World War II fighter pilot, passed away at 100 years of age. His remarkable journey from a young man who dreamed of flying, to a trailblazer who broke racial barriers, leaves a legacy of courage, perseverance, and inspiration. Born on July 4, 1924, in Newport News, Virginia, Stewart’s life was marked by resilience and determination. Growing up in New York, he was fascinated by aviation and dreamed of becoming a pilot. However, as…
The third of eleven children, General Irene Trowell-Harris, was born in Aiken, South Carolina; she has fond memories of childhood, attending church, and celebrating Christmas with her family. Despite their lack of money, they would make toys and make their own fun with the resources they had. Irene Trowell-Harris’ father was a farmer, and her mother was a homemaker. She picked cotton with her family to make ends meet and sometimes missed school to work; she earned good grades and was very athletic when she was in school. Her parents had a third and sixth-grade education, but they wanted better…