TV Schedule for Smithsonian Channel USA

Air Disasters Storming Out

On its final approach to Charlotte, N.C., US Air Flight 1016 is engulfed in intense rain obstructing the view from the cockpit; the pilots abort the landing, but the aircraft crashes to earth, hurtling along a road and breaking apart.

Air Disasters Poor Piloting

The crews of three doomed aircraft make catastrophic blunders.

Air Disasters Northern Extremes

Faced with the extreme conditions of the far North, three flights fall out of the sky leaving investigators to uncover the cause.

Air Disasters Death in the Arctic

On 20 August 2011, First Air Flight 6560, a charter flight, crashes near its destination of Resolute Bay Airport, Resolute, Nunavut, Canada, in poor weather conditions; out of the fifteen passengers and crew members, only three survived.

Air Disasters Who's Flying the Plane?

A look at accidents and incidents where problems with the interface between crew members and onboard avionics are a factor, and the causes of those problems.

Air Disasters Death From Above

Midair tragedies are particularly horrifying when they occur over a community, and rain terror on the people below.

Air Disasters Afghan Nightmare

When a cargo plane crashes at a U.S. airfield in Afghanistan, investigators reach a conclusion that ultimately proves incorrect.

How Did They Fix That? Fixing For A Fight: U.S. Army Mega Repair Base

Mike works with the U.S. Army in Germany inside the massive fix facility the MAK, Maintenance Activity Kaiserslautern, as teams repair over one hundred Bradley fighting vehicles, then embeds with troops in a massive two-week-long battle exercise.

How Did They Fix That? Monster Jam

At Monster Jam, custom-built monster trucks roll, flip and fly through the air; with the metal-bending beating these trucks endure, teams of specialized mechanics race against the clock to repair these engineering marvels in time for the next event.

How Did They Fix That? Volcano Power

Mike is in Iceland, where teams harness the power of volcanos to keep the geothermal energy flowing; they battle harsh weather to maintain and upgrade giant power systems, fixing miles of steam pipes, and bringing a dead well back to life.

How Did They Fix That? Water Work

In Florida, Mike tackles one of the dangerous jobs on the planet, commercial diving; he helps a specialized team keep waterways safe; fixing construction site leaks and removing dangerous structures, all while hurricane season is in full swing.

How Did They Fix That? Afterburn New

In Southern California, crews rebuild after the 2025 wildfires, cutting firebreaks, repairing emergency water systems, hardening roads and power lines, and building fire-resistant homes before the next firestorm.

How Did They Fix That? Sky Rides

In the Alps of Switzerland, Mike helps an elite team install a new cable (rope) system on an iconic mountain gondola line, helps fix the world's steepest cogwheel railway track and explores mountaintop family farms only accessible.

How Did They Fix That? Afterburn

In Southern California, crews rebuild after the 2025 wildfires, cutting firebreaks, repairing emergency water systems, hardening roads and power lines, and building fire-resistant homes before the next firestorm.

Ice Airport Alaska Bear Knuckle Flight

Fish and Wildlife aviators battle Arctic conditions to track down a polar bear population, a bush pilot races fading daylight to save a business, Anchorage field crews battle to clear an icy runway, and CBP officers investigate.

Air Disasters No Clear Options

When a commuter turboprop plane crashes at an Irish airport, investigators uncover a startling gap in aviation safety.

Air Disasters Terror in Paradise

On 9 August 2007, Air Moorea Flight 1121 crashed shortly after taking off from Moorea Airport in French Polynesia, killing all 19 passengers and the pilot.

Air Disasters Attack Over Baghdad

A surface-to-air missile cripples a cargo plane after it takes off from Baghdad International Airport.

Air Disasters Cockpit Failure

Bad weather and a series of errors lead to the 2001 crash of a plane on its approach to Zurich Airport.

Air Disasters Sight Unseen

Saudi Airways and Kazakhstan Airlines jets hit each other at 14,000 feet sending both planes spiraling to the ground.

Air Disasters Terror in San Francisco

The 2013 crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in San Francisco shocks the nation.

Mighty Cruise Ships Koningsdam

Set a course for breathtaking sights on Koningsdam's 15-day voyage from Amsterdam to the northern tip of Norway.

Mighty Cruise Ships Viking Long Ship Gefjon

Take a river tour through some of Europe's greatest cities--Budapest, Vienna, and Amsterdam--on Viking Longship Gefjon.

Mighty Cruise Ships Paul Gauguin

The Paul Gauguin offers five-star luxury while sailing near the coral reefs, mountainous islands and tropical playgrounds of French Polynesia.