Aviation Week's BCA Podcast

Thomas Flohr, founder and chair of Vista Global, which operates VistaJet and XO, discusses the company's origin story, growth, his best business advice and more.

Listen in to hear from Bart Gray, who is leading a flight to circumnavigate the globe from pole to pole in a Learjet 36A, and Rick Rowe from the Classic Lear Jet Foundation, an organization in the midst of restoring a 1964-built Lear Jet 23, the first Learjet to be delivered to a customer. Gray discusses the flight, which leaves April 30, including the route, preparations and challenges. Rowe, meanwhile, provides an update on the project to return the aircraft into flying condition.

The spring aviation events season is in full swing. Aviation Week editors share insights from Sun ‘n Fun, Aero Friedrichshafen and the Aerospace Maintenance Council's Competition at MRO Americas. And yes, tariffs came up!

The FAA requires that Part 135 and some Part 91 operators implement safety management systems (SMS) by May 2027. BCA Senior Editor Bill Carey discusses the industry's progress toward meeting the new SMS mandate with Jenny Ann Urban, vice president of regulatory affairs with the National Air Transportation Association.

Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki speaks with Wheels Up Chief Marketing Officer Kristen Lauria about developments at the company, her path to leadership and the importance of mentorship for young women joining the industry in a Women's History Month special episode.

Leck Chet Lam, managing director of Experia Events, and Paul Desgrosseilliers, general manager of ExecuJet Haite, speak with BCA's Molly McMillin about the growing business aviation industry in Asia, its challenges and opportunities during the first Business Aviation Asia Forum & Expo, or BAFFEx, at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore.

Duncan Aviation has seen a recent leadership change: As of Jan. 1, Jeff Lake retained the CEO part of his job, and Mike Minchow took over as president. Lake and Minchow join Lee Ann Shay to discuss the transition, aftermarket trends and their outlook for business aviation services in 2025.

After agreeing a $7 billion deal for 182 Phenom and Praetor jets, Embraer Executive Jets President and CEO Michael Amalfitano and Flexjet CEO Michael J. Silvestro sit down with Aviation Week editors to discuss the order.

Pilots flying fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft face numerous challenges in fighting fires. Hear pilot and former aerial firefighter Pat Veillette describe what it is like flying into these hazards and explain concerns, including engine maintenance.

The new year will see President-elect Trump return to the White House, a fresh FAA administrator and numerous business jets entering service. Listen in as BCA editors discuss what this all could mean for business aviation and share their predictions for 2025.

Kenn Ricci, Directional Aviation Capital principal and Flexjet chair, speaks on key moments in his career, his biggest challenges, best business advice, a surprising way he educated his children and more.

Several changes in the Middle East should foster further business aviation growth in the region, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Business aviation veterans Molly McMillin and Alan Peaford share their insights after having covered the recent MEBAA show in Dubai.

Listen in to hear from bizav trailblazer Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Bunce, an Air Force veteran who flew F-15s and A-10s, discusses his early days in aviation, the industry's biggest challenges and successes, the impact new leadership in the U.S. and Europe on the industry, his advice to young people and more. He also reveals his favorite aircraft, which may surprise you.

Brian Barents speaks about the challenges and achievements of his business aviation career, obstacles facing supersonic flight, his predictions for the industry's future, how he earned the call sign “Godfather” and more.  Listen in as he speaks to Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki and Molly McMillin.

In the first of a series of interviews with business aviation trailblazers, listen in as legendary Cessna Aircraft executive Russ Meyer Jr. reminisces about the challenges and achievements over his five decades in the industry. Now chairman emeritus at Cessna, Meyer also gives his predictions for the years ahead, 50 years on from joining the airframer in 1974.

Former Cessna Aircraft Chairman and CEO Russ Meyer was a key figure in the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA). Before its passage in 1994, the industry was reeling from the high cost of product liability. Cessna, the largest producer of piston-powered aircraft, had shut down its lines altogether. Listen in to hear how GARA's passage revived the industry.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki, Molly McMillin, Bill Carey and Guy Norris discuss the latest news, live from NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Join Aviation Week Network's Jeremy Kariuki, Molly McMillin and Bill Carey as they discuss sustainable aviation fuel, Textron, Lilium and more leading up to the 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Join as Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki, Bill Carey and Thierry Dubois discuss the latest developments on inflight connectivity for business and commercial aircraft. 

Three major strikes are underway in the U.S., including work stoppages by the machinists unions at Boeing and Textron Aviation and by the dockworkers, halting shipments at U.S. ports on the East and Gulf coasts. What do these multiple strikes signal for labor and its unions going forward? What kind of impact do they bring and what is the ripple-down effect? Join Sheila Kahyaoglu, a managing director in equity research at Jefferies; Michael Bruno, Aviation Week Network executive editor for business; and Molly McMillin, Aviation Week managing editor for business aviation, as they discuss the issues.

Richard Aboulafia and Kevin Michaels, managing directors of AeroDynamic Advisory, discuss the business aviation industry and the surprises they discovered and lessons the industry can learn as they research their book, "Time Machines: A Modern History of Business Aviation," to be published in late 2025. Why are there only a small number of brands and not duopolies? What role did two single customers have on the industry? What can today's manufacturers learn from the past?  Hosted by Molly McMillin, editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network. 

Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki, Graham Warwick and Ben Goldstein discuss the potential effects Advanced Air Mobility may have on the business aviation industry.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki speaks with Wastefront CEO Vianney Vales about how the company aims to increase the supply of sustainable aviation fuel by recycling tires.

Join in as Aviation Week's Molly McMillin, Bill Carey, Jeremy Kariuki and Mike Lavitt discuss their highlights from EAA AirVenture 2024, recorded in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Don't miss a single episode. Subscribe to Aviation Week's BCA Podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get podcasts.    Discover all of our podcasts on our Apple Podcasts channel or at aviationweek.com/podcasts.

Ahead of AirVenture Oshkosh 2024, Experimental Aircraft Association CEO Jack Pelton discusses what's on the docket for the world's largest general aviation gathering, touching on show highlights as well as major issues facing pilots and operators.

Listen in as Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki speaks with Web Manuals CCO Krister Genmark about his company's new AI tool that changes the way operators search their documents.

Aviation Week's team is reporting live from Geneva where the 2024 edition of EBACE is being held. Listen in as host Jeremy Kariuki is joined by Angus Batey, Thierry Dubois, Ben Goldstein and Molly McMillin to discuss their highlights from the show.

Aviation Week editors have hit the road. Listen in as Jeremy Kariuki, Molly McMillin and Bill Carey discuss their visits to Bombardier, Textron and Daher, as the BCA team returns from different corners of North America, where they covered business aviation events and announcements.

Aviation Week's Mike Lavitt, director of editorial content production, and Molly McMillin, editor of business aviation, discuss news from this year's Sun 'n Fun event at Lakeland, Florida. Special guest Jose Ramos gives some tips for air-to-air photography. 

Listen in as Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki speaks with JSX CEO Alex Wilcox, whose company recently announced its plans to purchase more than 300 hybrid-electric aircraft to bolster its fleet with sustainable options and bring down prices for its customers.

Listen in as Aviation Week Network's Molly McMillin speaks with Gene Conrad, president and CEO of Sun ‘N Fun Aerospace Expo, as he provides a glimpse into the 2024 show. Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo will celebrate its 50th anniversary April 9-14 at the annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In at the Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The fly-in has grown from a small event for sport aviation enthusiasts in 1974 to Florida's largest annual convention.

Based on U.S. government proposals this past month, business aviation now faces a five-fold fuel tax increase, new IRS audits and a longer aircraft depreciation schedule. Ed Bolen, NBAA's president and CEO, speaks with Lee Ann Shay about industry advocacy underway in response and the outlook.   

Associate Editor Jeremy Kariuki speaks with AXIS Aviation CEO Niall Olver and Accountable Manager Kerstin Mumenthaler about how the Swiss-based company is making an impact in the European market and how it plans to advance through 2024.

Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki speaks with Ralph Coppola, president and CEO of the Aerospace Education Program Alliance, about his efforts to bring together industry, education and government in the group's mission to maintain and grow an in-demand aviation workforce.

This week, Associate Editor Jeremy Kariuki speaks with Hertz Senior Director of Aviation and former U.S. Army Pilot Keith Northcutt about flying with the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), an organization dedicated to providing cancer patients with air transportation to treatment facilities around the country.   This episode was edited and produced by Jeremy Kariuki and Andrea Copley-Smith. Remember to like, follow, rate or subscribe to the BCA Podcast on your app of choice.

The sale of preowned business aircraft continued to stabilize in 2023. At the same time there was a subtle shift toward a move to a buyer's market. Wayne Starling, executive director of the International Aircraft Dealers Association, and Phil Winters, IADA chairman and Western Aircraft vice president of aircraft sales and charter management, discuss the 2023 market and what may lie ahead in 2024. They take a look at data from the latest IADA quarterly survey of brokers and dealers. Hosted by Molly McMillin, editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network.

Listen in as pilot and aviation expert Pat Veillette explains to Aviation Week Network's Lee Ann Shay what happens when aircraft decompression occurs—speaking from his own experience of decompression when co-piloting a Hawker. Pat shares his tips for crew in this type of emergency and explains how pilot training compares to real-life decompression.

With the start of the new year, Aviation Week's Bill Carey, Molly McMillian, Lee Ann Shay and Jeremy Kariuki discuss their predictions for business aviation in 2024.

Flexjet made several big moves in 2023, including the purchase of two MROs. Hear how this, along with a new operations center and training initiative with Purdue University,  impacts its maintenance and operational performance. Andrew Collins, co-CEO of Flexjet and CEO of Sentient Jet, speaks with Lee Ann Shay.

This week, listen in as Aviation Week Network's Jeremy Kariuki speaks with Jetlaw Founder and Managing Partner Kent Jackson about the state of fourth-quarter (Q4) aircraft closings and how the market compares to Q4 2022.

This week, we speak with the Flying Classroom's Barrington Irving and Interim Opa-Locka City Manager Darvin Williams about their recent collaboration to create an aviation workforce development program for the residents of Opa-Locka, Florida.  Hosted by Jeremy Kariuki, associate editor of business aviation for Aviation Week Network. 

European national aviation policies differ between countries. Find out what's impacting business aviation and the outlook for 2024 in this podcast with European Business Aviation Association COO Robert Baltus and Aviation Week executive editor of MRO and business aviation, Lee Ann Shay. This episode was produced by Jeremy Kariuki and Andrea Copley-Smith.

Kriya Shortt joined Textron eAviation in August as its new president and CEO, after a 27-year career at Textron Aviation. She talks about her new role, the company's goals and challenges and provides an update on Pipistrel's Velis electric aircraft. Hosted by Molly McMillin, editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network. 

Recorded live from NBAA-BACE 2023 in Las Vegas, Jeremy Kariuki, Molly McMillin, Guy Norris, Lee Ann Shay and Bill Carey share their favorite moments from the show. This episode was produced by Guy Ferneyhough and engineered by Jeremy Kariuki.

NetJets signed a record agreement with Textron Aviation for purchase options of up to 1,500 Cessna Citation business jets over the next 15 years. NetJets will also serve as Textron's launch customer for the new Cessna Citation Ascend, with deliveries to begin in 2025. Jeremy Kariuki, Aviation Week associate editor for business aviation, and Molly McMillin, managing editor for business aviation, discuss the agreement. 

Following the tragic wildfires in Maui, various business aviation companies sprang into action to help—notably, Black Widow Helicopters. Renne Simoes, who serves as its director of brand development, joins this week's episode to detail how his team is assisting rebuilding efforts in the region. Later on, we speak with Mark Pestal, founder of AeroAngel—a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing life-saving flights to young patients in need.   Hosted by Jeremy Kariuki, associate editor of business aviation for Aviation Week Network. Produced by Andrea Copley-Smith.

Legacy Flight Academy (LFA), a nonprofit organization, strives to inspire students of all ages to pursue careers in aviation and STEM. Kenny Thomas, co-founder of LFA, joins this week's episode to share his journey and details how his organization is tackling an ongoing labor shortage across the industry. Hosted by Jeremy Kariuki, associate editor of business aviation for Aviation Week Network. 

Advanced Aviation Team CEO Gregg Brunson-Pitts discusses what is involved in chartering aircraft for presidential candidates—from logistics to working with the Secret Service—and upsizing aircraft as the campaign evolves. Hosted by Lee Ann Shay, Aviation Week's executive editor for business aviation and MRO. 

The need for a public discussion of business aviation's sustainability efforts has never been higher as protesters become more active in their dissent. Elise Fox, senior manager of sustainability solutions for World Fuel Services, shares insights on sustainable aviation fuel and other efforts the industry is taking to meet its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Hosted by Molly McMillin, managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network.

Aviation Week's Jeremy Kariuki, Bill Carey, Molly McMillin and Mike Lavitt discuss highlights from the 2023 EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  See full coverage from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023

National Air Transportation Association President and CEO Curt Castagna and NATA Managing Director of Safety and Training Steve Berry discuss the progress of the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions Initiative with BCA Senior Editor Bill Carey.