Business Aviation Advisor

How you handle your aviation assets, especially when they are legally placed in service, can considerably affect your finances and taxes. How can you structure your aircraft transactions and flight operations to solidify your bonus depreciation position in 2023? Attorneys Dan Feldman and David Shannon of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP discuss this and more in “Maximize Your Benefit, Minimize Your Risk.”

Without people, airplanes don't fly. Owning, maintaining, and managing business aircraft is complex, and most focus on physical assets, technology, and financing. But the “human capital” – the people who fly, maintain, and service the aircraft – are just as important. Listen as Jeff Agur and Don Henderson discuss how bizav's success depends on how well the people aboard the aircraft and on the ground are chosen, how they are trained, and how effectively they communicate with each other in Human Capital Gains. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.


Empty seats on a business jet are expensive! How can you optimize your operational efficiency while ensuring your safety and that of your crew, passengers, and aircraft? Matt Liotta, co-founder and CEO of Volato, a fractional ownership aircraft company focused on flights with a small passenger load, talks with Schedaero's Genesis Dela Cruz about how he uses their flight management system to keep track of each airplane, flight, and every crewmember, to make sure that everyone has quick access to all the data they need for safe and profitable operations. Find out what you need to know about the challenges of communication among the many facets of your aircraft operations, to minimize costs and maximize convenience, in Optimizing Your Flight Operations. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!

The aircraft buyer's market is experiencing a very unusual period in which older used aircraft are increasing in value. How can you capitalize on that? And why do you need a team of experts to help you purchase your aircraft? In Smells Like Team Spirit, aircraft financing expert Shelly Svoren of Infinite Branches and aviation attorney Michelle Wade of Jetstream Aviation Law, discuss how the members of deal teams work with each other's strengths to best know their roles in the purchasing and approval process;

It's no fantasy. The plan is to update and refurbish twenty-nine airports – and build an entirely new hub, in a newly created region, the size of Belgium, one dedicated to attracting international business development and tourism! That plan was detailed in Saudi Arabia's 2022 Future of Aviation Forum, held in Riyadh this past May. How might the Kingdom's plan to upgrade its aviation infrastructure affect your travel to the region? In 1001 Arabian Flights, listen as H. Delano Roosevelt of the US Saudi Business Council, and Curt Castagna of Aeroplex Partners discuss their Forum panel and the Kingdom's plans to upgrade its aviation infrastructure to support business development.

Commercial airlines have created their own brand of “cancel culture” of late, unable to crew hundreds of Boeing and Airbus aircraft due to the pilot and staff shortage. Curiously, demand for those aircraft only has increased – because if the airlines can't use them, business aircraft owners can! In fact the median value of these aircraft has risen 32% since June 2021, according to market analyst Jefferies using Amstat industry data.  In More Room At The Top, King Aerospace's Jerry and Jarid King discuss why that makes proper completion, maintenance, and regular refurbishment of VVIP airline-caliber aircraft more critical than ever, in order to preserve their asset value, as well as their operational capabilities.  When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.  Thanks for reading – and listening!

Collecting data is important. Examining it is fascinating. But putting it to work is where the rubber meets the road – or in the case of aviation – when it's applied to improving operational safety.  In Digital Data Tailored Training, FlightSafety International's Richard Meikle and GE Digital's Joel Klooster discuss how FlightSafety is harnessing GE Digital's C-FOQA data to tailor simulator training not just to your specific aircraft make/model, but also to your specific flight operations – to help improve your safety and travel experience from runway departure to arrival.

Travelers like you now expect uninterrupted connectivity, on the ground and in the air. That requirement is not negotiable, and the demand for faster and faster downloads keeps growing. And that necessitates better onboard equipment offering a wider broadband – but which one is faster and more reliable connectivity - Ka or Ku? In Bands On The Run, James Person, ViaSat's Director of Business Development and Strategy, explains the differences, the equipment required, and what they mean to you and your passengers' inflight business communications and entertainment experiences. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.  Thanks for reading – and listening!

When it comes to obscure abbreviations, social media has nothing on aviation. Our industry has been immersed in acronyms since the dawn of radio communications. But IMHO, sometimes it's important for the rest of us – particularly business aircraft owners and charterers – to know what letters like C-FOQA and FDM stand for. In C-FOQA Is No Time for FOMO, National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg, and Bob Rufli, Vice President, Flight Operations for Pentastar Aviation and Chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation, explain how Corporate Flight Operations Quality Assurance and Flight Data Monitoring will help improve your aircraft's safety, dispatch reliability, and operating cost. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.  Thanks for reading – and listening!

“Top-down” isn't just for convertibles anymore – it's for business aviation safety, too. Insuring aviation safety starts at the top, with your uncompromising commitment to continuing safety education throughout your flight operation. That keeps your personnel appraised of the latest and best in evolving safety management systems. Listen to Air Charter Safety Foundation president Bryan Burns and chairman Robert Rufli as they describe what your aviation manager will learn at the 2022 ACSF Safety Symposium this April 5 & 6. This annual educational forum will be held at the Embry-Riddle Aviation University campus in Daytona Beach, Florida. Safety experts will discuss current and emerging challenges, as well as how to create safety resources, tools, and programs needed to ensure your flight safety. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

You may view your flight operation's cost as just another line item on the expense side of your balance sheet … without reference to the value that this remarkable capital asset provides to your organization.  If it's time to accentuate that positive value, and eliminate any negative business aircraft perceptions, then it's time to hear what independent aviation professionals have to say. In Rewarding Risk Management, the VanAllen Group's Jeff Agur and Don Henderson discuss how best to manage the business aviation expense side of your ledger, to define that value, and eliminate any unnecessary financial risks. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. 

When it comes to service quality, you expect – and are willing to pay for – only the best, provided by those operating to the highest standards.  And if you expect to fly under the highest flight safety standards, you'd better confirm your operator has a comprehensive safety management culture in place – not just some dusty manuals on a shelf.  In Don't Sidestep Safety, the National Transportation Safety Board's Michael Graham, and Bob Rufli, Vice President, Flight Operations for Pentastar Aviation and Chairman, Air Charter Safety Foundation, describe how a properly designed and implemented Safety Management System (SMS) helps ensure your flight safety. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.  Thanks for reading – and listening!

Yes, deliveries of new business jets are up. So are sales of preowned aircraft and fractional shares, as well as jet card and block charter. And that makes it tough to meet the travel demands of both current and new business jet travelers! There just aren't enough aircraft available when they want to fly. So how is the industry responding? And what does that mean to you? In Business Aviation Gets a Shot in the Arm, Rolland Vincent of Rolland Vincent Associates and JETNET's Paul Cardarelli discuss how the pandemic challenges underscored the advantages of business aviation, as current owners and charterers returned to the air, joined by staggering numbers of former commercial airline travelers. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

Most owners – and especially first time charterers – assume that traveling by business aircraft is simply a matter of boarding the aircraft, and having the flight crew “kick the tires and light the fires”…and launch! But clear communications, between and among the flight crew – and the passengers –is mandatory, about what is expected and required to minimize risk …before, during and after each flight. In This is Your Captain Speaking, FlightSafety International's Executive Vice President, Safety and Regulatory Compliance Richard Meikle explains why proper crew training must include instruction on delivering clear and effective communications to and you and your passengers…to help ensure optimal safety. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!

Today, aviation safety concerns aren't confined only to flight operations. Internet security also is an issue – the need to keep your as well as your passengers' and clients' profile information safe and secure. And that requires staying one step ahead of hackers and phisher-men from anywhere in the world – whether their intent is using that information to grab a competitive edge, to hold your data for ransom …  or to seek revenge. In Prying Eyes Are Watching You, Solairus' President John King and IT Director Jeff Ritzinger discuss some of the critical steps required to keep those data out of sight – and away from hackers' prying eyes. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

Thanks to the pandemic and resulting surge in charter flying, there's been a huge increase in the number of anonymous online charter brokers. They may have no aviation credentials or commitment to safety… but do have excellent wire transfer payment skills.  In The Broker Behind the Internet Curtain, NATA's Ryan Waguespack and Glenn Hogben, CEO of at the Air Charter Association, detail how to avoid the safety AND financial risks of booking travel on these all-too-often-deceptive sites… or allowing such brokers to book travel on YOUR aircraft! When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

The grass may not be greener on the other side of the fence – but when it comes to fuel today, it's a different story on the other side of the airport perimeter fence line. That's because the entire aviation industry – from fuel producers and FBOs, to airframe and engine manufacturers, to aircraft operators – are working hand-in-hand with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) producers like Neste, to reduce business jet and turboprop carbon emissions. In ”SAF Gets the Green Light, Keith Sawyer, AvFuel's Manager of Alternative Fuels, and Pratik Chandhoke, Neste's Technical Services Manager, Renewable Aviation, discuss how SAF helps turbine aircraft owners lower their carbon footprint and further minimize their impact on the world's climate.

Once it was ubiquitous, displayed on bumper stickers on cars parked at flight schools, as well as found on tee shirts, backpacks, and notebooks. “Will Fly For Food” was not just a tongue-in-cheek motto for those learning to fly. It underscored a career aspiration that put them in direct competition with the thousands of retiring military pilots entering the private sector. But no more. The Boomer Generation of pilots is retiring, and competition between airlines and business aircraft owners is hot – and expensive! In “Will Fly For Food No More,” Northstar Group's Craig Picken and Chris Broyhill of Citadel Consulting discuss the growing professional pilot shortage, and what trends dominate flight operation recruiting efforts. When there's more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!

This may not be your first aircraft – and after this past year, it’s probably not your last. So it’s critical that you establish a relationship with an experienced and capable maintenance service – one that can keep you flying safely and efficiently, regardless of what make and model – and age – aircraft you’re currently operating. That can mean working directly with an independent shop – one with technicians trained, certificated, and authorized to inspect and repair a wide variety of makes and models, both new and preowned. In Wrenching Decisions, David Davies, CEO of Constant Aviation, details how building that kind of reliable relationship with an independent maintenance provider can be beneficial in the long term – for both scheduled and unscheduled events!  When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.  Thanks for reading – and listening!

When it comes to aircraft maintenance, you’ve got lots of choices. For new aircraft, the decision can be pretty simple; it’s under warranty, so your most cost-effective choice likely is taking it to a factory-owned or factory-authorized facility. But once out of warranty – or absent an hourly-cost-maintenance program – the “where-to-go” decision for service becomes a bit more complex. In Homeward Bound, Bombardier’s VP OEM Parts and Services Chris Debergh details why bringing your aircraft back to the manufacturer’s facilities can be the logical choice for both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. And how those maintenance decisions can have an impact on your aircraft’s future market value.

It’s so tempting. The inventory of preowned turbine aircraft for sale was down near 7.2% in late March, according to JETNET. This might be a great time to sell or trade your current aircraft, as market values appear to be near all-time highs. Market value depends not only on total hours flown, but also on your aircraft’s maintenance record: how close it is to major inspections, overhauls, updates, or refurbs. In Past Maintenance Predicts Future Value, Asset Insight’s Tony Kioussis discusses how to calculate the impact of your aircraft’s current maintenance condition on its current and future market value – and how to use those data to manage your investment maintenance. 

Decisions, decisions… with so many new aircraft makes and models coming from the manufacturers, you’re faced with some major near term aircraft investment decisions. Do you trade up – or refurbish and upgrade?  Buying new can mean waiting for a delivery slot. So whether you plan to trade, or keep flying your current aircraft, now is an excellent time to upgrade your aircraft: to preserve its value – and improve its buyer appeal and trade-in value. In this podcast, Improving Your Pre-Owned Position, Flying Colours’ Kevin Kliethermes discusses how investing in refurbishment and overhaul (MRO) will help you “future-proof” your aircraft’s value –  with the latest in technology and cabin comfort – whether for your own use, or trade-in.  When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.  Thanks for reading – and listening!

Whew! We sure are glad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. Fewer than 600 new business turbine aircraft were sold, and only 2,470 retail pre-owned aircraft deals consummated. And that’s despite a hectic December, as fears that the 100% bonus depreciation would be canceled drove buyers to close by yearend. So what does 2021 hold for aircraft owners and charterers? What does it mean for you? Join me and guests Rolland Vincent of Rolland Vincent Associates and JETNET’s Paul Cardarelli in Business Aviation Advisor’s 2021: Off To The Races…Or Just Off? as we explore the forecast for new and pre-owned aircraft price and sales activity.  When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.  Thanks for reading – and listening!

Great question – particularly now, when seven worldwide business aviation trade groups have united to inform you about the dangers inherent in illegal charter, via the newly created the Air Charter Safety Alliance (ACSA).  But what is illegal aircraft charter? And what do aviation’s regulatory enforcement agencies have to say about the very real – and very expensive – safety risks that arise when you sell or buy charter “under the table,” or fly on an FAR Part 91 “borrowed” aircraft. Listen in as Greg Lander, FAA Enforcement Branch Attorney; and Ryan Waguespack, NATA’s Senior Vice President; define what constitutes illegal charter, and discuss the FAA’s renewed enforcement efforts to combat it. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

A lot can happen in three years. That’s how long it’s been since Shaesta Waiz became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft – and that was after becoming the first certified female civilian pilot from Afghanistan!  That 2017 trip has inspired thousands of young women to follow their dreams thanks to Dreams Soar, the nonprofit organization she founded to promote both STEM and aviation careers to young women. Listen in “Solo Inspiration,” as Shaesta tells the story of how her family’s flight from Afghanistan set the stage for her record-setting around-the-world flight, supported by a broad range of aviation companies – including Jet Support Services, whose Senior Vice President George Kleros provided counsel and support throughout the flight.

He was a toy mechanical man, popular in 1960s through the 1980s. When wound via an oversized key in his back, he could walk, swing his arms, ring a mounted bell – and say “Ah!” every few steps. Mr. Machine performed with precision, but had no ability to improve, doing only exactly same thing, in exactly the same way – over and over again.  Improvement depends on an ability to collect, analyze, and apply data to real life. And that depends on intelligence  – natural… or artificial.  In Artificial Intelligence Applied, My Sky’s Jean de Looz details how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the way aircraft owners and operators today collect, analyze, and apply data in real time to improve performance and cost control.

Business aviation is all about saving time –  you fly according to your schedule, departing and arriving at your convenience.  But convenience is only part of the timesaving equation. You need speed and comfort to make your travel time effective, and get the most out of life – in the air and on the ground. In Designed for Speed – and Comfort, Embraer’s Jay Beever and Porsche Design’s Roland Heiler discuss how their companies came together to create the interior and exterior features shared by the Duet: a limited edition combination of the Phenom 300E and the Porsche 911 Turbo S.  When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

Business aviation travel has gotten very personal during the past several months.  With severely reduced airline schedules and pandemic fears dominating air travel, more HNWI and UHNWI folks are turning to business jets and turboprops to meet their family flying requirements.  The National Air Transportation Association estimates that 90% of today’s turbine aircraft travel is personal, much of it from first time users. And it’s up to their Family Office executives to help them select the safest and most cost-effective option: charter, jet card, fractional, or aircraft ownership. In It’s a Family Affair, PNC Aviation Finance’s Keith Hayes and PNC Financial Services-Hawthorn’s Alexandre Monnier discuss what Family Offices need to know, to help them manage their clients’ growing use of business aircraft travel – and avoid the illegal options! When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!

To ensure your travel safety and that of your family and business associates, you’ve invested millions in your aircraft. Its annual operating budget likely runs to seven figures, with more than fifty individual line items. From catering to fuel to en route maintenance, there’s lots of room for invoicing error. And unfortunately, lots of opportunity for fraud as well. In The $10,000 Tuna Sandwich, Deloitte Forensic Advisor Mike Brodsky and I discuss how and where that opportunity makes you vulnerable to overcharging and worse – and how keep a watchful eye on all those expense lines!

If you think that flying safely means simply “doing things by the book,” then think again. Even if that book is your flight operation’s official Safety Management System manual. Because ensuring true flight safety is not just your flight department’s responsibility. It’s also yours. The commitment to aviation safety is cultural, and must start at the top – with you. In Safety “By the Book” isn’t Enough, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt joins me in describing how to harness industry expertise to ensure that a “safety first” culture is in place, and how to make “operational safety” more than just words in a dusty book on your shelf. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening! Gil Wolin, Publisher

It’s not your first rodeo. You’ve bought business aircraft before, and now it’s time to make another move. Maybe your travel requirements have changed, the upkeep on your current aircraft has gone through the hangar roof – or today’s financing and tax opportunities are better. Or maybe it is your first acquisition. Occasional charter was OK, but your travel schedule now requires immediate access to your own aircraft. In both cases, buying the right aircraft at the right price today requires the right knowledge and expertise! In Drafting Your Team, aviation attorney Chris Younger of GKG Law describes what expertise you’ll need to make sure your first – or next – business aircraft acquisition meets your business and personal requirements. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

Unmasked In Flight Is Unsafe Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. Sometimes thatmeans changing the way we’ve done things before. Like wearing an appropriate mask while flying – even when traveling with familiar co-workers, friends, and family. And that includes your flight crew. Because science indicates that transmission via aerosol – droplets in the air – is this virus’ preferred method of transmission. And because virus carriers can be asymptomatic, masks need to be mandatory for all while aboard your aircraft. In Unmasked In Flight Is Unsafe, MedAire’s Global Medical Director Dr. Paulo Alves details why you and your flight crew need to wear such masks at all times when flying aboard your aircraft. Even at altitudes where wearing an O2 mask in the cockpit is mandatory. Uncomfortable? Perhaps. But preferable to unsafe.

You’ve arrived at the FBO. You’re ready to board – and your flight crew informs you, “Sorry, we can’t depart right now. And perhaps not even today.” Whether it’s weather, maintenance, or some other factor, it’s their call – 100%. When it comes to operational safety and control, there are no “ifs,” “ands,” or “buts” about it. Your travel safety – and sometimes the financial health of your business aircraft operations – depend on the expert judgement of your flight crew. In When the Pilot Says “No!”, aviation lawyers Alison Squiccimarro and Chris Poreda explain why your flight crew must always have the last word on whether your flight is a “go.” When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments.

The aircraft is clean – your flight crew made sure of that. Your car or limo is clean – you made sure of that. But what about the FBO? You know – the chair you sat in, waiting for your other execs or family to arrive in time for departure. And the rest room… Who takes care of that? Yes, there’s much more to your travel safety today than just the aircraft and ground transport. In Boarding in Safety, Signature Flight Support executives Tony Lefebvre and Shawn Hall detail how their 200 FBO locations are keeping you, your flight personnel – and your aircraft – clean and safe during the current pandemic. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments.

As if medical and travel safety issues weren’t enough, the COVID-19 crisis also has triggered some critical legal challenges, as well. Like managing flight operations staff reductions – whether temporary or permanent. These key aviation professionals are charged with your travel safety and security, as well as business confidentiality. And there can be real challenges and costs to recall or replace them when you resume your more normal bizav travel schedule. Listen as aviation lawyer Alison Squiccimarro, and DaVinci Jets’ Paul Langvold discuss the often unintended consequences of furloughing or terminating flight and maintenance personnel due to the COVID-19 travel slowdown. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading, listening – and flying safely!

It’s been tough sledding for business aircraft owners and operators. With many aircraft parked and crews furloughed during the current quarantine, owners and charterers have had to modify their schedules as well as their expectations. But there are better times ahead, as Par Avion’s David Wyndham, Business Aviation Advisor’s new featured moderator, discusses with established aviation consultant Brian Foley and NATA Senior Vice President Ryan Waguespack in Flexible Flyers, Listen as they detail the better tools and processes under development to ensure you and your business aircraft passengers and crews remain safe. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading, listening – and flying safely!

It’s time to think about rebuilding your business. And doing so as soon as it’s safe will require traveling via business aircraft, to reconnect personally, face-to-face, with your key customers, allies, and associates. It also may require redeploying your capital to fund those rebuilding efforts. Using an operating lease to finance your aircraft can help you do just that. Listen as Keith Hayes, PNC Aviation Finance Senior Vice President,, and Lou Seno, JSSI Chairman Emeritus, detail how financing a new aircraft – or refinancing your current one – via an operating lease enables you to devote more capital to your core business. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading, listening – and flying safely! Gil Wolin, Publisher

There’s more to “Going Green” than owning a hybrid car – or seeking an FBO offering Sustainable Alternative Fuel to power your business aircraft. You can make sure your aircraft’s interior finish is eco-friendly, from fabric, carpet, and paneling material selection, to minimizing material transportation costs. Join Autumn Duntz, president of Autumn Elizabeth Design and author of Business Aviation Advisor’s “Comfortably Green,” and Jay Beever, Embraer Executive Jets’ Vice President, Interior Design, as they describe how business aircraft owners can make “going green” an integral part of your aircraft interior completion process – with no compromise to comfort, interior finish, or asset value. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading, listening – and flying safely!

Today’s required social distancing makes travel via business aircraft more appealing than ever – and only adds to the temptation to pay to “borrow” a friend’s aircraft. But while we remain preoccupied with staying separate, the FAA and IRS remain on alert for folks paying to use a privately-operated Part 91 aircraft. Paying even just the expenses for a non-commercial aircraft flight constitutes illegal charter. That puts at risk both your wallet and your safety – and carries some very significant financial penalties! Listen as NATA’s Ryan Waguespack and David Norton of Shackelford, Norton discuss how violating FAA and IRS regulations can compromise your safety and result in seven-figure government fines. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading, listening – and flying safely!

How many times have you said, “I’ll get to it, someday soon …” Well, how about now? Because, now, working at home, is an excellent time to think about your long-term goals. If learning to fly has been on your “someday” list, today might well be that day. Listen as Jack Long, entrepreneur and author of Piloting Your Own Aircraft, and John Zimmerman, Vice President of Sporty’s Pilot Shop discuss how they’ve harnessed flying their own aircraft for business success and for pleasure in Moving to Your Aircraft’s “Front Office”. 

Your aviation professionals, aircraft managers, and charter providers work tirelessly to keep you flying safely in ordinary times – but these are not ordinary times. Flying safely in extraordinary times mandates extraordinary measures, by all business aviation professionals, particularly in shared fleet aircraft – in the air and on the ground. Join us online in the newest Business Aviation Advisor podcast, Flying Healthy & Safe, as medical and travel security provider MedAire’s Dr. David Farnie, and global business jet operator Luxaviation’s Robert Fisch, describe how owners, charter users, flight crews, and ground service personnel can operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading, listening – and flying safely!

Especially when they come as service interruptions … or unbudgeted expenses. We devote tremendous amounts of time making contingency plans to cope and minimize their impact on our lives. Like finding out your flight home is delayed, because you need an engine component repair that requires parts – which will have an unbudgeted six-figure impact on your aviation budget. Your travel schedule demands operational reliability and financial predictability, for your own peace of mind. In this episode of Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast, Rolls-Royce Vice President Alan Mangels and Pratt & Whitney Canada Senior Manager Delray Dobbins discuss aviation engine manufacturer programs designed to help keep things running smoothly, improve aircraft performance – and eliminate those nasty, ill-timed service disruptions and unbudgeted expenses! When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!

In addition to its Annual Convention, the National Business Aviation Association now conducts three Regional Forums – one-day “mini-conventions” that offer current and prospective aircraft owners and operators an opportunity to meet with manufacturers and service providers, tour aircraft on static display, and attend information sessions on current national and regional issues. Lou Seno, JSSI Chairman Emeritus and BAA Advisory Board Member, was on hand at the first 2020 NBAA Regional Forum in West Palm Beach. Find out what you can expect this year, from industry green initiatives to new aircraft, as well as other industry news as Lou shares his perspective on the event in 2020 Views & News. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcasts to get you the information you need, to help you make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening! Gil Wolin, Publisher

Last week in Davos, Switzerland, some of the world’s economic focus shifted from the 1% to the 2% - the percentage of the world’s CO2 emissions that annually comes from Commercial and General Aviation.  But our industry took note long before, and a coalition of five business aviation associations made sure that leaders departing from three US airports for the 2020 World Economic Forum could fill up their business jets with Sustainable Alternative Fuel (SAF). With much more than just SAF on the horizon, we talked with David Wyndham, aviation consultant and former co-owner and president of Conklin & de Decker, to discuss those “greener” options, from alternative fuels to electric VTOL and fixed wing aircraft, in Business Aviation Gets Greener. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor Above and Beyond podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments.

Rapid technological innovation is not just for smartphones. Business jet owners and users have seen almost 20 new and improved makes and models of aircraft introduced just since 2008. That’s a pretty remarkable achievement, particularly since that’s almost twice the total number of new aircraft introduced between 1960 and 1980! Just how did that happen? In Keeping the Models Coming, General Aviation Manufacturers Association President & CEO Pete Bunce joins me to discuss how the Federal Aviation Administration certifies these innovative aircraft, engines, and avionics systems – and enables manufacturers to continue to deliver more improvements in safety, speed, reliability, as well as operating economics, to business aircraft owners and users like you. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!

“How much I love airplanes and how much I want to share that…” Workforce shortages loom throughout aviation – and more women are needed to fill them. Fortunately, more women are choosing careers both in the air and on the ground, to help keep you flying safely and securely, wherever and whenever you need to travel. In Secret Airports and Dancing Robots (HOTLINK), three influential aviation professionals –Dr. Peggy Chabrian, founder of Women in Aviation International; JetSuite president Stephanie Chung; and Gulfstream’s Manager, Simulation and Software Engineering Whitney Holt – describe how and why they pursued their individual careers in aviation, careers that enable them to harness their commitment to precision and excellence on behalf of business travelers around the world. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening! Gil Wolin, Publisher

Competition among underwriters has kept aviation insurance rates low for more than a decade – unsustainably low. That’s why those good times have come to an end, resulting in fewer insurers, tighter underwriting standards, and more scrutiny of pilot experience and training – creating today’s hard market with increased rates. But that’s history. What’s in the cards for 2020 – and beyond – and what can you do to hold the line on increased overhead cost? Stephen P. Johns, LL Johns Aviation Insurance, and John Brogan, USAIG president, discuss the market and give you some helpful advice in Aircraft Insurance Trends Upward. Sponsored by The International Aircraft Dealers Association and The National Aircraft Finance Association

Once, “Alpine White” was the only base color to paint an aircraft. And the only relief, and sign of personalization, was pin striping from nose to tail or perhaps a special N-number on the nacelle or vertical stabilizer. Today, advances in chemistry and application techniques have improved paint’s protective characteristics and heat reflectivity, so you can exercise your creativity on virtually any exterior surface of your aircraft. In “Paint and Re-Paint to Preserve Your Aviation Asset,” Duncan Aviation’s Nate Klenke and Doug Bohac, and PPG’s Duane Utter explain how today’s paint and its proper application better protect your aircraft – and why you need to renew that protection regularly. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!

The year 2019 has been a mixed bag, to say the least, with business jet shipments up 12.5% in the first six months, but turboprop airplane shipments declining by the same percentage. ARGUS reports that after a slow start, flight activity among charter and fractional operators – as well as by corporate owners – was up through the summer months, no doubt spurred by an abundance of commercial airlines flight cancellations. What can you expect the next few months to bring, and what does it mean for you? Listen as Rolland Vincent of Rolland Vincent Associates and JETNET’s Paul Cardarelli tell you what the near term holds, in this Business Aviation Advisor podcast.

You may think you know the current value of your aircraft. But unless it’s been recently appraised, you don’t. Not really. In “Regular Check-Ups,” the latest in BAA’s Above and Beyond series, American Society of Appraisers (ASA)-certified appraisers Lou Seno, Rick Berkemeier, and George Kleros tell you why it’s a good idea to have your aircraft appraised regularly – and avoid unpleasant surprises when financing, refinancing, or selling. The turbine aircraft market is constantly changing, responding to the economy, technology, make/model supply-and-demand, safety issues –and politics.

New York to Paris in less than 4 hours? You bet – if you’re traveling aboard an Aerion AS2 supersonic business jet, set to fly in 2023. The good news is that you don’t have to buy a whole aircraft. Fractional share operator Flexjet already has twenty AS2s on order, to satisfy even its most forward-thinking share owners and charterers. In BizAv Speeds Up, Directional Aviation’s Kenn Ricci details the reasons behind his Aerion SST fleet order, and how it fits with Directional’s other BizAv holdings, like Flight Options, Sentient Jet, Sky Jet, and Nextant Aerospace. When there’s more to be said than space and copy deadlines allow, you can rely on the Business Aviation Advisor “Above and Beyond” podcast series to get you the information you need, enabling you to make the most of your aviation investments. Thanks for reading – and listening!