Flight Department Show

HR and flight departments don't speak the same language on compensation. So if you understand their language, you'll have a big advantage in any salary negotiation.   This conversation breaks down total rewards and different categories of compensation. So whether you want to raise your corporate pilot salary, or get our entire flight department paid fairly, you go into every negotiation with an approach HR respects.    What You'll Discover In This Episode    The 5 components of total rewards One phrase that will make HR treat you differently The hidden $15k raise buried inside your medical benefits The lever HR can pull even if your base salary is maxed out Why 'cheap' always shows up in safety What it looks like to 'go to bat' for your people on compensation   About the CoHost Matt Johnson is the founder of MicroFamous, a video marketing agency, as well as the author of MicroFamous. A former licensed agent, Matt was a founding co-host of Real Estate Uncensored, a podcast that received over 3.5 million views and downloads. Matt and the MicroFamous team are behind the video shows and podcasts of top real estate coaches and thought leaders. Learn more at GetMicroFamous.com.   About Your Host Dr. Chris Broyhill is the industry's most respected authority on business aviation compensation. An industry veteran with over 43 years of aviation experience, Dr. Broyhill has led several scientific research projects on personnel retention, compensation, and leadership for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) since 2017. Dr. Chris holds a Ph.D. in Aviation and has published two books that feature the results of his work. He's also an outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, an NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Fellow, and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).   Resources Get the Data, Win the Negotiation, Stay in the Business You Love. To get your compensation report, visit AirCompCalculator.com. We have a range of options for different scenarios and budgets, from validating a specific job offer, to packages for entire departments.   Check out this episode on our website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more leaders in business aviation. Thank you!  

Business aviation has spent years talking about talent shortages, leadership gaps, and the difficulty of attracting the next generation. But the deeper problem may be what happens after people enter the industry. Too many flight departments rely on informal knowledge transfer, loosely structured onboarding, and leaders who are too consumed by daily operations to deliberately develop their people. The result is a fragile leadership pipeline: employees may learn how to perform the job, but not how the department supports the business, how to lead a team, or how to prepare for the next stage of their careers. Dan Wolfe believes mentorship must become a purposeful leadership responsibility, not an occasional conversation or an optional act of generosity. Drawing on nearly five decades in aviation and more than 30 years rising from copilot to aviation vice president, Dan explains how structured mentorship strengthens culture, improves succession planning, develops future leaders, and helps departments preserve the knowledge the industry cannot afford to lose. The question is not simply whether you are mentoring someone. It is whether your department will be stronger after you leave.   What You'll Discover In This Episode    Why mentorship should be treated as a core leadership responsibility rather than something leaders provide when time allows How failing to develop internal talent leaves flight departments dependent on external hires when leadership positions suddenly open Why every new employee needs to understand the company's mission and the business purpose of the aircraft, not only their operational role How formal internship programs can strengthen the entire department by turning experienced employees into teachers, mentors, and emerging leaders Why effective mentorship requires individual development plans, clear deliverables, and active accountability from both the mentor and the mentee How leaders can identify potential in employees who do not yet see themselves as future managers or aviation directors Why developing a high performer who eventually leaves for a larger opportunity should be viewed as an industry success, not a departmental failure.   About the Guest Dan Wolfe is an aviation leader, experienced vice president, aircraft captain, coach, consultant, and mentor with ServiceElements International Inc. He brings nearly five decades of aviation experience, including more than 31 years with Nationwide, where he progressed from copilot to captain, chief pilot, associate vice president, and ultimately vice president, general manager, and aircraft captain. Throughout his career, Dan has built a strong track record in business aviation leadership, operations management, talent development, workforce retention, and succession planning. His work has centered not only on operating high-performing flight departments, but also on developing the people and leadership pipelines needed to sustain them. Dan's aviation qualifications include ATP, CFII, and A&P certifications, along with numerous aircraft type ratings. Today, he applies that experience as a coach, consultant, and mentor, helping aviation professionals and flight departments strengthen leadership, culture, and operational performance.   About Your Host Dr. Chris Broyhill is the industry's most respected authority on business aviation compensation. An industry veteran with over 43 years of aviation experience, Dr. Broyhill has led several scientific research projects on personnel retention, compensation, and leadership for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) since 2017. Dr. Chris holds a Ph.D. in Aviation and has published two books that feature the results of his work. He's also an outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, an NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Fellow, and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).   Resources Get the Data, Win the Negotiation, Stay in the Business You Love. To get your compensation report, visit AirCompCalculator.com. We have a range of options for different scenarios and budgets, from validating a specific job offer, to packages for entire departments.   Check out this episode on our website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more leaders in business aviation. Thank you!  

What if conflict in a flight department is rarely about the first problem you see? In business aviation, pressure tests more than the aircraft, the schedule, or the procedures. It tests the culture behind the operation. Kellie Rittenhouse, Director of Aviation and contributor to The Business Aviation Book: Leading Operational Excellence, joins us to share a practical lens on conflict resolution. Her message? Strong flight department leadership starts with asking better questions, communicating where people are, and addressing tension before it becomes a bigger operational issue. What You'll Discover in This Episode Why conflict resolution is not a "soft skill," but a core leadership capability in high-performing flight departments How Kellie's non-traditional path from scheduling and dispatch to director of aviation gives her a different view of operational leadership Why business aviation leaders must build trust before stress, travel disruptions, or mechanical issues expose communication gaps How small misunderstandings can become major team conflicts when leaders fail to ask better questions early Why "communicating where people are" matters more than simply sending the message How crucial conversations can give flight departments a shared language for tension, accountability, and repair Why retention is not only about compensation, and how schedule, trust, professional development, and life stage all shape whether people stay     About the Guest Kellie Rittenhouse is an accomplished aviation professional, CAM fellow, and the Director of Aviation at Hangar Aviation Management, LLC. With a strong background in the industry, Kellie has been an integral part of the CAM Governing Board. Based at the Oakland County International Airport (PTK) in Waterford, MI, Hangar Aviation Management is an aviation services company that supports a fleet of four aircraft with a domestic and international travel profile for both business and personal use. Kellie's dedication to the aviation community extends beyond her role as the Director of Aviation. She is actively involved in shaping the future of business aviation as the Chair of the Michigan Business Aviation Association's (MBAA) Board of Directors.   About Your Host Dr. Chris Broyhill is the industry's most respected authority on business aviation compensation. An industry veteran with over 43 years of aviation experience, Dr. Broyhill has led several scientific research projects on personnel retention, compensation, and leadership for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) since 2017. Dr. Chris holds a Ph.D. in Aviation and has published two books that feature the results of his work. He's also an outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, an NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Fellow, and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).   Resources Get the Data, Win the Negotiation, Stay in the Business You Love. To get your compensation report, visit AirCompCalculator.com. We have a range of options for different scenarios and budgets, from validating a specific job offer, to packages for entire departments.   Check out this episode on our website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more leaders in business aviation. Thank you!  

  Flight departments often think carefully about aircraft, safety systems, operations, budgets, and compliance. But the same level of intentionality is not always applied to people. Development is too often treated as something that happens after someone shows promise, asks for support, or gets pushed into a larger role. By then, the department may already be reacting to a gap that should have been addressed years earlier. Dr. John Gale argues that development has to become part of the flight department's operating discipline. Not just leadership training, another certification, or a generic corporate learning module. A real development culture connects individual interests, aptitude, organizational needs, aviation-specific capability, and long-term business value. With experience across military aviation, Fortune 100 flight departments, business education, and consulting, John brings a practical view of what it takes to build stronger teams over time. In this episode, Dr. Gale explains why development in business aviation can't be treated as a perk, a checkbox, or something that begins when a leadership role opens.   What You'll Discover In This Episode    Why development should begin long before someone is considered for promotion, succession, or a larger leadership role How to think about development as an investment in people, not a discretionary benefit or budget extra Why strong development plans have to align the individual's interests, aptitudes, timing, and goals with the needs of the flight department The difference between generic company training and aviation-specific development that actually strengthens the department Why "fit" matters in hiring, development, retention, and culture — and why credentials alone are not enough How leaders can support both future leaders and high-performing individual contributors who do not want to manage people Why investing in development influences far more than career growth, including safety, morale, resilience, retention, and enterprise credibility     About the Guest Dr. John Gale is a business aviation leader, consultant, and former Fortune 100 aviation executive with extensive experience leading complex global flight departments. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Aviation for two major Fortune 100 companies, overseeing large-scale aviation operations with significant aircraft assets, global travel demands, and high-performing teams. His career spans military aviation, corporate aviation, public affairs, government affairs, and executive leadership. A former Marine Corps aviator, Dr. Gale is an ATP-rated pilot with approximately 9,000 flight hours and type ratings across multiple aircraft, including Gulfstreams, Falcons, Citations, King Airs, and DC-9s. As a contributor to The Business Aviation Book, Dr. Gale authored the chapter on development, bringing a practical and strategic perspective on how flight departments can prepare people earlier, build stronger teams, and align individual growth with the needs of the organization.   About Your Host Dr. Chris Broyhill is the industry's most respected authority on business aviation compensation. An industry veteran with over 43 years of aviation experience, Dr. Broyhill has led several scientific research projects on personnel retention, compensation, and leadership for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) since 2017. Dr. Chris holds a Ph.D. in Aviation and has published two books that feature the results of his work. He's also an outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, an NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Fellow, and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).   Resources Get the Data, Win the Negotiation, Stay in the Business You Love. To get your compensation report, visit AirCompCalculator.com. We have a range of options for different scenarios and budgets, from validating a specific job offer, to packages for entire departments.   Check out this episode on our website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more leaders in business aviation. Thank you!  

What happens when the compensation market moves faster than your flight department? Business aviation compensation continues to outpace the salary increases offered by many corporations. Yet leaders often do not recognize how far behind they have fallen until a valued employee leaves, and replacing that person may require a type rating, higher market compensation, and months of rebuilding operational trust. But compensation is only part of the leadership challenge. In this special crossover episode, I'm sharing the conversation on the 21.Five Professional Pilots Podcast, with Dylan Miller and Max Palmer. My message? Leadership cannot begin after someone resigns, a compliance problem surfaces, or tension becomes impossible to ignore. What You'll Discover In This Episode Why relying on standard 3- 4% corporate raises can leave aviation compensation significantly behind the market How paying at the 50th percentile introduces retention risk, and when schedule predictability can offset a lower salary Why expensive type ratings need to be accompanied by a visible compensation and career-progression path How aircraft class, mission profile, position, and location influence compensation more than experience, flight hours, or tenure Why informal salary comparisons between flight department leaders can create antitrust and price-fixing concerns How technically accomplished pilots are promoted into leadership without preparation for taxes, employment law, financial management, and organizational strategy Why strong aviation leaders never stop learning, and must identify operational knowledge gaps before those gaps threaten people, compliance, or the flight department itself   About the Guests Dylan Miller is a Business Aviation Leader and co-host of the 21.Five Professional Pilots Podcast. He is a seasoned professional pilot with 20 years of experience across various aviation sectors, including airlines, Part 135 charter, and Part 91 corporate/HNWI operations. Currently, he manages a small flight department that operates a Challenger 350. An active participant in the business aviation community, Dylan has held several leadership positions, such as President of the Arizona Business Aviation Association and Co-Chair of NBAA's Small Flight Department Committee. Max Palmer is a Professional Pilot, G280 Captain, First Officer at Southwest Airlines, and co-host of the 21.Five Professional Pilots Podcast. He has a broad range of aviation experience in both private and commercial aviation. Max is also an experienced flight department manager, pilot, and real estate professional.   About Your Host Dr. Chris Broyhill is the industry's most respected authority on business aviation compensation. An industry veteran with over 43 years of aviation experience, Dr. Broyhill has led several scientific research projects on personnel retention, compensation, and leadership for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) since 2017. Dr. Chris holds a Ph.D. in Aviation and has published two books that feature the results of his work. He's also an outstanding graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School, an NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Fellow, and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).   Resources Get the Data, Win the Negotiation, Stay in the Business You Love. To get your compensation report, visit AirCompCalculator.com. We have a range of options for different scenarios and budgets, from validating a specific job offer, to packages for entire departments.   Check out this episode on our website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more leaders in business aviation. Thank you!