Flight Department Show

Most leadership roles in business aviation aren't earned; they're inherited. The best pilot becomes the chief pilot. The strongest technician becomes the manager. And suddenly, someone trained to execute is expected to lead. But leadership isn't an extension of technical skill. It's a completely different discipline. As flight departments evolve into true business units, accountable for performance, talent, and strategic value, the cracks in that assumption are starting to show. Teams are harder to manage, expectations are higher, and the cost of weak leadership is no longer just internal friction; it's turnover, inefficiency, and lost credibility at the executive level. In this conversation, Matt Gray and Jamie Stember, both contributors to The Business Aviation Book, where they authored the chapter on management theories, break down why management theory still matters and what most leaders misunderstand about their role. What You'll Discover in This Episode Why leadership and management are fundamentally different disciplines, and why confusing them creates hidden failure points The real reason technical experts struggle when promoted into leadership roles How modern flight departments are shifting from "luxury function" to accountable business units, and what that demands from leaders Why one-size-fits-all leadership fails, and how effective leaders adapt to individual motivations inside the same team The overlooked role of incentives - what people say they want vs. what actually drives their behavior The real driver behind talent loss (it's not compensation) Why self-awareness and feedback are the foundation of effective leadership Guests Bio Matt Gray is the Assistant Chief Pilot at The Hershey Company, where he brings decades of experience across business aviation operations and leadership. With a career spanning nearly 30 years in aviation, including time in airline, charter, and corporate environments, Matt has built a reputation for bridging technical expertise with people-focused leadership. He currently serves as Chair of the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Governing Board and is a CAM Fellow, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing leadership standards within the industry. Jamie Stember is a seasoned business aviation leader, pilot, and asset manager with more than three decades of experience in the industry. A former Director of Aviation, Jamie spent 20 years leading an in-house flight department, overseeing aircraft operations, team development, budgeting, and strategic transportation solutions. Today, he is part of the team at Eagle Aircraft and Transportation Management, where he helps deliver tailored aviation solutions for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Jamie is a Fellow of the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) program and has served in leadership roles at the industry level, including as Chair of the CAM Governing Board. 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 are stretched thin. Aviation Directors spend more time fighting fires than leading. Organizations are going through massive shifts in culture and reporting structure. When Mike and I looked at this landscape, we knew something was missing. A resource needed to be created. So we split the workload in half and rolled up our sleeves. Two years later, we realized we'd made a fundamental mistake…a leadership mistake. Today Mike Nichols joins us to share the genesis of The Business Aviation Book: Leading Operational Excellence, the shift that unlocked the completion of the book, and how we aimed the book at the key challenges facing modern flight departments. What You'll Discover in This Episode The real reason aviation directors spend their days firefighting instead of leading…and why even the largest flight departments are structured almost to prevent great leadership The most limiting mindset a flight department leader can have… and the broader framework the industry desperately needs to adopt Why Mike walked away from a Senior VP role he loved at the peak of his career…and the uncomfortable question he asked himself that drove him to take drastic action Why the "Chairman's Chariot" era is over… and what it means for every flight department leader who still thinks job security comes from the corner office upstairs The uncomfortable truth about how most Aviation Directors got their role…and how this directly leads to the leadership crisis we're facing How the industry's most important annual leadership conference can deliver lots of inspiration, yet very little change…and what actually has to happen for leadership development to stick Why Mike Nichols believes some flight departments should close…and how the role of some flight departments may radically shift in the coming years Guest Bio Mike Nichols (CAM, CAE, IOM) is the founder of Flieger Strategies, a consulting company serving non-profit organizations, private/business aviation companies, and aircraft owners/operators. Flieger's primary client is the Piper M-Class Owners & Pilots Association (PMOPA) and the PMOPA Safety & Education Foundation where Mike serves as CEO. Nichols was a senior executive at National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) where he worked for 18 years. During his tenure at NBAA, Nichols advocated for the business aviation industry on FAA rule making committees, effectively preventing the implementation of onerous regulations while facilitating those that enhance safety and operations (among many other accomplishments). He is also an active instrument-rated private pilot and owns a Grumman Tiger aircraft. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn. 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!

The only business aviation show that will make you a better leader…so you make more money, get your people treated fairly, and stay in the business you love. We have a leadership crisis in business aviation. But through conversations with Aviation Directors, leaders and experts, you'll come away with practical, actionable steps to become the leader you were meant to be. From inside secrets to managing up your internal reporting executive…and simple steps to handle change more effectively…to powerful insights to setting a culture of belonging in your flight dept. You'll also learn how to uncover hidden pay raises… avoid dinner-table mistakes that make you look irresponsible to your partner or spouse… and how to walk into your next comp review armed with an approach HR respects and responds to. This show has one mission - make you a better Business Aviation Leader. Because when you're a better leader, you're better equipped to stay in the business you love. 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).