Raven Careers Aviation Podcast

Host, Jason DuVernay sits down with Ben Baldanza, the former CEO of Spirit Airlines to talk about the industry again. Ben gives his expertise on below the wing pain, consolidation, regional staffing, and career planning. 

Are you ready for the largest in-person hiring event of 2021? It takes place on October 22-24th and will be unlike any job fair you've ever been to. Check out www.rtag.org to learn more. 

Timestamps:

Don't skip the intro! I sit down with the President of RTAG to give you great information on their upcoming Job Fair!

6:56 - Ben’s recent travel experiences, what they’ve been covering on their show, and how airlines are dealing with below the wing employment gaps.

14:03 - Ideal business travel uptick season

17:58 - Data-based forecasts around business travel returns until we see what happens this fall.

21:20 - What is the difference between cash neutral and profitable? 

27:54 - Are we simply riding a wave of pent-up leisure travel or can we expect this trajectory to continue?

29:30 - Largely past the bankruptcy risk?

31:47 - How do Legacy airlines ensure their regionals are properly staffed with all of this hiring?

35:56 - With the insane hiring numbers we’ve seen lately are Airlines at risk of over-hiring?

37:41 - From the CEO's perspective, how do major airlines attract pilots in the long term?

40:42 - How do pilots measure the future growth of airlines?

44:36 - Consolidation threats in the US market?

46:09 - How are we going to get below the wing employees back?

47:42 - What inflationary pressures are airlines dealing with now?

50:54 - As pilots look forward into their careers, what should pilots be paying attention to that may not be so obvious?

56:26 - Ben’s advice for pilots looking to make move in their careers.

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

Host, Jason DuVernay sits down with DOD Skillbridge Experts Boris Kun and Max Shuman.

 

Mr. Kun directs the Department of Defense Credentialing, SkillBridge, and US Military Apprenticeship Programs from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense in support of the Assistant Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Kun is responsible for the oversight, development, and execution of the DoD-wide education, training, and credentialing IT reform and data analysis, credentialing, job skills training, and apprenticeship programs. 

He advises the highest levels of the DoD, the Executive Office of the President of the United States, and various Federal Departments in total workforce development and management.  Boris’ office is located in the Pentagon, where he arrived with over a decade of experience in management, analysis, and workforce development.

Max Shuman is an incredible wealth of knowledge on the subject of Skillbridge. His personal success with the program as well as the mentorship he has provided our clients has been invaluable. Max is a naval academy graduate with a Bachelors of science in aerospace engineering as well as a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, and just for good measure he picked up a Masters of Arts in National security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. Max is a successful F/A-18 pilot, serving as a squadron XO and CO in the F/A-18E, Max has had 4 deployments of which 3 were combat deployments.

Max served as the Commanding Officer of VFA-105 “Gunslingers” as an O-5, The Ops officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, he served a pentagon tour with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, was the Commanding officer of Navy munitions command Atlantic as an O-6 and finally served his final tour as Director of Ops at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center.

Quite simply Max is a wildly accomplished naval aviator who understands the command side and applicant side of this program better than most.

 

Timestamps:

[06:02] Introductions

[56:21] How does Skillbridge fit in with Terminal Leave?

[01:05:15] How to deal with Commanding Officers that say you already have a skill and what are the cost-savings in this program?

[01:20:30] How do you deal with pushback? How should you introduce this to your CO?

[01:35:50] How do you pitch Skillbridge to a potential employer?

[01:44:17] Unseen savings opportunities for organizations including test-driving a potential employee.

[01:48:49] What are the need-to-know items for an applicant and CO?

[02:00:05] How does a company become a vetted partner?

 

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

Long-haul international travel and business travel are the buzzwords we are watching the closest lately. Industry experts agree these sectors will be the last to return. How long will it take? To what capacity will it return? Is our current optimism warranted? 

Host, Jason DuVernay sits down with industry experts Brian Sumers of Skift.com and Global Travel Manager Ilene Onieal to try and make sense of it all. Will Southwest's high-frequency play attract small business travelers? Have travel policy restrictions been relaxed? Is government support creating an unequal playing field? What does this mean for you and your career?

Timestamps:

[02:07] Introductions

[05:20] How can airlines retain small to medium-sized business accounts?

[08:16] Will brand loyalty be enough to keep travel accounts?

[10:40] Southwest's high-frequency play.

[12:56] High-end leisure travel, will it return?

[15:26] Can we be optimistic?

[17:10] Leisure carriers going public, what does it mean for the industry?

[18:04] Have travel policy restrictions been relaxed? What is the new timeline?

[21:15] Business meetings and events, where are they?

[23:49] Sustainability?

[24:40] How will business travel return?

[29:19] American's 10K, whispers of bankruptcy protection?

[31:13] Is government support creating an uneven playing field? 

[32:22] Is Scott Kirby delusional, or is he seeing an opportunity others cannot see?

[37:27] Future of the industry.

[38:18] Border restrictions and testing, how bad is it?

[43:20] Do you think we will get back to 2018 numbers...soon?

[50:38] Upcoming episode teaser.

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

Contributions: René Armas Maes

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

The Ultra-Low-Cost-Carrier model has exploded worldwide. After doing exceedingly well during two previous downturns, 9/11 and the 2008 recession, these carriers are once again gearing up for rapid expansion as we emerge from COVID-19. 

Frontier is the first passenger carrier to announce hiring during the COVID crisis. Spirit is rumored to start up interviews again soon. Despite this impressive feat, the arrogant attitude towards the ULCC’s has continued amongst some pilots even after they’ve seen explosive growth and contractual gains.

We sat down with former Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza to make sense of it all. We talk about winners and losers. Is Delta delusional to think they can be cash neutral in Q2? We discuss timelines for bankruptcies and possible mergers. We learn what’s next from a true expert and industry insider who has served as a high-level leader within pretty much every major airline.

Listen to this fascinating interview with JetBlue Board Member and Former Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza and Raven’s own ULCC Pilot, Jason DuVernay. 

We hope you enjoy this candid inside perspective and much as we did.  

 

Timestamps:

[02:18] How has Ben's fascination with strategy and board games affected the way he leads in business?

[07:35] Breeze Airlines: How will they disrupt?

[14:44] Industry Status: Optimism in quarterly reports, delusional?

[24:50] ULCC comparisons

[29:37] Q2 Cash neutral, a pipe dream?

[35:00] Why haven't we seen much success with ULCC's using wide-body aircraft?

[39:15] Passengers who fly ULCC's; cheap or smart? An economics lesson.

[42:52] Cares Act 2: Should pilots be excited about their recall?

[44:51] "Hope is not a strategy," United's candor.

[48:02] CASM: Are ULCC's able to outlast legacy price pressure?

[50:43] Is consolidation something we should be preparing for? Ben's Five bold predictions for the US airline industry in 2021

[1:00:22] Canceled: Spring Break 2021

[1:04:30] What keeps Ben up at night?

[1:09:18] What is Ben optimistic about?

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

2020 has been a devastating year for passenger carriers while cargo has seen record revenues. Air cargo has pumped a little lifeblood into passenger airlines as well, but is it enough to save them? Glyn Hughes the Global Head of Cargo for IATA joins Jason to talk about the fascinating world of Air Cargo and your role in meeting the needs of a hungry world economy.

What can we expect in 2021 and beyond? Will the cargo machine keep humming? What about passenger airlines? What the heck is an ACMI carrier? Sit back, relax, and enjoy this ride through the world of Air Cargo.

Timestamps:

[02:10] Intro

[05:15] What does Glyn’s role look like?

[09:01] Global Cargo Industry: How has the response by different carriers and government bodies varied? How important is the movement of cargo to the global economy?

[16:08] How do you protect the flight crew during Covid-19?

[18:20] How have positive test results in pilots affected the cargo carrier’s ability to respond to the needs of commerce?

[21:22] The personal toll placed on cargo pilots. The unsung heroes of the pandemic.

[26:00] Vaccine movement, ensuring safe transportation of temperature sensitive vaccines. Supply chain challenges.

[33:13] Total tonnage down, revenue is up, but it’s not all profit.

[35:04] What sort of limitations do passenger carrying airlines have for carrying cargo?

[36:03] What sort of limitations do passenger carrying airlines have for carrying cargo?

[39:17] For passenger carriers, what percentage of fleets are you seeing flying cargo only? How is this changing the way these carriers see their revenue plans moving forward?

[46:26] Tourism vs. cargo, can cargo save the passenger airlines? Can we expect further growth from cargo carriers? Why don't ULCC carriers typically carry cargo?

[53:50] When we look at Amazon fulfillment, are we going to see more of a shift to narrow-body aircraft in the cargo industry?

[58:50] ACMI carriers and Ad-hoc vs. FedEx & UPS models. What's the difference?

[1:05:50] Animals by air?

[1:07:13] What keeps Glyn up at night?

[1:15:05] What is Glyn excited for looking into the future?

 

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of our employers.

We sit down with Erik Sabiston to hear the story of what his crew went through during one of the most decorated Dustoff missions in history. I selfishly wanted to hear this story. Having known Erik for over three years now our conversations have largely been focused on simply helping vets get jobs. Sadly, I had never taken the time to listen to his story, to learn more about my friend Erik.

Erik is the author of Dustoff 7-3 and the pilot in command of the heroic missions outlined in the biography Erik has been through hell, and his story is one that should be heard.

Rotary To Airline Group, or RTAG, began as a campaign to address the national pilot shortage with both professional and experienced Rotary Wing Aviators. This movement has since evolved, now endeavoring to place Veterans in the Airline Industry, regardless of their experience. We highlight the goals of the organization and how its mission has recently changed.

 

Timestamps:

[06:03] "I wrote this book to get rid of it."

[16:53] What drove Erik to join the military

[30:10] SCUM and WOC Rocks, what the heck is going on in Ft. Rucker?

[36:22] How losing his best friend inspired Erik to join the fight

[45:09] What does it mean to be awarded medals?

[49:56] To the "Valley of Death."

[53:09] J'Bad

[54:06] They landed on a mattress?

[55:45] What the heck is Dustoff?

[1:03:27] "I hated this place, but I knew I was going to miss it."

[1:23:29] Snoopin' & Poopin'

[1:28:51] The toll of deployments

[1:46:58] Dustoff 7-3

[2:29:21] The importance of having an outlet

[2:32:27] Thank you

[2:34:30] RTAG - The Veteran to Aviation Charity

 

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of our employers.

When James was hired at NetJets as their youngest pilot ever he thought he had made it, soon after the pilot group signed in a new contract offering him fantastic pay and benefits. James started looking for BMWs and other creative ways to spend his new windfall. Soon after James held another new record at NetJets...the youngest pilot to be furloughed.

When faced with this adversity he found himself in one of the worst job climates of the past 20 years. Working tirelessly to find new opportunities taught him the skills and tactics necessary to achieve success in aviation. Out of this downturn, Raven Career Development was launched.

What does it take to get a job in this depressed climate? How can aviators set themselves apart from the pack? Find out in this extended conversation with the founder of Raven Career Development.

Timestamps:

[03:25] What did the host of the 21.Five Podcast want me to ask James?

[07:20] Listener comments and reviews! What does my boss think about what you have to say? 

[12:13] The advice James used to give to all of his clients... his 8th wonder of the world. 

[16:23] Should we be excited about Thanksgiving TSA numbers? 

[21:38] Airlines interviewing as soon as February? 

[22:59] Passenger enplanement shifts across the industry domestically.  What does it mean for you? 

[26:47] What shift in concern is James seeing on his clients? 

[30:32] What the heck is interview prep?

[38:40] Interviews that stood out.

[40:38] Networking to success.

[47:25] Currency issues in underemployment.

[50:00] Pilot success stories. 

[56:07] Do resumes hold value in 2020? 

[1:01:35] The value of being punched in the face. 

[1:07:30] What the heck does Raven Careers even do?

 

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of our employers.

We've seen passenger airlines make huge strides in their cargo capabilities this year, but is it enough to save them? Former VP of Cargo for American Airlines and Qatar Airways, Laura Freeland, sits down with Jason to answer this question and more. 

This episode covers the cargo questions, dealing with industry change, and dealing with personal change, and embracing vulnerability. I almost broke it into two episodes but decided to release it as one long multi-faceted conversation. Largely, we cover airline revenue management from her perspective as a company leader, change management, and preparing for the future. I really love where we go toward the end, tons of good advice from a great industry leader! 

 

Timestamps:

Part 1: Cargo Revenue Management

3:34 - Laura's background and introduction including her involvement in the dynamics of cargo.

6:10 - AGIFORS - Dynamics of airline revenue management and Laura's part in it. Perishables and vaccine transportation.

16:33 - Considering your multiple executive positions, can you help pilots like me understand what's going on in our industry?

19:49 - Cash burn and liquidity compared to 9/11.

22:13 - How important is it for our listeners to pay attention to what's going on in other sectors of the travel industry? 

28:52 - Can cargo revenue turn around passenger airlines? 

33:36 - If a passenger airline is converting aircraft to cargo, what does that say about how they view the future?

 

Part 2 - Change Management and Overcoming Adversity

48:06 - What is change management? How will these shakeups affect airlines? 

50:22 - What can airline managers be doing better in this environment? 

54:36 - What one thing can pilots and flight attendants be aware of to better help them understand what their managers are deciding? 

1:02:04 - Fight for culture.

1:07:46 - Embrace vulnerabilities.

1:10:59 - Laura's keys to success as a former hiring manager

1:12:42 - Advice for dealing with adversity including her time working in the Middle East.

1:21:28 - Candor & resilience getting through difficult times.

 

Part 3 - State of The Industry and Preparation 

1:32:54 - Leading indicators to watch for and using aviation knowledge outside of the industry.

1:41:02 - Finding control and understanding why knowing your strengths is so important.

 

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of our employers.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, and so much has changed since March. As the New Year rapidly approaches, how will airlines get passengers back? How will they avoid more furloughs? How should they prepare for passengers to return? 
 
Life has become overwhelming. Now it’s time to get moving in the right direction.

Join us as Former ALPA President, Administrator Randy Babbitt sits with us for his first-ever podcast! Mr. Babbitt shares his experiences in multiple leadership roles, his personal history as a pilot, ALPA President, and battles he fought on Capitol Hill as the FAA Administrator.

Timestamps:

[04:38] Episode Outline

[09:44] Podcast Begins

[10:37] Randy’s introduction and career overview

[12:50] “One Level of Safety”

[13:28] “Flight Time/Duty Time”

[14:36] What sort of things did you have to deal with while you were at Eastern and your time as the President of ALPA?

[15:41] Arab oil embargo and the similarities to now

[17:39] Deregulation

[18:47] Rewriting bankruptcy laws – Frank Lorenzo

[21:51] Covid-19 disruptions

[22:32] Is the 1500-hour ATP rule a barrier to entry?

[27:52] Artificial intelligence in simulators and virtual reality?

[29:09] Dealing with a future pilot shortage, will there be rule changes to allow more sim time toward ATP?

[33:17] Low time pilots. What about decision-making skills?

[39:08] What changes should we expect to see moving forward out of Covid-19, when it comes to training?

[40:04] Proficiency vs. currency

[46:20] Randy’s first flight as captain – tail cone overheat

[47:26] Avianca and their creative cost-sharing measures.

[50:45] Rest Time Duty Time and the flight that inspired it

[53:41] Will we see a dip in enrollment at flight schools this time around?

[55:21] Enjoying flying and a personal note from Randy

[57:48] What do you see trend-wise with the airline industry

[1:03:39] What are your executive and union friends talking about right now, what is keeping them up at night?

[1:06:58] What changes can we expect to see with airline capacity representation in the future?

[1:10:35] Cares Act 2

[1:14:08] If you were back in the role of ALPA president, where would you have your MEC leaders focusing?

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Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers

The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of our employers.