Jamie Walker, executive chairman of Jetlink, recently returned to a more active role after a 2-year break. 

Jetlink focuses on a local market approach, with private terminals or partnerships in over 20 locations. They have found success in acquiring and integrating smaller local charter operators. 

However, they have struggled with illegal charter competition in some markets. Walker emphasises Jetlink's commitment to safety and quality, and their plans to continue growing their domestic footprint through organic expansion and strategic partnerships.

The challenges of attracting talent to the business aviation industry have not gone away. Especially for roles like pilots and mechanics. Neil believes there may be a shortage of talent but there is also a shortage of attracting talent.

Retaining talent, especially mechanics, can be difficult due to compensation differences compared to commercial aviation. Providing career development opportunities and making employees feel valued are important.

There are cultural differences between business aviation and commercial aviation that impact the type of candidates that thrive in each environment. Assessing cultural fit is crucial when hiring.

Owners of private aircraft often rely heavily on their pilots' input when selecting aircraft models, showing the importance of the pilot-owner relationship in business aviation.

Advice for those looking to enter business aviation includes being proactive, getting exposure to the industry, and being honest about the demands of the work.

Thank you Neil for sharing your insights!

Join us this week with Mark Hardman, the founder of the business aviation company RightJet. Mark and Alasdair discuss the company's growth over the past 5 years, including expanding their showroom presence in the UAE and focusing on providing a full suite of services - from aircraft sales and charter to management.

Mark shares his extensive background in the industry, having started in aviation 40 years ago at Stansted Airport. He talks about the evolution of business aviation, particularly in the Middle East market, and how RightJet differentiates itself through a focus on ethics, transparency, and delivering exceptional service.

Thanks for joining us Mark! 

"It's a relationship business"

Ted Farid, Chairman at Jet HQ spoke to us this week about his 50+ year career in the business aviation industry. 

Ted touches upon the dramatic technological and global changes that the industry has undergone over his career, from the early days of Blackberries to today's ubiquitous connectivity. 

Evolution of aircraft design, shifting from engineer-focused to more customer-centric as business jets became viewed as "office in the air".

Finally, Ted reflects on his favourite aircraft models and the most challenging periods, such as the 2008 downturn and COVID-19.

Memo Montemayor is the founder of EMC Jet, a boutique aircraft brokerage and consulting firm based in Houston, Texas.

EMC Jet specialises in larger business jets like the G650 and Gulfstream models. They also sell turboprops like the King Air. Memo has expanded the company with offices in Atlanta, India, and Thailand.

Memo is very focused on building relationships and networking, sponsoring athletes and sports teams to connect with potential clients. This includes deals with Formula 1, the Houston Astros, and PGA Tour players.

Memo emphasises the importance of professionalism and ethics in the sometimes shady aircraft brokerage industry. He is involved with the industry association GLADE to promote best practices.

Despite the high-pressure nature of the business, Memo tries to maintain a work-life balance, playing golf 2-3 times per week and spending time with his family.

Anthony Tivnan, from Magellan Jets, discussed the company's aviation solutions, including on-demand charter, jet cards, aircraft sales and management, and a new fractional programme. 

Magellan has invested heavily in technology and AI to improve efficiency and the customer experience, such as integrating the Stellar platform, developing internal AI expertise, and automating various processes. 

Tivnan emphasised the importance of change management and education when implementing AI, as well as the challenges of balancing technology investments with maintaining a personal, high-touch service. 

He also shares insights on the evolving private aviation market, the rise of online booking platforms, and Magellan's focus on supply chain optimisation and client retention.

Visit the Magellen Jets website here: https://magellanjets.com/ 

 Stewart Lapayowker, founder of Lapayowker Jet Counsel, fell into aviation law early in his legal career when a partner at his law firm asked him to handle a private jet transaction. This meant that he had to learn the industry from scratch. To prevent this happening to others, he has just published his first book: Buying a private jet? What you don't know'. His advice for first-time private jet buyers is to assemble the right team of experts and not try to handle the process themselves.

You can read Stewart's book here: https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/buying-a-private-jet-what-you-dont-know/stewart-h-lapayowker-esq/9798999278906

Fabian Bello, CEO of Journey Aviation and author of 'Remade in America', shares his personal story of immigrating to the US from Cuba as a child and the journey that led him to a successful career in business aviation. 

He discusses the challenges and rewards of running an aircraft management company, navigating the complex relationships with aircraft owners, brokers and passengers. 

Bello also reflects on the importance of managing expectations and being transparent with clients. Additionally, he touches on the cultural differences he experienced transitioning to life in America and how that shaped his strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit.

This CJI podcast episode welcomes Phil Winters, Vice President of Western Aircraft and Chair of the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA). 

Phil discusses IADA's role in setting standards for aircraft transactions, the evolution of the single-engine turboprop market, and the challenges facing aircraft manufacturers and dealers, including tariffs on Swiss-made aircraft. 

He shares his personal journey into aviation and aircraft sales, as well as insights on the differences between selling Piper and Pilatus aircraft. 

Phil also highlights the importance of the dealer-customer relationship and the value that IADA-accredited dealers can provide to aircraft buyers. 

In this episode, David Dixon reflects on his remarkable 50-year career in aviation, which began with selling small piston aircraft in Africa before transitioning to business jets, including a 33-year tenure at Bombardier. 

He explores the evolution of the business jet market, highlighting the distinct challenges and opportunities in Asia compared to North America and Europe, where infrastructure limitations and cultural nuances significantly influence sales strategies. 
Dixon contrasts his experience selling standardised new aircraft at Bombardier with the complexities of the pre-owned market at Jetcraft, where each plane has a unique history and condition. He also shares how business aviation serves as an economic indicator, with demand fluctuating in tandem with broader market confidence.

 For newcomers, Dixon emphasises the importance of thoroughly understanding aircraft capabilities and customer needs, rather than focusing solely on price and specifications. Even after five decades, his passion for the industry remains strong, and he has no plans to retire as long as he finds the work both challenging and rewarding.