21.FIVE - Professional Pilots Podcast

Brooks Pettit of Vaerus Jet Sales joins Dylan and Max to break down what is really happening in the business aircraft market. For professional pilots and flight departments, he covers tight inventory, strong demand, financing, tax-driven transactions, and why planning ahead matters. They also get into Challenger 3500 delivery positions, bonus depreciation, tariffs, AI-driven market research, and the realities of buying and selling aircraft in a fast-moving market. Listen in for a practical look at the transaction side of business aviation, then subscribe for more conversations from the cockpit and the flight department. Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and re...

Max checks in from a musty Missouri hotel while earning his Light Sport Repairman certificate, and the guys detour through GA maintenance, Starbase, RTA wizardry, and the ongoing decline of 123.45 as a social network. Mailbag covers Sugar Alpha, Qantas' ultra-long-haul A350 plans, where Spirit's pilots and traffic may have landed, and whether 21.Five needs a Discord server. In Flight Advice, Dylan and Max tackle the stereotype that pilots are destined to cheat—and how couples can build trust, recognize real red flags, and keep the hotel-bar lifestyle from becoming a relationship MEL.

Mentioned in this episode:

Rob Zettel joins Dylan and Max to tell the story of flying MiG-21s and MiG-23s with the USAF's secretive Red Eagles under the Constant Peg program. For professional pilots, it's a fascinating look at training, aircraft handling, risk management, and what happens when experienced aviators are handed an airplane with no two-seat trainer and no simulator. Rob gets into fighting frontline U.S. fighters in the MiG-21, taking the MiG-23 to Mach 2.35, handling a serious hydraulic failure, and later trading Cold War fighters for a career at United and the 757. Listen and subscribe for more conversations with the...

Max gets wrecked by a closed mariscos truck, discovers there are still 727 flight engineers in the wild, and goes full test-pilot mode in his Cub after finding Bush Air's backcountry training content. In the Mailbag, we hear about expat pilot furloughs at Cathay, the French art of la bise, Allegiant's bridge agreement, and a couple of excellent Oshkosh run-ins. Flight Advice tackles how a military/airline pilot with basically no GA background should ease into tailwheels, backcountry flying, airplane ownership, instruction, and the local GA community without making a very expensive first mistake.

Bush Air / CC Pocock's Youtube Channel<...

James Onieal of Raven Careers returns to break down the current pilot hiring market across the majors, regionals, cargo operators, fractionals, and cadet programs. He explains why hiring remains competitive, why ATP-CTP is becoming a practical minimum for first jet jobs, and why changing lanes can sometimes leave pilots farther behind. The crew also digs into NetJets, Flexjet, FedEx, Alaska-Hawaiian, low-time networking, and the danger of grinding for flight time without a realistic payoff. Listen and subscribe for a candid look at building a professional flying career without turning yourself into logbook dust. Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Ra...

Dylan and Max return from aggressively vacationing with biplane rides, glacier dog sledding, Telluride approaches, and a real single-engine checkride landing at Prescott. They break down United's unusual diversion into Luke Air Force Base, swap diversion war stories, and question whether anyone actually wants a 24-hour Qantas flight. The Mailbag covers Skybus, a Harvey Watt-powered ultramarathon, and more listener follow-ups. Flight Advice tackles whether a new dad should stay in a Part 135 Citation job building turbine PIC or jump to a regional—and the verdict is to stay put for now. Show Notes

0:00 Intro

2:32 Max's Musings: Aviation Va...

Dr. Chris Broyhill returns to talk AirComp Calculator data, pilot compensation trends, and why business aviation leadership still needs some recurrent training. For professional pilots and aviation managers, this one matters because the market is moving faster than the standard "here's your 3% raise" corporate playbook. Dylan, Max, and Chris get into G500/G600 pay, contract rates, compensation survey safe-harbor rules, and the new Business Aviation Book: Leading Operational Excellence. Listen, subscribe, and maybe read the methodology section before walking into your next comp meeting. Click here to learn more about the Air Comp Calculator

Click here to learn more...

Summer scheduling chaos is in full swing as Dylan and Max talk vacation bidding wizardry, Teterboro's RNAV to Runway 1, NDB war stories, New York hotel-room misery, and a suspiciously affectionate airline lobby ritual. In the Mailbag, they tackle foreign pilots at U.S. carriers, terrifying hotel van rides, AI app-building tools, and a listener plea to stop stepping on each other's punchlines. For Flight Advice, they answer a 300-hour CFI wondering how to build an interesting aviation career while still protecting family life, QOL, and future seniority. TankerBot AI in Business Aviation LinkedIn Group Show Notes

0:00 Intro & Pagers

Dylan and Max talk Alaska dreams, Southwest's new nonstop to Anchorage, lake lodge podcast fantasies, and Max's brave decision to bypass the discounted Marriott burger for Yemeni cuisine. In the Mailbag, listener Elijah checks in with a unique path back into aviation after the Air Force and a decade away from flying. For Flight Advice, the guys break down why using the GI Bill for PC-12 initial training, single-engine ATP currency, and an Alaska 135 strategy might actually be a no-brainer. Also: meta glasses, janky gravel strips, and potential tax treatment for baklava. TankerBot - Try out the beta version of...

Timothy P. Pope joins Dylan and Max to talk through the financial side of Spirit's shutdown and what professional pilots can learn from it. For airline and bizav pilots, the big takeaway is simple but not always fun: stabilize first, optimize later. The crew digs into emergency funds, burn rate, 401(k) rollovers, IRA traps, benefits, life insurance, and why raiding retirement money is usually the nuclear option you try very hard to avoid. Listen, subscribe, and maybe give your emergency fund a little love.

Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice speci...

Dylan and Max kick things off with DoubleTree cookie restraint, San Diego seafood, 40-plus Vegas strategy, DJ juice, and the emerging menace of the commuter life vest. In the Mailbag, listeners bring dumpster-diving charter pilot stories, bankruptcy bassoon suggestions, skydiving-adjacent book recommendations, and a heavy airline-industry "what if" about another major demand shock. Dylan also recaps his first Atlantic crossing in years, complete with CPDLC confusion, Gander relief, and some unpaid product shoutouts. Flight Advice tackles whether a 36-year-old Caravan pilot with a young family should protect quality of life or make the jump toward 121 and start building seniority. Firefly...

James Onieal from Raven Career Development joins Dylan and Max to unpack Spirit Airlines' wind down and what it means for Spirit pilots, regional pilots, CFIs, and anyone trying to move up the aviation ladder. The conversation gets into why experience alone will not carry you through an interview, especially when 2,000-ish highly qualified pilots suddenly enter the market. James breaks down logbooks, PRD files, recommendation strategy, corporate aviation, oil-price uncertainty, and why "preferential interview" does not mean "automatic job."

Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term ca...

Max recaps a wild GA camping trip involving gale-force winds and a midnight arboreal emergency, while Dylan discusses the "superpower" of vibe-coding your own aviation tools with AI . The Mailbag tackles the dilemma of choosing between a quick class date with a restrictive five-year contract or waiting for a better "wholly owned" offer . Finally, Flight Advice addresses a contract pilot who is being ghosted on $10,000 worth of invoices and expenses . The 2025 FAA Pilot Statistics Are Out — And Nobody's Talking About This - Seth Lake Show Notes

0:00 Intro

2:24 Max's Musings: Flights & Camping

23:13 Pilot Numbers, FAA, & AI Co...

Dylan and Max sit down with Kyle Freiberger and Mike Sferrazza from First Class Leaders to bridge the gap between technical proficiency and effective aviation leadership . This episode explores why traditional CRM often fails to address the human element and how pilots at any rank can cultivate influence through self-awareness and emotional intelligence . The guys dive into the "Take the Lead" framework, the DISC behavioral tool, and the critical shift from defending your intentions to owning your impact on the crew . Learn more about First Class Leaders Show Notes

0:00 Intro

2:11 Starting First Class Leaders

6:04 Dealing...

This week Dylan and Max kick things off with Atlantic Bucks, the new IRS reporting threshold, and a spirited rant about airport parking, employee lots, and the endless misery of hotel vans. In the mailbag, they dig into helicopter careers, the real risk-versus-reward tradeoffs, and what that path looks like compared with airplanes. Flight Advice gets into career strategy for a maintenance pro trying to break into flying and a young regional FO deciding between staying put, jumping to 135, or chasing a bigger airplane. It's part career counseling, part curbside therapy, and very much a professional pilot problem. Show Notes <...

Juan Browne of the blancolirio YouTube channel joins Dylan and Max to talk about how he breaks down aviation accidents and incidents in near real time. For professional pilots, it's a sharp discussion on separating facts from opinion, finding teachable moments, and managing the gap before the NTSB final report arrives. They get into ADS-B, ATC audio, comment-section corrections, GA repeat offenders like VFR into IMC and loss of control, plus a few backcountry Husky war stories.

Check out the Juan Browne's Blancolirio channel on YouTube

0:00 Intro

3:00 How It Started

9:10 The...

Why is Max recording at night, and why does every aviation headline lately feel like another runway-incursion autopsy? This episode covers TSA chaos at Sky Harbor, a rough New York accident discussion, eVTOL optimism, and Max's descent into experimental-airplane condition inspection misery. In the Mailbag, the guys debate NBAA landing-distance math, hear a loud call to bring back listener stories, and defend Max's musings like true professionals. In Flight Advice, they tackle a brutal career question: keep three years of United seniority and commute, or risk starting over at Delta for a shot at living in base. Joby Aviation's Electric...

This week Dylan and Max dig into the recent Challenger 650 accident in Bangor and the very real pressure corporate crews can feel when winter ops get sporty. In the Mailbag, they hit union negotiations, whether helicopter flying is actually a smart career pivot, a truly elite ripped-pants-in-cruise story, and a listener correction on landing the Osprey. For Flight Advice, they tackle a big mid-career question: if you had to start over in your late 40s, is a fractional the better move than going back to the bottom of an airline seniority list? It's safety soapbox, career therapy, and just enough...

Dan Boedigheimer from Advanced Aircrew Academy joins Dylan and Max to break down why wrong-airport and wrong-surface landings still happen, and what professional pilots can do to stay ahead of them. For Part 91 and bizav crews especially, it's a practical discussion on building better habits when nobody is spoon-feeding you the safety data. They get into visual approach traps, pilot monitoring duties, stabilized approach discipline, workload, fatigue, and what actually makes recurrent safety training stick. Listen in, then subscribe so you don't end up chasing the bright shiny airport like an amateur.

Check out Advanced Aircrew Academy

Dylan and Max are joined by James Onieal (Raven Careers) for Episode 200, covering everything from conferences and networking to cadet programs, cargo hiring, and fractional life. They also dig into the latest conflict in the Middle East and what rising oil prices could mean for airline pilots—from hiring pressure and route economics to the broader ripple effects across the industry. The conversation gets into why pathway programs can be helpful, but also how debt-heavy options can limit your flexibility when the market turns. Add in pipeline patrol as real CRM-building time, a healthy dose of uncertainty, and the usual Ep...

Dylan and Max sit down with Aaron, Software Architect at Airplane Manager, to talk business aviation ops tech and where AI is headed. If you're running lean (two pilots, one tail, no dispatcher), this is the roadmap for reducing busywork without losing operational control. They dig into integrations, offline trip tools, and why "apps" might just become background APIs. Listen in and subscribe for more pilot-to-pilot ops talk. Check out the software Dylan and Max both use to run their departments: Airplane Manager Show Notes

0:00 Intro

2:01 Airplane Manager Overview

11:07 App, AI, and Security

21:08...

Dylan and Max recap a jet-lagged Japan ski mission, widebody travel wins and fails, and the realities of surviving brutal time zone changes. In the Mailbag, they dig into Saab war stories, Autoland edge cases, NBAA training standards, airline-branded watches, and career wins from listeners making the jump into jets. The Flight Advice segment centers on a sobering accident discussion and the risks of slipping from airline discipline into lightly regulated operations. As always, it's equal parts technical insight, hard-earned perspective, and questionable footwear choices.

Southwest Airlines Breitling Interest Form

Dave's Cosmic Subs

TimeShifter Jet...

Late-night musings from Dylan and Max: corrections on "newest airports," a touchdown-point math fix, and Max's Cub antics after an oil change—including a surprise landing on BLM dirt near Lake Pleasant. Then: the inaugural JSX ATR into Scottsdale, a Japan trip preview, a wild "Gleaming the Cube" airport intro, Jepp AMM taxi chart nerd-out, ForeFlight layoff chatter, and Airplane Manager's new AI. The mailbag brings career moves, SOP love, a real-world bird strike at rotation, and finally: Flight Advice from a pilot spouse (Marie) asking what "stay flexible" really means when you've got kids, a career, and possible commuting in...

Financial planner Timothy P. Pope of 360 Aviation Advisors returns to break down 2026 retirement updates that matter to pro pilots. From new Roth catch-up rules to Southwest's bold move on NEC contributions, he digs into the real tax impacts for airline crews. Bonus: comparisons across the majors, advice for CFI's just starting out, and a hangar office update. Listen in and get smarter about your money. Show Notes

0:00 Intro

3:23 What's New: Retirement Considerations

13:26 Southwest Airlines & Carrier Benefits

32:28 Retirement For Younger Pilots

35:29 Financial Planning for Younger Pilots

44:35 Practice Updates: Tax Prep<...

San Diego continues its reign as the busiest single-runway "how is this legal?" airport, plus we nerd out on new terminals, recurrent training wins, and a Challenger sim surprise when Dylan's seat decided to yeet itself at ~90 knots. In the Mailbag, we hit ferry flying as a niche career path, a home-buying reality check from Diamond Dog Tim Pope (mortgage recasts, baby), and a training-center SOP rant that's painfully relatable. We also kick off the 2026 ops-manual push with the "latest touchdown point" concept and how to actually mark it on ForeFlight without fat-fingering your zoom. Flight Advice closes with a...

First show of 2026: we talk Garmin Autoland in a King Air and why internet speculation is the fastest way to sound like a jabroni. We also hit the chaos of international ops (Mexico permits/APIS pain) and tease the Chicago Layover Guide dropping soon. In the Mailbag: Coeur d'Alene layover intel, a legendary lav story, Pilot Pete confusion gets cleaned up, airline-switching "sunk cost" drama, and surviving an unhinged sim instructor. Flight Advice is a big one: a 2,000-hr pilot with a baby inbound weighs staying in a single-pilot piston twin 135 gig vs taking a King Air 200 EMS job (and...

James Onieal from Raven Career Development returns to break down what pilot hiring is shaping up to look like in 2026. We dig into majors, regionals, corporate paths, and why movement can feel slow right up until it suddenly isn't. From CFI logjams to corporate and furlough realities, this episode is all about timing, strategy, and expectations. Subscribe and listen to stay ahead of the hiring curve. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Click here to learn more. Show Notes

0:00 Intro

4:15 Big 3 in 2026

11:52 Rejection Rates

15:23 Cadet...

This episode introduces the new NBAA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual and why it's a big deal for business aviation. Dylan and Max are joined by Brian Small of FlightSafety International and Tim Schoenauer of CAE to explain how the manual was developed, who it's for, and how operators can actually use it—not just shelf it. They break down the regulatory intent, training implications, and where this fits into real-world Part 91 and 135 operations. If you've ever wondered what "good SOPs" are supposed to look like, this is the starting point.

Download the New NBAA SOP Manual Manual (no lo...

Dylan and Max kick off this PM edition with holiday-on-the-road war stories: Cowboys Thanksgiving trips, O'Hare blizzards, Vegas taxi laps, and that deranged border tether balloon that literally broke loose over Sierra Vista. The mailbag hits everything from FlightSafety's Master Aviator modules and Shorts 360 island hopping, to 50-something career-changers, disc golf and pickleball layover hacks, and using tools like Notebook LM without getting your manuals on the evening news. In Flight Advice, a 19-year-old CFII in Auburn asks whether to bail on instructing for a full-time A36 Bonanza gig in Destin, and the guys break down real-world 91 experience vs. multi-time...

Dylan recaps his brutal post-"ATC meltdown" commute and rants about the GA ban at 12 major airports while Max counters with cub flying and Chicago layover tips (including a dangerously spicy El Chingón). In the mailbag, listeners call the guys out for drifting toward aspiring-pilot advice, recommend MU-2 and airline YouTube channels, drop a credit-card points hack for flight training, and share how they commute to FedEx in their own airplane. Flight Advice closes the show with a regional FO at a United feeder wrestling with whether to jump to a GoJet direct-entry captain gig that requires a 1,600-hour P...

Dr. Chris Broyhill returns to break down the latest Air Comp Calculator data and what it means for 2025 pilot compensation. Dylan and Max dig into the trends, the slowdown in wage growth, and how bizav departments are navigating post-COVID market corrections. They also talk negotiation strategy, job titles that actually matter, and Broyhill's new 600-page industry textbook, The Business Aviation Book: Leading Operational Excellence. Finally, they wrap up the episode with a discussion on the Go/No Go specialty course Dr. Broyhill used to teach at a large training center.

Check out aircompcalculator.com and chrisbroyhillbooks.com...

Max kicks off his annual training rant—breaking down the highs, lows, and downright absurd moments of recurrent at "the training center." Dylan adds perspective on flight training efficiency and why a great instructor makes all the difference. The mailbag delivers everything from a new layover guide in Portsmouth to a 14-year-old aircraft dealer to a Marine pilot navigating a tricky transition to the airlines, plus a Learjet Pilot with a 1 hour call-out seeks guidance. In Flight Advice, a hard-working pilot is stalled out waiting for the industry to start moving again. Show Notes

0:00 Intro

5:42 Annual Training Ra...

Tim Pope, CFP® and founder of 360 Aviation Advisors, joins Dylan and Max to talk about how pilots can make smarter financial moves—on and off the line. From variable pay to early retirement and crashpad cash flow, Tim breaks down what makes pilot finances uniquely tricky and how to stay ahead of turbulence. The crew also dives into taxes, scheduling volatility, and the "golden handcuff" problem in today's airline contracts. Tune in for real-world money talk that every professional pilot should hear before their next recurrent.

Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His prac...

We kick off with Southwest red-eye shenanigans, hot/high GA drama departing PRC in a 150, and Max's backcountry "mesa strip" adventure (with hard data from the STOL-mate). The Mailbag is full: 2,500-hour 135 pilots debating regionals, cockpit sun-shade gear, commuting to MEM in your own A36, first flights post-PPL, time-building without a CFI, and making that first 91/135 SIC→PIC jump. Flight Advice tackles the big one: take a regional CJO now or accept a 135 upgrade for immediate PIC while a baby's on the way — we weigh time-to-legacy, family timing, and logbook strategy. Show Notes

0:00 Intro & Storytime

22:03 MU2 & Neck Pill...

Colin and Mara'D—both airline FOs and cast members from The Rehearsal—join Max and Dylan to dissect the tricky dynamics of speaking up in the right seat. Why is it so hard, and what makes it easier? The crew digs into SOP gaps, CRM training, real-world examples like Asiana 214, and the subtle art of being a chameleon in the cockpit. Plus: bizav vs. 121 culture, and how personality plays a bigger role than you think.

Connect with Colin on Instagram

Connect with Mara'D on Instagram

Check out Season 2 of The Rehearsal to watch Mara'D (episode 2) and...

Dylan opens from an echo chamber (literally) and the guys kick around first impressions of Gulfstream's newly announced G300 versus the G280—windows, avionics, "longest cabin," and whether depreciation and warranty keep the new-metal carousel spinning. Mailbag hits everything from those mysterious skid marks on SNA 20R and whether an RJ type helps more than becoming a check instructor, to Phoenix haboobs, GA commuting from the islands, and a listener swag request. Flight Advice: a 40-year-old "late bloomer" with 1,600 TT/500 multi weighs fractionals vs. regionals; Dylan and Max lay out a strategy heavy on networking, patience, and targeted moves. Plus: di...

Benjamin Bailey (@flybenfly) joins Max and Dylan for an honest, hilarious deep dive into aviation's influencer world, airline interview faceplants, and the realism gap on pilot social media. For professional pilots, this episode cuts through the curated BS to talk timing, authenticity, and bouncing back after setbacks. From CRM failures to career detours, Ben brings the real talk with a dose of humor. Hit play and subscribe for the stories you're not getting on your For You page.

Follow Ben on Instagram @flybenfly

Ben's WWII Aircraft Engine Youtube Channel @flightdojo

0:00 Intro

2:29...

Max rants about St. Louis still acting like it's O'Hare, but enjoys the accomodations. The mailbag covers creative GA commuting strategies and whether backcountry camping flights belong on a professional resume. Ted calls in on his drive home from the airport to share some bidding tips. Flight Advice closes with a skydiver pilot wondering if it's time to trade jumpers for smokejumpers with the USFS—and what that career path really looks like. Show Notes

0:00 Intro

5:19 Max's Musings

13:24 Reviews & Comments

16:40 Mailbag

31:18 Straight Talk with Ted

45:41 Flight Advice

A listener asks the question every pro pilot eventually faces: should you stay put and try to fix what's broken in your flight department, or cut bait and move on? Dylan and Max bring in Jenny Showalter and Jim Lara to explore the real-world tradeoffs. From career coaching to leadership insights, they share what to weigh before pulling the ripcord—or digging in to make change happen. It's candid talk about loyalty, burnout, and how to navigate tough calls in business aviation.

To contact Jenny Showalter, visit showalter.com

To contact Jim Lara, visit graystoneadvisors.com

Max returns from the Idaho backcountry with a Cub full of stories—starter failures, in-flight repairs, surprise rafting, wildlife rescues, and nearly becoming the emergency contact for a hiker with a head injury. This standalone episode is a wild tale of aviation adventure, mechanical mayhem, and resourceful fixes. No mailbag or flight advice this time—just pure story time from the sticks. Strap in and enjoy the highs (and literal downdrafts) of off-the-grid bush flying. Show Notes

0:00 Intro

3:35 The Adventure Begins…

14:41 Darkness Falls

28:47 Heading Out

40:36 TL;DR Highs and Lows