Business Aviation Articles

Search by Topic

FAR Part 91 Safety – What You Can Do Right Now

By Jim Lara

What are the top concerns voiced by aviation directors about business aviation safety? We surveyed 19 experienced professionals to get their thoughts. From the aviation talent shortage to SOP non-compliance, they provided insights on what they consider the seven most serious risks facing our industry and how to remedy them. Get the details.

Read More...

FAR Part 91 Safety – Is It Time for a Wake-Up Call?

By Steve Brechter

The FAR Part 91 sector of aviation has long enjoyed an admirable record of safety.  Business aviation has always been perceived as a very safe and efficient way to fly. Much of this safety record has been driven by the pursuit of safety practices by various hard working industry groups, among them the NBAA Safety

Read More...

Cultural Cornerstones of Great Teams

By Jim Lara

Gray Stone Advisors often works in the organizational design and evaluation sector to create high performing organizations, particularly in business and private aviation. The highest performing of these organizations perceive and describe themselves as the consummate “Team.” We believe these companies rely, knowingly or not, on distinct cultural cornerstones to achieve an elite level of

Read More...

Getting Your Boss to YES!

By Jim Lara

What are two of the most intimidating discussions you’ll ever have with your Aviation Reporting Executive (ARE)? Likely they are 1) justifying headcount and 2) justifying operating budgets. Those two talks are never fun. Something about spending corporate money brings out the miser in most! So how do you convince your ARE to allocate the

Read More...

Effective Communications with Your Principal

By Jim Lara

Helping our modest size aviation organizations thrive is one of my true passions at Gray Stone Aviation Advisors.  Over half of the NBAA membership fits into this category. Yet, we, as an industry, have failed to aggressively develop leaders in this segment.  I believe this lack of development has led to high turnover rates and a general sub-optimization

Read More...

Coming out of Covid-Hibernation?

By Jim Lara

A new day dawns in Flight Operations. With COVID-19 cases beginning to decline and the vaccine becoming more readily available, there is good reason for optimism. Question is — are flight departments well positioned to turn the corner?  Emerging from the pandemic, how will Aviation’s value proposition shift within your company? Is flight activity increasing

Read More...

Is a Leadership Role Really Right for You?

By Jim Lara

And if it is, what’s required to be a “Leader?” First, you have to have a true passion for guiding people. Be very honest with yourself. Why do you want to be a “leader?” Is it just for the title or the money? That won’t be enough to carry you to success. In fact, you

Read More...

Operating Partners in Business Aviation

By Steve Brechter

In business aviation an operating partner is like a consultant, except for one big difference. A consultant typically arrives, assesses the situation, tells you what needs to be done and leaves. An operating partner helps you do it. Read 5 Reasons Why You Need an Operating Partner.

Read More...

4 Easy Steps to Writing Effective Value Statements for Your Flight Department

By Jim Lara

When created and implemented in the right way, your value statements will take on strong meaning and serve as your agreed-upon standards for evaluating the actions and behaviors of the team. Think of your value statements as guiding principles for how you’ll accomplish what you need to get done.

Read More...

Is Your Flight Department Stuck? Create an Operating Plan in 12 Steps

By Steve Brechter

Discover why you cannot overestimate the value of a flight department Operating Plan, and then learn how to build an effective one.

Read More...
Process Management - process-driven flight department

Business Aviation Performance Metrics: Building a Business Case

By Jim Lara

Business aviation performance metrics reporting is essential. Gray Stone Advisors helps you build a business case for business aviation performance metrics.

Read More...
business aircraft use policy

5 Compelling Reasons You Need a Business Aircraft Use Policy

By Steve Brechter

Many companies don’t have a Business Aircraft Use Policy, leaving them vulnerable to regulatory violations and low usage. Here’s why you need one.

Read More...
yuriy trubitsyn bridge sky unsplash success engineering

Success Engineering: How to Design your Career & Legacy

By Jim Lara

If you really want to design a successful, lifelong career, Jim Lara offers these “Success Engineering” tips to get you from start to finish.

Read More...

Drones: How to Prepare for Unmanned Aircraft Operations

By Shannon Rupe

The use of drones has grown exponentially in recent years. Applications for these unmanned aircraft seem endless: everything from construction progress photos, videography for insurance claims, real estate listings, property assessments, agriculture surveys and hundreds more. Does your company plan to use drone technology in the near future? If so, as a business aviation leader, you may be regarded as a knowledgeable source for possibly introducing drones or “unmanned aerial vehicles” (UAVs) into the business model.

Read More...

5 Ways to Eradicate Fear in Your Flight Department

By Steve Brechter

Fear in the workplace is rarely visible. Yet its effects are insidious. Steve Brechter shares 5 ways to eradicate fear in your flight department.

Read More...
are you ready to become a mentor - gray stone advisors

Are You Ready to Be a Mentor? 6 Steps to Get You Started

By Jim Lara

Have you achieved personal or professional success as a result of working with a talented mentor? Has someone helped you get to where you are today by showing you ‘the ropes’? If so, perhaps you’re ready to pay it forward and become an advisor to someone who wants to elevate their career or personal pursuits to a much higher level. Becoming an effective mentor takes a lot of time and energy—and there are do’s and don’ts so take heed (and read on).

Read More...

Get What You Need! Building an Effective Business Case in Business Aviation

By Steve Brechter

What must you do to obtain the resources you need for your flight department? The answer is to prepare a carefully constructed and compelling business case.

Read More...

Hire Right! Competency-Based Recruiting in Business Aviation

By Steve Brechter

For all the great things we do in business aviation, taking the time to define the success criteria for a key position — and then hiring against those needs — is often not one of them. So here’s why it’s vitally important to use competency-based recruiting techniques to fill every position within your flight department.

Read More...

Praise for our Articles and e-Newsletter, The Advisor

Doug Schwartz Manager, Global Aviation Services, ConocoPhillips

"The Advisor newsletters have been great. They always contain useful and thought provoking material, are short easy reads and well constructed. I get about 200 emails a day and delete many without reading them. I always read these. Good work."

Joe Loccisano (formerly Director of Maintenance, CSC Transport)

"Your aviation maintenance metrics article is spot on. We tend to focus on getting the job done, focusing on speed and quality. You have taught us that the measurement and documentation of the accomplishments are VERY important downtown [at corporate]. They (executives) need to be shown the value we provide in terms they can understand. It truly is the only way for them to justify our existence and appreciate the service we provide. Your entire site should be required reading for all flight departments in my opinion."